Habitat heterogeneity and anuran community of an agroecosystem in the Pantanal of Brazil

Abstract

Habitat heterogeneity and anuran community of an agroecosystem in Pantanal, Brazil. The Pantanal of central Brazil has experienced considerable modifications as a result of growing land use. The association between anuran assemblage and the local habitat structure of an agroecosystem in central Brazil at the Pantanal is described. It is shown that the structure of the anuran community is reestablished within the new environmental dynamics in such human-modified habitat. Twenty-four anuran species were recorded in the area. The community was dominated by four species (Dendropsophus nanus, Leptodactylus chaquensis, Hypsiboas raniceps, and Rhinella cf. bergi), which accounted for more than 50% of the sampled individuals. The species distribution pattern was adjusted to the logarithmic, log-normal, and broken stick models, partially reflecting its association with agroecosystem characteristics. Habitat heterogeneity contributes to the anuran community at a local scale, thereby emphasizing the importance of maintaining distinct habitats for anuran species in the Pantanal as a management practice, even in in situations in which anthropic actions are predictable, as in agroecosystems.Keywords: agriculture, amphibians, habitat complexity, Pantanal, wetland. ResumoHeterogeneidade ambiental e comunidade de anuros em agroecossistema na região do Pantanal, Brasil. A planície pantaneira no Brasil Central tem sofrido intensa modificação devido às práticas de ocupação antrópica ocorrida nos últimos anos na região. Este trabalho ilustra a associação entre a comunidade de anfíbios anuros e a estrutura ambiental em escala local de um agroecossistema no Pantanal (Mato Grosso do Sul) e mostra que em ambientes modificados pela ação humana a comunidade de anuros pode ser restabelecida de acordo com as novas condições encontradas. Foram encontradas 24 espécies de anuros das quais quatro foram predominantes (Dendropsophus nanus, Leptodactylus chaquensis, Hypsiboas raniceps e Rhinella cf. bergi), representando mais de 50% dos 42 Phyllomedusa -13(1), August 2014 indivíduos amostrados. O padrão de distribuição das espécies foi melhor ajustado aos modelos logarítmicos, log-normal e broken stick, refletindo parcialmente uma associação com as características do agroecossistema. A heterogeneidade ambiental contribuiu com a estrutura da comunidade, o que reforça a importância da manutenção de ambientes distintos para as espécies de anuros do Pantanal como uma prática de manejo mesmo em situações em que as ações antrópicas forem previsíveis e irreversíveis como os agroecossistemas.Palavras-chave: agricultura, anfíbios, complexidade ambiental, Pantanal, planície de inundação.

Seasonal and habitat structure of an anuran assemblage in a semideciduous forest area in Southeast Brazil

“…Area C can be considered the most heterogeneous, as it is located in a transition from pasture and secondary forest. The positive association between richness of anurans and habitat heterogeneity is compatible with various studies that relate richness of different animal groups with area and habitat heterogeneity (Ricklefs & Lovette 1999, Vallan 2000, Báldi 2008, Silva et al 2011, Souza et al 2014, Araújo et al 2018. The most accepted explanation for this association (Tews et al 2004) is the habitat heterogeneity hypothesis (Simpson 1949).…”

Half-millennium evidence suggests that extinction debts of global vertebrates started in the Second Industrial Revolution

“…As an example, the world's most diverse lizard fauna are found in the desert areas of western Australia 27 . In contrast, amphibians (especially for threatened categories) typically require diverse habitat types with a mixture of grasslands, forests and water bodies [28][29][30] , while many mammals (especially those large-bodied ones) occupy large forested areas as home ranges for reproduction, survival and food [31][32][33] , thus becoming sensitive to changes in both forest and climate.…”

Anurans of the Parque Municipal de Piraputangas, on the western border of the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil 

“…Pansonato et al (2011) evaluated the anuran species richness and abundance in the northwestern area of the Pantanal, municipality of Cáceres, and identified 34 species, notably two species of Pseudopaludicola Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 not identified in our study. Souza et al (2014) recorded 24 species in an agroecosystem along the south-eastern border of the Pantanal, including an unidentified Pseudopaludicola and Lysapsus limel lum Cope, 1862, whereas Gordo andCampos (2005) recorded 33 species in Serra do Jacadigo, Maciço do Urucum, Serra de Maracaju, and Serra da Bodoquena (in the surrounding southern Pantanal). However, we expect that the species richness and distribution of amphibians on the western border of the Pantanal will increase with further explorations and additional sampling efforts, as the PMP was surveyed only three times a month for just one year.…”