Seasonal variation in the composition of ground-dwelling anuran (Amphibia) assemblages in southern Brazil

Abstract

Climate seasonality may differently influence habitat quality and heterogeneity depending on habitat type. We examined whether the taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic composition of ground-dwelling anuran assemblages from grassland and forest habitats vary seasonally. We tested the hypothesis that the forest anuran assemblage varies less seasonally than the grassland assemblage. We monitored anurans using pitfall trap arrays in two areas, sampled across four seasons over a two-year period. For the functional composition, we acquired information on species morphology, reproduction, and habitat use to represent the anuran niche. For the phylogenetic composition, we used the most comprehensive anuran phylogeny. We used Principal Coordinate Analysis and Analysis of Variance to evaluate seasonal variations in assemblage composition along the study period. Our data revealed significant seasonal variation in the taxonomic and phylogenetic composition of anuran assemblages. Variation in taxonomic composition was higher in the grassland than in the forest assemblage, while variation in phylogenetic composition was higher in the spring-summer than in the autumn-winter seasons. We did not identify seasonal variation in functional composition. Seasonal variations in taxonomic and phylogenetic composition, but not in functional composition, indicate that the species with a fluctuating seasonal abundance have similar life-history traits, but belong to different lineages.

Seasonal variations in the diversity of Amphibians and Reptiles in Western Terai arc landscape, India

“…In south Texas plain (USA) also, least number of species were reported in winters, where they found no species of snakes in winters, but reported few species of lizards and frogs (Ruthven et al, 2002). In another study in southern Brazil, less number of anuran species were encountered in colder seasons of autumn and winter while there were more number of anuran species was found in warmer seasons of spring and summer (Luza et al, 2018). Less number of species in winters may be due to the hibernation, which is the response to cold temperature and low resource availability (Bickford et al, 2010).…”

Effects of natural forest and tree plantations on leaf‐litter frog assemblages in Southern Brazil

“…The habitat type did not influence the abundance of P. carrizorum, P. cuvieri or R. henseli in the FLONA-PF. These species are widespread and typically found in large numbers at sites in southern Brazil (Maragno et al 2013;Luza et al 2018). In general, although frog assemblages are composed of species with varying degrees of sensitivity to human disturbance, a few more tolerant species tend to become locally dominant (Dixo & Martins 2008;Slatyer et al 2013).…”

Leaf-Litter Anurans in An Agricultural Landscape in the araucaria Forest: A Case Study for Southern Brazil

“…Reproductive modes and patterns define the characteristics of the breeding behavior of the species related to environmental factors, such as the reproductive site and the habitat in which the juvenile develops (Haddad and Prado, 2005). Habitat use can be related to the cryptozoic behavior of hiding in holes and underground chambers, which may be beneficial for species in open environments, such as plantations (Luza et al, 2018). We also classified the degree of habitat specialization of each anuran species to determine which taxa are affected positively or negatively by the habitat modification (plantation), a pattern related to species fitness in a given habitat, primarily at a landscape scale (Chazdon et al, 2011; Dias et al, 2013).…”