Multiple Determinants of Anuran Richness and Occurrence in an Agricultural Region in South-Eastern Brazil

Author(s)

Prado, Vitor H. M. ^[1] ; Rossa-Feres, Denise de C. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Inst Biociencias Letras & Ciencias Exatas IBILCE, BR-15054000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Inst Biociencias Letras & Ciencias Exatas IBILCE, Dept Zool & Bot, BR-15054000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Environmental Management; v. 53, n. 4, p. 823-837, APR 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

In agricultural landscapes, studies that identify factors driving species richness and occupancy are important because they can guide farmers to use conservation practices that minimize species loss. In this context, anurans are threatened by habitat loss because they depend on the characteristics of both local water bodies and adjacent landscapes. We used a model selection approach to evaluate the influence of local and landscape variables in determining anuran species richness and occurrence in 40 freshwater bodies in a heavily deforested region of semideciduous Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. Our aim was to develop recommendations for conservation of anuran communities in rural areas. Pond hydroperiod and area were the most important variables for explaining anuran species richness and occupancy, with greatest species richness being found in water bodies with intermediate hydroperiod and area. Other important variables that reflected individual species occupancies were the number of vegetation types and pond isolation. In addition, recent studies evidenced that water bodies near forest fragments have higher anuran abundance or diversity. In conclusion, we suggest the maintenance of semi-permanent ponds, isolated from large rivers or reservoirs and near forest fragments, as an effective strategy to conserve anuran fauna in agricultural landscapes of southeastern Brazil. Brazilian government requires the maintenance of forests as legal reserve in each farm, and farmers need to maintain ponds as drinking water for cattle or crop irrigation. For this reason, the guidelines suggested in the present study can be easily adopted, without additional costs to rural productivity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/51534-1 - Use of forest remnants by anurans in the North-east region of the State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Vitor Hugo Mendonça do Prado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 04/04820-3 - Fauna and flora from forest fragments in the northwest region of São Paulo State: the basis to biodiversity conservational studies
• Grantee: Orlando Necchi Junior
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants