Abstract: Tropical wetlands are amongst the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth and have immense socio-ecological value. However, tropical wetlands are considered exploitable resources and continue to be drained and converted to other “productive” uses. It is therefore urgent to identify and understand the interactions between various drivers of change triggering degradation of such wetlands. In the present study, we systematically reviewed and analyzed the existing literature on wetlands in two tropical countries namely India and Brazil with special reference to inland wetlands, and proposed a conceptual model illustrating the intricate linkages of such wetlands with different drivers of change. We also developed the Nature Futures’ Framework to depict the diverse values of inland wetlands contributing to human wellbeing in the two tropical countries. Findings revealed similar drivers of change triggering the degradation of Indian and Brazilian wetlands. These include changes in climate & land use, population growth, poor land governance due to weak policies, besides other anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, and overexploitation of wetland resources. Among these, land-use change such as agriculture intensification and infrastructure development were the major direct drivers; whereas, institutional and governance factors such as the absence of concrete policy measures were the major indirect drivers threatening the inland wetlands in India and Brazil. Results also revealed some contrasting drivers of change such as illegal human settlements, and land grabbing by the brick industry for Indian wetlands; while, gold mining and intensification of bovine systems for Brazilian wetlands. Our paper also provides an insight into the status of wetland conservation in India and Brazil. We recommend the promotion of community-based conservation practices while adopting sustainable livelihood strategies by the local people for the conservation and wise use of inland wetlands in India and Brazil. The arguments raised in the paper have the potential to assist the stakeholders and/or decision-makers towards implementing sustainable management strategies for inland wetlands in the two countries, and tropical wetlands in general.

Resumen: Los humedales tropicales se encuentran entre los ecosistemas con mayor biodiversidad en la Tierra y tienen un inmenso valor socioecológico. Sin embargo, los humedales tropicales se consideran recursos exploTables y continúan siendo drenados y convertidos a otros usos “productivos”. Por lo tanto, es urgente identificar y comprender las interacciones entre varios impulsores del cambio que desencadenan la degradación de dichos humedales. En el presente estudio, revisamos y analizamos sistemáticamente la literatura existente sobre humedales en dos países tropicales, a saber, India y Brasil, con especial referencia a los humedales continentales, y propusimos un modelo conceptual que ilustra el intrincado vínculo de dichos humedales con diferentes impulsores del cambio. También desarrollamos el Marco de Nature Futures para resaltar los diversos valores de los humedales continentales de India y Brasil que contribuyen al bienestar humano en los dos países tropicales. Los resultados revelaron impulsores similares de los cambios que desencadenan la degradación de los humedales de la India y Brasil, incluidos los cambios en el clima y el uso de la tierra, el crecimiento de la población, las políticas débiles y la mala gobernanza de la tierra, además de otras actividades antropogénicas como la deforestación y la sobreexplotación de recursos. Entre estos, el cambio en el uso de la tierra, como la intensificación de la agricultura y el desarrollo de infraestructura, fueron los principales impulsores directos, mientras que los factores institucionales y de gobernanza, como la ausencia de medidas políticas concretas, fueron el principal impulsor indirecto que amenazó los humedales continentales de India y Brasil. Los resultados también revelaron algunos factores de cambio contrastantes, como los asentamientos humanos ilegales y el acaparamiento de tierras por parte de la industria del ladrillo para los humedales indios; mientras que la extracción de oro y la intensificación de los sistemas bovinos para los humedales brasileños. Nuestro documento también proporciona una visión sobre el estado de la conservación de humedales en India y Brasil. Recomendamos la promoción de prácticas de conservación basadas en la comunidad al adoptar estrategias de medios de vida sostenibles por parte de la población local para la conservación y el uso racional de los humedales continentales en India y Brasil. Los argumentos planteados en el artículo tienen el potencial de ayudar a las partes interesadas y / o los tomadores de decisiones para implementar estrategias de gestión sostenible para los humedales continentales en los dos países, y para los humedales tropicales en general.

ABSTRACT Tropical anuran communities are very diverse. Nevertheless, much of their ecological and historical processes remain unknown. Bioacoustical studies are important to help to solve these puzzles. In the present study we examined the effect of environmental (air temperature and humidity) and morphological (body size) attributes on the acoustic parameters of two frogs of the Hypsiboas albopunctatus species group (H. albopunctatus and H. paranaiba ) living in sympatry and allopatry in the Brazilian cerrado. We also investigated if the presence of one species influences the spatial distribution or vocal behaviour of the other. We found H. albopunctatus and H. paranaiba males emitting advertisement and aggressive calls in sympatry and allopatry. Although the calling behavior of H. paranaiba did not differ in sympatry and allopatry, differences were noted for H. albopunctatus . Bioacoustics is the main form of communication in anurans, and is one of the best ways to discriminate among species. Variations in the calling behavior of males and what drives these variations in both species is central to better understand the processes of specific recognition and female attraction.

A diversidade biológica e os processos ecológicos do bioma Cerrado ainda são pouco conhecidos. Neste estudo são apresentadas informações acerca da estrutura da anurofauna do município de Barro Alto, estado de Goiás (Brasil Central). Cinco corpos d'água foram amostrados entre os anos de 2007 a 2010 (outubro-março), três deles associados à área florestal e dois associados à área aberta. Registraram-se 39 espécies de anuros, caracterizados como especialistas de hábitat aberto, florestal ou generalistas. A curva de acumulação de espécies apresentou a formação de uma assíntota, evidenciando que as técnicas e esforço de amostragens foram adequados para se estimar a riqueza de espécies de anuros na região. A riqueza foi influenciada pela umidade e temperatura, já que a maioria das espécies se reproduz na estação quente e chuvosa. Diferenças significativas na composição de espécies entre os sítios reprodutivos de áreas florestais e abertas foram registradas. A fauna de anuros no Cerrado parece ser constituída a partir da heterogeneidade horizontal dos hábitats no espaço. Assim, hábitats contrastantes no espaço são importantes para a manutenção da riqueza da anurofauna, e portanto, relevantes em termos conservacionistas.

The biological diversity and ecological processes in Cerrado biome are still poorly understood. Herein we present information about anuran species of the municipality of Barro Alto, state of Goiás (Central Brazil). Five water bodies were sampled between the years 2007 and 2010 (October-March), three of them associated with forested area and two with open areas. We recorded 39 anuran species, characterized as open habitat specialists, forest habitat specialists and generalists. The rarefaction curve shows an asymptote formation, which demonstrates adequate effort and sampling techniques to assess the species richness of the region. Species richness was influenced by air humidity and temperature, since most of the species reproduce in the rainy season. We found significant differences in species composition between breeding sites in open and forested areas. The anurofauna in Cerrado seems to be formed from habitat's horizontal heterogeneity in space. Thus, contrasting habitats in space are important for maintaining the anuran richness, and therefore relevant in conservation terms.