Dependence of anuran diversity on environmental descriptors in farmland ponds

Autor(es)

da Silva, Fernando Rodrigues ^[1] ; Candeira, Carolina Panin ^[2] ; Rossa-Feres, Denise de Cerqueira ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, UFSCar, BR-18052780 Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Serv Autonomo Agua & Esgoto SAAE, BR-13347300 Indaiatuba, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Paulista Julio Mesquita Filho UNESP, Dept Zool & Bot, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION; v. 21, n. 6, p. 1411-1424, JUN 2012.
• Citações Web of Science: 24

Resumo

In the Neotropics, conversion of natural habitats into agricultural areas is occurring at a high rate, with consequent reduction of habitat complexity in anuran breeding ponds. Identifying features of farmland ponds that allow them to support a high diversity of species is fundamental for successful management and conservation policies and is especially important in Neotropical regions that harbor the highest anuran species richness in the world. Here, we aimed to investigate which environmental descriptors correlate the occurrence of anuran species in tropical farmland ponds in southeastern Brazil. We found that environmental descriptors reflecting the complexity of vegetation in farmland ponds primarily predict the diversity of anuran species in these habitats. Species richness was correlated mainly by vegetation height in the margin, with ponds that exhibit greater stratification harboring a larger number of species. Vegetation height in the interior of ponds, diversity of vegetation in the margin, pond area and hydroperiod were also important variables predicting the abundance of six of 10 anuran species analyzed. Our results show that features of farmland ponds representing increased habitat complexity are key factors in maintaining a high diversity of species, providing a greater variety of microhabitats, both in vertical and horizontal strata, and thus meeting diverse species-specific requirements. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 01/13341-3 - Diversidade de anfíbios anuros do estado de São Paulo
• Beneficiário: Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 04/12224-1 - Heterogeneidade ambiental: qual o seu papel na regulação da riqueza e diversidade de espécies de anfíbios anuros de área aberta?
• Beneficiário: Carolina Panin Candeira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado
• Processo FAPESP: 04/12223-5 - A importância dos fragmentos florestais na riqueza e diversidade de anfíbios anuros em Icém, região noroeste do estado de São Paulo
• Beneficiário: Fernando Rodrigues da Silva
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado