Tepui Frogs, Isolated Venezuela Ecosystems at Risk as Climate Change Drives Wildlife to Higher Elevations

Climate change is pushing non-native species from lower altitudes towards higher elevations, putting the fragile environment of Venezuela and the wildlife that thrives there, like Tepui frogs, at risk.

Isolated Ecosystems of Venezuela

Venezuela's tabletop mountains are remarkable, sheltered ecosystems, towering up to 3,000 meters high, isolated by steep cliffs. This sandstone world boasts unique flora and fauna found nowhere else. Ecologist Margarita Lampo from IVIC likens visiting a tepui to stepping onto another planet, with surreal black rocks and distinctive vegetation.

Venezuela hosts over 50 tepuis, named "house of the gods" by the Indigenous Pemon. Tepuis harbor some of Earth's rarest creatures, from ball-rolling toads to frogs in carnivorous plants, seen by only a fortunate few.

Risks Caused by Climate Change

High in the sky, the isolation of these ecosystems has safeguarded them from human interference and critical threats like illegal mining in Venezuela's rainforests and a deadly fungus decimating amphibians across Latin America. Yet, this very isolation may now jeopardize their existence.

Climate change compels species worldwide to ascend to cooler altitudes. However, for tepui frogs, there's no higher ground to escape to. Amphibians, the most endangered vertebrates globally, face an escalating risk of extinction, primarily due to climate disruption. Nearly 41% of the world's frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts teeter on the edge.

Habitat protection alone won't suffice, warns Jennifer Swandby, a Re:wild species partnerships manager. Sandby is also a contributor to the IUCN Global Amphibian Assessment, which includes nearly 6000 species of amphibians.

Amphibians' cold-blooded nature renders them exceptionally sensitive to temperature changes, while their permeable skin leaves them susceptible to pollution and fluctuations in temperature and humidity, setting them apart as the most vulnerable among vertebrates, according to a recent study.

Tepui Frogs and Other Vulnerable Amphibians of Venezuela

Amphibians on Venezuela's tepuis face dire threats from rising global temperatures. Among the 49 Venezuelan amphibians most at risk from climate change, 44 inhabit these isolated tabletop mountains, also known as mesas. These harsh environments have shaped peculiar survival strategies, such as the pebble toad's rolling escape from predators and Oreophrynella macconnelli's tree canopy escape.

These species often exist solely on one tepui, resulting in tiny geographic ranges. While these conditions highlight their uniqueness, they also leave them acutely vulnerable to extinction as the climate crisis escalates.

Tepuis: Otherworldly Venezuelan Ecosystems

Tepuis are desert-like, rocky landscapes, where many carnivorous plants rely on insects for nutrients. Some frogs inhabit these plants, depending on their moisture and prey. With an expected temperature rise of 2-4°C by 2100, up to a third of tepui plant species could vanish, threatening dependent animals. Isolation alone can't safeguard these ecosystems, as illegal gold mining infiltrates the Venezuelan Amazon, endangering these unique habitats.

Losing to Climate Change

Amphibians are more at risk of extinction than birds and mammals, yet they receive less protection. Tepui amphibians face uncertain futures, hindered by limited knowledge and infrequent research trips. Potential solutions include relocation and breeding, but consensus is lacking. Vital to freeze frog samples for future revival, as their uniqueness is akin to burning unread, irreplaceable books.