Dissertation Research: An integrative Approach to the Conservation of Panamanian Golden Frogs

保护生物学是一个依赖于许多学科的知识和工具来保护生物多样性的领域。这一目标最好通过同时考虑种群生存能力的生态和进化方面的研究来实现。 这种类型的综合研究对于应对两栖动物的快速全球衰退尤为重要。以濒临灭绝的巴拿马金蛙为模型系统，结合人口、形态、生态和遗传分析，不仅用于识别人口因素，还用于识别影响这些物种可持续发展的进化过程。这些知识将有助于制定保护计划，有效地保护这些关键过程的功能，从而促进金蛙种群的长期生存能力。一份全面的报告将提交给巴拿马环境当局，其中包括对这些青蛙的管理战略的建议。通过培训巴拿马和北美大学生作为实地研究人员，将建立国际研究伙伴关系，促进热带生物学家的培训，并鼓励巴拿马公民投资保护其本土动物。

Conservation biology is a field that relies upon the knowledge and tools of many disciplines to preserve biodiversity. This goal is best achieved by studies that consider both the ecological and evolutionary aspects of population viability. Integrative studies of this type are especially important in combating the rapid, global declines of amphibians. Using endangered Panamanian golden frogs as a model system, a combination of demographic, morphological, ecological and genetic analyses will be used to identify not only the demographic factors, but also the evolutionary processes that affect sustainability in these species. Such knowledge will facilitate the development of conservation plans poised to effectively preserve the functionality of these critical processes and hence, promote the long-term viability of golden frog populations. A comprehensive report will be submitted to the Panamanian environmental authority with recommendations for a management strategy for these frogs. By training Panamanian and North American undergraduates as field researchers, international research partnerships will be established, contributing to the training of tropical biologists, and encouraging Panamanian citizens to invest in conserving their native fauna.