Gradientes andinos en la diversidad y patrones de endemismo en anfibios y reptiles de Colombia: Posibles respuestas al cambio climático

At present, the evidence of climate change on biodiversity is strong and shows robust patterns of de-cline of amphibians and reptiles worldwide. Global changes, however, act in synergy with loss, fragmen-tation and degradation of habitat, species overexploitation, pollution, biological invasions and emergent diseases, strongly affecting the structure and function of ecosystems. In the present study I suggest that the species of amphibians and reptiles more vulnerable to climate change in Colombia could be those inhabiting Andean forests (and paramos) and have narrow elevational ranges. In this regard, Andean spe-cies may disappear sequentially in association with changes in extreme weather events, loss of fog, loss of food and the disappearance of epiphytes in the forests, between other critical microhabitats for breeding, foraging and shelter. It is therefore necessary to maintain and restore the structural functional connecti-vity in the landscape, to allow species to change their geographic range and can colonize the highlands in search of suitable ecological niches for their vital limits for their survival and persistence over time. It is also necessary to manage the internal dynamics of the remnant to minimize edge effects, selective logging, gap dynamics and species invasions, in order to maintain the quality of habitat for species that cannot migrate in search of new areas to colonize.