Changes to anuran diversity following forest replacement by tree plantations in the Southern Atlantic Forest of Argentina.

GANGENOVA, ELENA; ZURITA, GUSTAVO A.; MARANGONI, FEDERICO

Foz do Iguaçu

Congreso; 3rd International Symposium of Ecology; 2018

Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana

Introduction/Questions/Methods (150 words); text without bold and scientific names in italics.The replacement of native forests by high-density tree plantations affects the richness and composition of animal communities through the modification of the resource availability, hydrological regimes, nutrient cycles and soil structure. Previous studies have been conducted mainly on birds and mammals, whereas few have explored the response of anurans, a taxon considered at risk and in steep decline. With this study we aimed to evaluate changes in anuran diversity associated with native forest replacement by pine plantations (Pinus taeda) in the southern Atlantic forest of Argentina, a highly diverse and threatened ecosystem. Additionally, we intended to explore the role of the micro-habitat (terrestrial, aquatic) in the response. We characterized vegetation and habitat structure and sampled anurans in terrestrial and aquatic micro-habitats in the native forest and pine plantations monthly over two consecutive years (2012?2014), using three complementary techniques (pitfall traps, audio strip transects and larval sampling). Results/Conclusions (150 words); A total of 964 individuals of 21 species were captured: Physalaemus cuvieri, Odontophrynus americanus and Elachistocleis bicolor were the most abundant species. Replacement of the structurally complex native forest by extremely simplified monoculture plantations influenced the patterns of anuran alpha and beta diversity. However, changes in the terrestrial habitat were explained by species loss, while those in aquatic habitat were explained by both species loss and turnover. The arboreal species of the family Hylidae were found absent from tree plantations. The hydroperiod instability of water bodies and the simplified vegetation structure of the tree plantations are probably limiting the suitability for reproduction and larval development of some specialist species. Native vegetation surrounding water bodies in the tree plantations constitutes a central element to maintain anuran diversity, increasing the hydroperiod and providing a habitat for species reproduction and to facilitate the movement of individuals among native forest remnants.