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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Habitat Split as a Cause of Local Population Declines of Amphibians with Aquatic Larvae

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Author(s):
Becker, C. Guilherme [1, 2] ; Fonseca, Carlos R. [3] ; Haddad, Celio F. B. [4] ; Prado, Paulo I. [5]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Programa Posgrad Ecol, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
[2] Cornell Univ, Dept Ecol & Evolutionary Biol, Ithaca, NY 14853 - USA
[3] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Norte, Dept Bot Ecol & Zool, BR-59072970 Natal, RN - Brazil
[4] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Zool, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil
[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: Conservation Biology; v. 24, n. 1, p. 287-294, FEB 2010.
Web of Science Citations: 50
Abstract

Most amphibian species have biphasic life histories and undergo an ontogenetic shift from aquatic to terrestrial habitats. In deforested landscapes, streams and forest fragments are frequently disjunct, jeopardizing the life cycle of forest-associated amphibians with aquatic larvae. We tested the impact of habitat split-defined as human-induced disconnection between habitats used by different life-history stages of a species-on four forest-associated amphibian species in a severely fragmented landscape of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We surveyed amphibians in forest fragments with and without streams (referred to as wet and dry fragments, respectively), including the adjacent grass-field matrix. Our comparison of capture rates in dry fragments and nearby streams in the matrix allowed us to evaluate the number of individuals that engaged in high-risk migrations through nonforested habitats. Adult amphibians moved from dry fragments to matrix streams at the beginning of the rainy season, reproduced, and returned at the end of the breeding period. Juveniles of the year moved to dry fragments along with adults. These risky reproductive migrations through nonforested habitats that expose individuals to dehydration, predation, and other hazards may cause population declines in dry fragments. Indeed, capture rates were significantly lower in dry fragments compared with wet fragments. Declining amphibians would strongly benefit from investments in the conservation and restoration of riparian vegetation and corridors linking breeding and nonbreeding areas. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 01/13341-3 - Diversity of Anuran Amphibians from São Paulo State
Grantee:Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
FAPESP's process: 02/08558-6 - Biodiversity and social processes in São Luiz do Paraitinga, São Paulo
Grantee:Paulo Inácio de Knegt López de Prado
Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants