Do flood pulses structure amphibian communities in floodplain environments?

Author(s)

Ramalho, Werther Pereira ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Machado, Ibere Farina ^[3] ; Soares Vieira, Lisandro Juno ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Acre, CCBN, Lab Ictiol & Ecol Aquat, BR-69915900 Rio Branco, Acre - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Goias, Campus Ciencias Exatas & Tecnol, BR-75132903 Anapolis, Go - Brazil

^[3] Inst Boitata Etnobiol & Conservacao Fauna, BR-74093250 Goiania, Go - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Biotropica; v. 50, n. 2, p. 338-345, MAR 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Beta diversity can provide insights into the processes that regulate communities subjected to frequent disturbances, such as flood pulses, which control biodiversity in floodplains. However, little is known about which processes structure beta diversity of amphibians in floodplains. Here, we tested the influence of flood pulses on the richness, composition, and beta diversity of amphibians in Amazonian floodplain environments. We also evaluated indicator species for each environment. We established linear transects in three environments: low varzea, high varzea, and macrophyte rafts. Species richness decreased and beta diversity increased according to the susceptibility of habitats to flood pulses. Indicator species differed among environments according to forest succession promoted by the flood pulse. The decrease in species richness between high and low varzea is due to non-random extinctions. The higher rates of species turnover between varzeas and macrophyte rafts are driven by the colonization of species adapted to open areas. Our results highlight that the maintenance of complex environments is needed to protect biodiversity in floodplains. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/52315-7 - Top predators of food chain
• Grantee: Pedro Manoel Galetti Junior
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants