Results

Species richness of amphibians endemic to the Cerrado varied between 0 and 21 species per PU (Fig. 2). Species are concentrated in the center of the biome, in its northwestern portion in the contact zone with the Amazon, and in the extreme

Fig. 2 Species richness and total evolutionary distinctiveness of amphibian endemic to Cerrado per Planning Units (PUs)

southeastern region of the Espinhaço in the contact zone with the Atlantic Forest. The northeastern, southern and western Cerrado portions have low endemism, not exceeding four focal-species (Fig. 2). Total Evolutionary distinctiveness is also concentrated at the center, but with highest values at the Atlantic Forest contact zone (Espinhaço range), in the central western portion (Caiapônia plateau) and in some points at contact zone with Pantanal (Fig. 2).

Among the 82 species examined, over 80 % (66 species) have restricted distribution ranges (<6 million ha) and only 11 % (9 species) are widely distributed across the domain (>35 million ha). Sixty-five (79 %) have less than 20 % of its conservation target achieved being thus classified as gap species. Thirty-nine of these species are completely out of Protected Areas, all of them are restricted range species (<1.5 million ha) (Among the later, some more relictual species are also included, suchas Chiasmocleismehelyi, Oreobatesheterodactylus, O. remotus, Odontophrynus salvatori, Proceratophrys moratoi e P. cururu). Only four species endemic to the Cerrado were considered covered (Leptodactylus tapiti, Crossodactylus sp., Bokermannohyla ibitiguara and Phyllomedusa ayeaye). All of these covered species have restricted ranges (<0.25 million ha) with most of their distribution in protected areas, and 13 species can be considered as partial gaps, presenting between 23 and 57 % of their conservation goal achieved (Table 3).

In the conservation prioritization analysis the “best solution” (lower cost and higher efficiency) offered by Marxan selected 742 PUs (18.6 % of the biome area)

Table 3 Focal species evolutionary distinctiveness (ED), distribution area (million hectares), conservation goals, percentage of conservation goal achieved (area of distribution contained in protected areas), classified according to the percentage of goal achieved

Aromobatidae

Bufonidae

Craugastoridae

Cycloramphidae

Dendrobatidae

Hylidae

(continued)

Table 3 (continued)

(continued)

Table 3 (continued)

Hylodidae

Leptodactylidae

Microhylidae

Odontophrynidae

Table 4 Category (frequency of selection) of the Planning Units (PU), number of PUs, area (million ha) and percentage of Cerrado corresponding to each category of PUs in the best solution of priority areas for Cerrado endemic species of anurans conservation

Fig. 3 Priority areas for the conservation of amphibians species endemic from Cerrado in 11 basins

as priorities. Among them, 153 PUs have a very high conservation value (selected in all 10,000 rounds) and 232 have high conservation value, matching 4.4 and 5.7 % of the biome area, respectively (Table 4). In contrast, 3760 PUs were not selected, representing 78.9 % of the Cerrado.

The selected areas, here termed as priorities for conservation of amphibian species endemic to the Cerrado, mostly occupy the central portion of the biome, following a northwest-southeast diagonal (Fig. 3). Some sparse areas can also be found at the contact with Pantanal biome. This set of areas is of fundamental importance

Table 5 Richness and endemicity of amphibians in major Cerrado basins. Cerrado endemic amphibians species richness, amphibians unique to each basin (Endemicity) species richness, and geomorphological units, which concentrate priority areas

for achieving the conservation goals established. The prioritization analysis selected areas both in river valleys regions (below 400 m altitude), as well as elevated areas (above 1300 m). The selected areas include the depressions of the Araguaia, Tocantins and Paraguay rivers; the uplands in the São Francisco River, in western Bahia; the northern portion of the Central upland, and Canastra and Espinhaço uplands (Fig. 3, Table 5).

The priority areas are mainly concentrated in the Tocantins, Araguaia, São Francisco and Paraguay river basins and on the Costeira do Leste basin (Fig. 3). The São Francisco river basin has the largest number of frog species endemic to the Cerrado (45 species – Fig. 3, Table 5). Among them Bokermannohyla ravida, Scinax cabralensis and S. pinima occurs exclusively in this basin. The Paraná river basin is the second highest in richness, with 36 endemic amphibian species and is home to

6 species that occurs exclusively in this basin (Bokermannohyla izecksohni, Dendropsophus cerradensis, D. rhea, Hypsiboas jaguariaivensis, Proceratophrys moratoi and Scinax centralis). This basin is followed by the Tocantins river with 28 Cerrado endemic species and 5 species endemic to this basin (Allobates sp., Hypsiboas ericae, H. phaeopleura, Leptodactylus tapiti and Trachycephalus mambaiensis). The Paraguay river basin has the highest endemicity with nine species that occur exclusively there (Allobates bruneus, Ameerega braccata,

A. picta, Chiasmocleis mehelyi, Oreobates heterodactylus, Phyllomedusa centralis, pleurodema fuscomaculatum, Oreobates crepitans and Rhinella scitula). Another three species are endemic to the Araguaia river basin (Dendropsophus araguaya, Lysapsus caraya and Scinax lutzorum) and Hypsiboas botumirim is endemic to the Costeira do Leste basin.