Traditional Paddy Cultivation and Recent Agroforestry Plantations Differentially Impact Rock Outcrop Amphibians

Photo GalleryPhoto 1.The rocky plateaus in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot (India) are ecologically unique and important for many organisms.For example, ~70 plant species found on these plateaus are endemic.Though they may appear as bare landscapes during summer (left), microhabitats like loose rocks, pools, streams, and ephemeral vegetation play critical roles in supporting biodiversity, including amphibians, during the monsoon (middle and right).