Herpetofaunal Surveys of Haiti

该项目将在海地各地-已知多样性的地区以及知之甚少和未开发的地区-对两栖动物和爬行动物进行全面调查和清点。主要目标是确定有多少已知的物种多样性仍然存在，还有多少尚未描述。海地是世界上最贫穷的国家之一，由于人类活动，其陆地表面现在基本上没有原生植被。该国一些曾经丰富的生物多样性可以在小而孤立的森林中找到，但这些森林遗迹基本上没有受到保护，威胁到几乎所有物种的生存。虽然海地与多米尼加共和国共享伊斯帕尼奥拉岛，但大量物种仅在海地出现。它是世界上受威胁的两栖动物物种比例最高的国家。在这个项目中可能会发现许多新物种。在清查期间使用的取样和分析方法将为了解大规模灭绝的过程提供关键数据，为保护管理决策提供信息，并帮助防止其他地方生物多样性的丧失。该项目还涉及对研究生和本科生的培训。

This project will conduct comprehensive surveys and inventories of amphibians and reptiles throughout Haiti -- in areas of known diversity, as well as in poorly known and unexplored regions. The primary goals are to determine how much of the known diversity of species still exists, and how much remains undescribed. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and its land surface is now essentially devoid of native vegetation because of human activities. Some of the once-rich biodiversity of the country can be found in small, isolated patches of forest, but these forest remnants are largely unprotected, threatening the survival of nearly all species. Although Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, a large number of species occur only in Haiti. It has the highest proportion of threatened amphibian species of any country in the world. Many new species are likely to be discovered during this project. Sampling and analytical methods used during the inventories will provide critical data for understanding the process of mass extinction, to inform conservation management decisions, and to help prevent loss of biodiversity elsewhere. The project also involves training of graduate and undergraduate students.