Species distribution models are used to aid our understanding of the processes driving the spatial patterns of species' habitats. This approach has received criticism, however, largely because it neglects landscape metrics. We examined the relative impacts of landscape predictors on the accuracy of habitat models by constructing distribution models at regional scales incorporating environmental variables (climate, topography, vegetation, and soil types) and secondary species occurrence data, and using them to predict the occurrence of 36 species in 15 forest fragments where we conducted rapid surveys. We then selected six landscape predictors at the landscape scale and ran general linear models of species presence/absence with either a single scale predictor (the probabilities of occurrence of the distribution models or landscape variables) or multiple scale predictors (distribution models ? one landscape variable). Our results indicated that distribution models alone had poor predictive abilities but were improved when landscape predictors were added; the species responses were not, however, similar to the multiple scale predictors. Our study thus highlights the importance of considering landscape metrics to generate more accurate habitat suitability models.

ABSTRACT. Diversity analysis by partition is an approach employed in order to understand how communities spatially structure themselves and the factors that operate in the generation and maintenance of distribution patterns. We examined the spatial structure of species diversity of four taxonomic groups, with diff erent dispersal abilities, in 16 forest fragments in the southern region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Specifi cally, we tested: i) if the similarity in species composition would be negatively related to geographical distance between the 16 fragments; and ii) if the beta diversity of the diff erent groups could be negatively related to their dispersal abilities. Alpha diversity and the compositional similarity between localities were both low. Beta diversity was not correlated with distance for any of the groups. Primates, followed by birds, showed a higher tendency of forming similarity groupings, although in a manner that was independent from distance between fragments, as well as showed the lowest beta diversity relative values. Spermatophytes and amphibians did not defi ne groupings and presented the highest values of beta diversity. We interpreted such results as indications that the groups with higher dispersal ability (primates and birds) tend to reach, on average, farther localities and, therefore, to defi ne more similar groupings (low beta diversity). The groups with lower dispersal ability (spermatophytes and amphibians) showed the opposite tendency. Although most of the species were restricted to few localities, contributing to the low similarity, beta and gamma diversity values showed the extent which the localities are, respectively, diff erent and complementary to each other in terms of species composition. Such features reinforce and justify future conservation initiatives, both in local and regional levels.KEYWORDS. Complementarity, dispersal ability, vertebrates, spermatophytes, Atlantic Forest.RESUMO. Grupos taxonômicos com menor capacidade de dispersão podem apresentar maior diversidade beta. A análise da diversidade por partição é uma abordagem empregada para tentar compreender como as comunidades se estruturam espacialmente e os fatores que operam na geração e manutenção dos padrões de distribuição das espécies. Nós examinamos a estrutura espacial da diversidade de espécies referente a quatro grupos taxonômicos com diferentes capacidades de dispersão, em 16 fragmentos fl orestais localizados no sul do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Especifi camente, testamos: i) se a similaridade na composição de espécies estaria relacionada negativamente com a distância geográfi ca entre os fragmentos e ii) se a diversidade beta apresentada por cada grupo poderia ser negativamente relacionada com as respectivas capacidades de dispersão. Tanto a diversidade alfa quanto a similaridade composicional entre as localidades foram baixas. A diversidade beta não esteve correlacionada com a distância para nenhum dos grupos. Os primatas, seguidos das aves, apresentaram maior tendência em formar agr...

New localities are herein reported for Adenomera thomei in Minas Gerais state, increasing its known distribution towards the Brazilian northwest and expanding knowledge on its habitat use. The advertisement calls of Adenomera thomei here reported exhibit variation in the call parameters known for this species, but also reveal a degree of overlap with the calls of a closely related undescribed species, suggesting that further research is needed to elucidate geographic call variation and population identities.