One million years of diversity shifts in amphibians and reptiles in a Mediterranean landscape: resilience rules the Quaternary

Abstract

In contrast with the well documented strain on extant amphibian and reptile populations today, the Quaternary fossil record of these groups is very conservative showing few changes over long periods of time. In order to establish the non‐human‐induced effect of climate change on herpetofaunal diversity, we collected data from Pleistocene sites in the Sierra de Atapuerca complex (Burgos, Spain), which records the last few million years of changes. Diversity was measured in terms of richness and evenness indices and its relationship to the climatic parameters was analysed with OLS regression models. The highest diversity (richness and evenness; 1‐D) occurred in periods considered to be analogues of the current interglacial, whereas minimum diversity values were reached during periods when conditions were harsher (cooler or glacial stage). In all cases, the diversity values were always restored subsequently, pointing to great resilience. Temperature proves to be the most influential climatic factor. Accordingly, amphibians and reptiles have been able to overcome previous climatic changes successfully. In contrast, the effects of anthropization have generated an uncommon loss of diversity, the like of which has not been seen in the last few million years. The data presented here demonstrate that the current amphibian loss seems to be driven by anthropogenic influence, with climate a factor of a secondary importance.

Past, present, and future climate space of the only endemic vertebrate genus of the Italian peninsula

“…The low extinction rates of Pleistocene amphibians (when compared to those of contemporary birds and mammals) could indirectly suggest that the long term survival of amphibian species could depend from even small populations with limited ranges 54 (as in the case of the populations of Salamandrina survived in refugia of Central and Southern Italy 19 ); therefore, in the case of these species, conservation efforts at a local scale might be successful for granting a long term survival of a species, if matched with the correct policies at global scale to reduce emissions. Considering the future perspectives reported herein for these small inhabitants of mesophilous or subthermophilous woods 55 , 56 , each effort to reduce the future global warming has proven once again to be strikingly important. However, given the cited above resilient nature of amphibian species 56 , local governments should pay attention to forest and river management plans in order to favour habitat suitability for these salamanders, such as those suggested by Basile et al .…”

“…Considering the future perspectives reported herein for these small inhabitants of mesophilous or subthermophilous woods 55 , 56 , each effort to reduce the future global warming has proven once again to be strikingly important. However, given the cited above resilient nature of amphibian species 56 , local governments should pay attention to forest and river management plans in order to favour habitat suitability for these salamanders, such as those suggested by Basile et al . 57 .…”

Genetic diversity and demography of Bufo japonicus and B. torrenticola (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae) influenced by the Quaternary climate

“…Since amphibians are ectotherms and their reproduction is markedly affected by climate factors, they are particularly vulnerable to climate variability ( e.g ., Carey & Alexander, 2003 ; Blaustein et al, 2010 ; Ficetola & Maiorano, 2016 ). Therefore, the glacial climate had an impact on the present species richness of amphibians by limiting their activities and subsequently restoring the diversity of herpetofauna after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; Araújo et al, 2008 ; Zeisset & Beebee, 2008 ; Martínez-Monzón et al, 2021 ).…”