Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Leaf Litter Anuran Communities and Potentially Influential Environmental Variables at Three Atlantic Forest Areas in Southeastern Brazil

Camila Rievers, Maria Rita, Silvério Pires, Paula Eterovick
2011 unpublished
We conducted a 12-month survey of leaf litter anuran assemblages at three areas in different stages of succession in the Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, the largest Atlantic Forest remnant in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. We measured species richness, abundance, and biomass, plus variables that could potentially affect anuran communities including aspects of invertebrate litter fauna, leaf litter biomass and structure, and microclimatic conditions. We first characterized and compared
more » ... three areas according to the variables studied, and then defined sample units that were not spatially correlated to test for spatial and temporal correlations between anuran species richness, abundance and biomass (as dependent variables) and the environmental variables (as independent variables) using multiple regression. The forest areas in later stages of succession had more anuran species and higher anuran abundance and biomass, as well as more invertebrate taxa, but lower invertebrate abundance. Leaf litter biomass was higher in the mature forest, but leaf litter depth on the soil was shallower. Humidity and temperature did not vary significantly among areas. Temporally, anurans were more abundant during the rainy season as were invertebrates, and leaf litter biomass was greater. Spatially, anuran abundance was influenced by dry leaf litter biomass and richness of invertebrate taxa. The best model to explain variation in anuran abundance included dry leaf litter biomass and rainfall, but still it did not explain a significant amount of variation. The available data on leaf litter anuran communities indicates no general pattern concerning spatial or temporal distribution.
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