Land use in Mexico has dramatically changed in recent decades since deforested lands have been repurposed for agriculture. We evaluated the amphibian taxonomic and functional diversity of a heterogeneous landscape with ten land cover/use types in west-central Mexico. Taxonomic diversity was evaluated with q-order indices, and functional diversity was calculated with three multivariate functional diversity indices by land cover/use. The relationship between amphibian diversity, habitat structure, and environmental variables was analyzed using multidimensional distance-based analyses. Our results showed that most native land cover types exhibited a similar species richness (low values) among the studied crops, except for the riparian habitat surrounded by tropical dry forest (high richness) and secondary vegetation (intermediate richness). Regarding functional diversity, the riparian habitat surrounded by tropical dry forest, sugar cane field, and secondary vegetation had the highest values. The secondary vegetation had more functional groups than other land cover/use types. Despite the lack of a clear spatial pattern of amphibian taxonomic and functional diversity, we determined that attributes such as herbaceous cover and water availability are essential to maintain both facets with high amphibian diversity in the land cover/use types (e.g., secondary vegetation and sugar cane).

Reptiles are threatened by anthropogenic landscape transformation, largely due to agriculture. However, ecosystems nowadays constitute a matrix of fragmented landscapes. We analyzed a heterogeneous landscape’s reptile taxonomic and functional diversity patterns across ten land cover/use types in Jalisco state, in west-central Mexico. At the alpha diversity level, we assessed the taxonomic diversity using q-order indices, and functional diversity with multidimensional indices (FRic, FDiv, and FEve) by land cover/use. We evaluated the differences in species composition among land cover/use types (beta diversity). We utilized multidimensional distance-based analyses (dbRDA) to evaluate the association between reptile diversity, habitat structure, and environmental variables. Species richness did not correlate with functional richness across land cover types overall, except for riparian habitat surrounded by crops (RH-C), which exhibited higher species richness and functional diversity. Secondary vegetation surrounded by temperate forest (SV-TF), riparian habitat surrounded by tropical dry forest (RH-TDF), and RH-C were the land cover/use types with the most functional groups. Herbaceous cover is crucial for preserving both reptile diversity facets in this landscape. These findings suggest that the availability of resources (e.g., riparian habitat and herbaceous cover) regardless of perturbation level could be more relevant for reptile diversity than the condition (tropical vs. temperate) due to the high plasticity and adaptation of the group. It is essential to recognize the ecological value of these habitats by adopting a holistic approach that values the intrinsic and ecological importance of reptile diversity.

The amphibian fauna from central western Mexico has not been studied enough. Particularly for the state of Jalisco, Flores-Villela and Pérez-Mendoza (2006) reported five publications regarding herpetofauna checklists done between 1958 to 1994 and the majority of these works were realized on seasonally tropical dry forest at the Pacific coast (Casas Andreu 1982; García y Ceballos 1994; Ramírez-Bautista 1994). Since 1995, other studies have been made, like the one done by Peterson et al. (1995) about a range extension for Eleutherodactylus occidentalis and Hyla eximia on Chapala Lake; another study done by Ponce-Campos et al. (2003) on the subtropical dry forest at the Barranca of Rio Santiago where they registered a range extension of Eleutherodactylus pallidus. During 2004, Ponce-Campos and Ortega-Huerta reported the herpetofauna from Guadalajara city and its surroundings. Loeza-Corichi conducted a study on the species richness of amphibians and reptiles in an altitudinal gradient in Cerro Grande, Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve. On 2006, Riojas-López and Mellink registered the herpetofauna on shrubland and cultivated stands at the Mexican Plateau. Recently, Reyna et al. (2007) and Orozco-Uribe (2009) reported the herpetofauna checklist for two natural protected areas: La Primavera and Las Joyas Research Station at Sierra de Manantlán, respectively. On La Primavera the dominant vegetation types are temperate forest (pine-oak) and tropical deciduous forest; on Sierra de Manantlán are temperate forest (pine-oak) and cloud forest. Sierra de Quila is a natural protected area located on central Jalisco (20.1429–20.2137°N, 103.5649 – 104.0753°W). During 15 months, from January 2009 to september 2010 we surveyed amphibians on the altitudinal gradient including all vegetation types: cloud forest, pine-oak forest, oak forest, riparian forest and tropical deciduous forest. We registered 11 noteworthy range extensions for amphibians within Jalisco State and into Sierra de Quila. We collected two adults of Incilius marmoreus, eight adults of Craugastor occidentalis, one adult of Plectrohyla bistincta, one adult of Smilisca baudinii, two Lithobates neovolcanicus and three neotenic and one adult of Ambystoma flavipiperatum in Sierra de Quila. All these specimens are in herpetological collection of the zoological museum Alfonso L. Herrera, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (MZFC). Aditionally we took pictures of one adult of Craugastor hobartsmithi, one adult of Craugastor pygmaeus, one adult of Eleutherodactylus angustidigitorum and one adult of Lithobates forreri and these were deposited in the UTA digital collection. We reviewed the literature about distribution of these amphibians and the registers of Instituto de Biología collection, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico and the zoological museum Alfonso L. Herrera, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico. Additionally, we looked for records through HerpNet data portal as well as the distribution maps on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species website.

