Anuran species in urban landscapes: Relationships with biophysical, built environment and socio-economic factors

Smallbone, Lisa; Luck, Gary W.; Wassens, Skye

doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2011.01.002

Cited by 63 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Many factors co‐vary with proximity to urban areas (Smallbone et al . ), making it difficult to identify causal processes. Likely contenders include reduced water and/or soil quality (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of fire regimes on populations of an endangered lizard in montane south‐eastern Australia

et al. 2014

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The Blue Mountains water skink (Eulamprus leuraensis; Scincidae) is restricted to less than 40 fragmented swamp sites, all within the Blue Mountains and Newnes Plateau areas of New South Wales, Australia. Climate change is expected to increase fire frequency in the area, potentially degrading habitat quality for this endangered reptile. We quantified lizard abundances in 12 swamps using standardized surveys, and constructed a Global Information System (GIS) database to determine fire-histories for each swamp since 1967. The abundance of Blue Mountains water skinks was negatively correlated with fire frequency, but not with time since fire. Indirect impacts of fire (mediated via shifts in vegetation density, moisture levels, prey availability and post-fire predation) may be more important than direct effects in these cool, moist habitats. Although lizards were less common in swamps close to urban areas, and less common in frequently burnt areas, viable populations of this endangered reptile still persist even in anthropogenically disturbed swamps and in swamps that have experienced up to four fires in 20 years. Future research could usefully extend these analyses to other swamps in the locality, and explore the broader impacts of fire regimes on the distinctive flora and fauna of this threatened ecological community.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of fire regimes on populations of an endangered lizard in montane south‐eastern Australia

et al. 2014

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“…One key process, social stratification, links wealth and environmental quality, predicting the unequal distribution of resources in different regions of a city, partly due to differential access to power by residents of higher socioeconomic status (Warren et al 2010). Direct tests in a handful of studies show evidence for the predicted pattern of environmental quality and ecological quality following economic wealth for a variety of taxa, including birds, mammals, herpetofauna, aquatic invertebrates, and plants (Whitney and Adams 1980, Nilon and Huckstep 1998, Hope et al 2003, Kinzig et al 2005, Overmyer et al 2005, Lubbe et al 2010, Smallbone et al 2011, Lepczyk et al 2012. While it is tempting to generalize the relationships between local scale biodiversity and wealth from this growing body of examples, we highlight here several challenges to this generalization.…”

Section: Socioeconomic and Cultural Filtermentioning

confidence: 99%

Hierarchical filters determine community assembly of urban species pools

Aronson

Nilon

Lepczyk

et al. 2016

Ecology

315

263

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Abstract. The majority of humanity now lives in cities or towns, with this proportion expected to continue increasing for the foreseeable future. As novel ecosystems, urban areas offer an ideal opportunity to examine multi-scalar processes involved in community assembly as well as the role of human activities in modulating environmental drivers of biodiversity. Although ecologists have made great strides in recent decades at documenting ecological relationships in urban areas, much remains unknown, and we still need to identify the major ecological factors, aside from habitat loss, behind the persistence or extinction of species and guilds of species in cities. Given this paucity of knowledge, there is an immediate need to facilitate collaborative, interdisciplinary research on the patterns and drivers of biodiversity in cities at multiple spatial scales. In this review, we introduce a new conceptual framework for understanding the filtering processes that mold diversity of urban floras and faunas. We hypothesize that the following hierarchical series of filters influence species distributions in cities: (1) regional climatic and biogeographical factors; (2) human facilitation; (3) urban form and development history; (4) socioeconomic and cultural factors; and (5) species interactions. In addition to these filters, life history and functional traits of species are important in determining community assembly and act at multiple spatial scales. Using these filters as a conceptual framework can help frame future research needed to elucidate processes of community assembly in urban areas. Understanding how humans influence community structure and processes will aid in the management, design, and planning of our cities to best support biodiversity.

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“…Part of the reason for that disparity may lie in the abundance of cane toads in disturbed habitats, which often contain few native anurans [18], [42]. Also, most of the native anurans that inhabit disturbed areas (buildings, etc.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cane Toads on Cowpats: Commercial Livestock Production Facilitates Toad Invasion in Tropical Australia

et al. 2012

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Habitat disturbance and the spread of invasive organisms are major threats to biodiversity, but the interactions between these two factors remain poorly understood in many systems. Grazing activities may facilitate the spread of invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) through tropical Australia by providing year-round access to otherwise-seasonal resources. We quantified the cane toad’s use of cowpats (feces piles) in the field, and conducted experimental trials to assess the potential role of cowpats as sources of prey, water, and warmth for toads. Our field surveys show that cane toads are found on or near cowpats more often than expected by chance. Field-enclosure experiments show that cowpats facilitate toad feeding by providing access to dung beetles. Cowpats also offer moist surfaces that can reduce dehydration rates of toads and are warmer than other nearby substrates. Livestock grazing is the primary form of land use over vast areas of Australia, and pastoral activities may have contributed substantially to the cane toad’s successful invasion of that continent.

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Anuran species in urban landscapes: Relationships with biophysical, built environment and socio-economic factors

Cited by 63 publications

References 52 publications

The impact of fire regimes on populations of an endangered lizard in montane south‐eastern Australia

The impact of fire regimes on populations of an endangered lizard in montane south‐eastern Australia

Hierarchical filters determine community assembly of urban species pools

Cane Toads on Cowpats: Commercial Livestock Production Facilitates Toad Invasion in Tropical Australia

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