Anuran captured in pitfall traps in three agrossystem in Northwestern São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

Although it is generally assumed that agriculture negatively influences amphibian populations, few studies on the effects of agricultural cultivations on neotropical anuran have been conducted. As a contribution to the knowledge about anuran in agriculture, the present study sought to identify the anuran species present in three different agrossystems. We used data from anurans captured in pitfall traps initially proposed for a survey of harvestmen fauna in three agrossystems (corn, soybean, and rubber tree). Four anuran species found in the pitfall traps belong to two Families: Leptodactylidae: Leptodactulus fuscus and L. mystacinus; and Leiuperidae: Eupemphix nattereri and Physalaemus cuvieri. In corn plantation, four species and 30 individuals were captured; in rubber trees, four species and 11 individuals; and in soybeans plantation, tree species and eight individuals. Our results show that anurans are present in agrossystems, mainly the generalist anuran species.

Forest Fragments Surrounded by Sugar Cane Are More Inhospitable to Terrestrial Amphibian Abundance Than Fragments Surrounded by Pasture

“…The expected negative effects of pasture [19], contradicted by our results, may be simply due to the larger number of studies about amphibians and pastures [19,21,22,43,[58][59][60][61][62][63] than in other matrix types [64][65][66][67]. Studies on sugar cane effects in amphibians are particularly scarce.…”

Slipping through the Cracks: Rubber Plantation Is Unsuitable Breeding Habitat for Frogs in Xishuangbanna, China

“…Although many studies have found frog species in tropical plantations during terrestrial habitat surveys [19–21] including rubber plantations in Brazil [22], it is necessary to consider both terrestrial and aquatic habitat to gain an accurate assessment of habitat use [23,24]. When suitable aquatic and terrestrial habitat patches are too far apart [23] or separated by inhospitable habitat [25], migration to breeding sites can result in mortality and eventually population declines.…”

Amphibians: Why Preserve?

“…They act both as predators, consuming and controlling the populations of insects and other invertebrates (including insects pests and disease vectors), or as prey, feeding different groups of animals, from invertebrates (spiders, crab, etc.,) to vertebrates (fish , reptiles, birds, mammals and certain species of amphibians) [12,13]. Numerous studies have reported the occurrence of amphibians in agroecological production systems [14][15][16][17], and the insect pests are important component from its diets [18]. Thus, the decline in amphibian populations may be directly linked to increase in the number of insects in large cities and of pests in rural areas.…”