Habitat and Elevation Based Sampling: Making Maps

Dr. Aidan Farrell and I are currently selecting promising sites for sampling and would like to share these developments with you!

Using historical records, elevation maps, and vegetation sampling, we have designated eight distinct mountain ridges or peaks 800 (2,265 ft) meters or more above sea level. These are the only areas in Trinidad above 800 meters , thus limiting the terrain where giant bromeliad persist. Of the 750 total acres (1.17 square miles) of adequate elevation, only 67 acres are prime habitat above 900 meters (2,953 ft). These areas comprise what is called the Elfin woodland and typically have the highest densities of the giant bromeliad.

Dr. Farrall has found others peaks in this 800-900 meter elevation range have populations of the giant bromeliad (see red shaded area on maps below).

The four maps below show study areas and key habitats for the golden tree frog. Selected habitat 'islands' range in size from 3.6 acres to 522 acres. El Cerro del Aripo contains two separate peaks over 900 meters and comprises 90% of the best habitat for the golden treefrog due to its high elevation, cloud cover, and presence of preserved Elfin woodland and giant bromeliads. The remaining 10% of land over 900 meters is on the peak of El Tucuche (shaded green). These small and isolated areas are vulnerable to changes in climate, land use, and other destructive forces. If we are to address these issues, those of conserving the golden tree frog and its habitat, the Elfin Woodland, it is important the that we succeed in documenting where the frog exists and how common it is.

Please explore the maps below and thank you for supporting us in our mission.

 

 

 

 

Above: El Tucuche is the largest on the left. Only a small portion of this area is above 900 meters. This was one of three pilot study sites.

 

Above: El Cerro del Aripo is the larges swath of red. Inside are two peaks over 900 meters. The smaller starred patch to the south is Mt. Chagaramal. The other surrounding "satellite" areas in red could harbor new populations of the golden tree frog and are important for conservation because they are the only refugia of high elevation cloud forest in Trinidad.