In Mexico, land use changes have significantly impacted the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a negative way. In light of this, we evaluate the alpha and beta components of the taxonomic diversity of amphibians and reptiles in a heterogeneous landscape in west-central Mexico. Additionally, we provide a checklist of amphibian and reptile species recorded over nine years of observations within the studied landscape and surrounding areas. The land cover/use types with the highest species richness and alpha taxonomic diversity differed between amphibians and reptiles. Overall beta taxonomic diversity was high for both groups, but slightly higher in reptiles. This taxonomic differentiation mainly corresponded to a difference in the turnover component and was greater in pristine habitats compared to disturbed ones. The checklist records 20 species of amphibians (ten of which are endemic) and 48 of reptiles (30 endemics). Additionally, the study expands the known geographical distribution range of one species of frog and three species of snakes. Our findings suggest that heterogeneous landscapes with diverse land cover/use types can provide essential habitats for the conservation of amphibian and reptile species.

Ensuring the maintenance of wildlife populations and ecosystems in Mexico demands identifying essential regions that have priority and representative of the most significant ecosystems and species. In the present study, priority areas were determined to carry out conservation actions for birds located at the western Transmexican Volcanic Belt. For this purpose, we modeled the distribution of priority bird species; then, we determined the connectivity of the vegetation cover where the species are potentially distributed. The results indicate three optimal areas as relevant conservation sites, with different ecological characteristics, determined by their connectivity level and the number of bird species represented. The sites with temperate forest cover and tropical forest in the north and south center of the study area stand out. The information generated will help complement a network of Natural Protected Areas that favors the conservation of bird diversity and their ecosystems in this study area. Para asegurar el mantenimiento de las poblaciones de vida silvestre y sus ecosistemas en México, es necesaria la identificación de regiones clave que resulten prioritarias y representativas para la mayor cantidad de ecosistemas y especies. En el presente estudio se identificaron sitios importantes para llevar a cabo acciones de conservación para las aves en el extremo occidental de la Faja Volcánica Transmexicana. Para tal efecto, se modeló la distribución de especies de aves prioritarias y se determinó la conectividad de las coberturas vegetales donde potencialmente se distribuyen las especies. Los resultados indican tres áreas óptimas, con distintas características ecológicas, determinadas por su nivel de conectividad y número de especies representadas como sitios relevantes de conservación para las aves prioritarias. Se destacan los sitios con coberturas de bosques templados y selvas, en la zona norte y centro sur de la zona de estudio. La información generada será útil para complementar la Red de Áreas Naturales Protegidas que favorezca la conservación de las aves prioritarias y los ecosistemas donde habitan en la zona de estudio.