SECTION B: LIFE SCIENCES
The green areas in the city of Quito represent essential habitats for the conservation of amphibians. Pristimantis unistrigatus, is present in different Andean ecosystems in the country including urban settlements. The population size of Cutín de Quito was estimated in the campus of the Central University of Ecuador, where very limited green areas can be found. A population estimate of 1749 individuals was obtained, showing a high number of presences in the sampled area, most of the individuals were females using as a perch a herbaceous stratum due to human activities. The morphological variation of P. unistrigatus in the studied area presents six morphological patterns, without presenting a sexual dimorphism. Apparently, the population success of Cutín de Quito to benefit directly from human interactions, can be explained by the mimicry between habitats presented by individuals along with their morphological variation.
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