Morphological and ecological correlates of anuran tadpoles in scrub and subtropical pine forests

We recorded tadpoles of eight anuran species from subtropical scrub and pine forests (District Rawalpindi and Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan). These include Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Duttaphrynus stomaticus, Microhyla nilphamariensis, Euphlyctis spp., Minervarya spp., Allopaa hazarensis, Nanorana vicina, and Hoplo-batrachus tigerinus. Our results showed that the forest type featuring scrub vegetation, low elevation and warmer climate (day air temperature >30 degrees C, day water temperature >28 degrees C) had more species richness (six of the eight re-corded species) while the subtropical pine forest featuring relatively low air (<16 degrees C) and water (<14 degrees C) tempera-tures and higher elevation had relatively higher anuran endemism. The Indus Valley Toad is an abundant species throughout scrub forest. Changes in climate resulting in increased temperatures in pine forests could negatively impact endemic species by encouraging the spread of species adapted for warmer temperatures.