Habitat Split and the Global Decline of Amphibians

Abstract

The worldwide decline in amphibians has been attributed to several causes, especially habitat loss and disease. We identified a further factor, namely "habitat split"-defined as human-induced disconnection between habitats used by different life history stages of a species-which forces forest-associated amphibians with aquatic larvae to make risky breeding migrations between suitable aquatic and terrestrial habitats. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we found that habitat split negatively affects the richness of species with aquatic larvae but not the richness of species with terrestrial development (the latter can complete their life cycle inside forest remnants). This mechanism helps to explain why species with aquatic larvae have the highest incidence of population decline. These findings reinforce the need for the conservation and restoration of riparian vegetation.

Syntopic frogs reveal different patterns of interaction with the landscape: A comparative landscape genetic study of Pelophylax nigromaculatus and Fejervarya limnocharis from central China

“…Land cover may subject F. limnocharis to more biological interactions, such as predation, and environmental stresses, such as desiccation. Desiccation has been noted to be prevalent in small‐bodied amphibians that try to pass through different land cover types due to erratic environmental conditions (Becker, Fonseca, Haddad, Batista, & Prado, 2007; Chelgren, Rosenberg, Heppell, & Gitelman, 2006; Tracy, Christian, & Tracy, 2010). …”

Influence of terrestrial habitat isolation on the diversity and temporal distribution of anurans in an agricultural landscape

“…Discontinuity between suitable aquatic and terrestrial habitats forces many amphibian species with aquatic larvae to undertake risky breeding migrations through disturbed environments, potentially contributing to population declines by reducing survival of adults and juveniles (Becker et al 2007). The north-western region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, is characterized by fragments of mesophytic semideciduous forest and savanna, surrounded by a matrix of pasture, plantations and urban areas with only 4% of the remaining original vegetation of the state (Ribeiro et al 2009).…”

Anurofauna de um remanescente alterado de floresta estacional semidecidual as margens do Rio Paranapanema

“…Com a manutenção de hábitats distintos se mantém a heterogeneidade dos ambientes, o que pode estabelecer alto grau de diversidade de espécies . A restauração dos hábitats também pode diminuir os riscos sofridos por espécies que se reproduzem em áreas abertas e migram para ambientes florestados para se desenvolver após a reprodução, já que reduziria o número de "fragmentos secos" (fragmentos que estão desconectados de fontes de água) e iria proporcionar a diminuição na divisão de hábitat que é um fator que afeta negativamente a riqueza de anfíbios (Becker et al, 2007). Mais que suprir os problemas citados acima, a recomposição da heterogeneidade a partir da restauração de hábitats, pode interromper o avanço das culturas agrícolas e atividades extrativistas, o que é de extrema importância por recompor a paisagem mais próxima da original.…”