SUPPORTED PROJECTS

Amphibians of Goa 2001

Polly Crouch

Amphibian populations are declining worldwide. The Western Ghats is one of the world's hotspots of diversity and contains very speciose communities of amphibians (60% of all species known from India). 89 of the 117 species recognized are endemic however they are very poorly studied; the last complete treatment of the group was by Boulenger in 1890. Community studies in specific localities are particularly lacking (reviewed in Inger 1984). The project will be undertaken during the monsoon season when most amphibians are mating in order to determine relative abundance and breeding habitat requirements of species present. To provide a key of mating calls for future studies, and to train Indian students in all skills required