Open AccessHabitat amount and ambient temperature dictate patterns of anuran diversity along a subtropical elevational gradient
Author(s) -
CarvalhoRocha Vítor,
Peres Carlos A.,
NeckelOliveira Selvino
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
diversity and distributions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.918
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1472-4642
pISSN - 1366-9516
DOI - 10.1111/ddi.13187
Subject(s) - species richness , ecology , abundance (ecology) , habitat , subtropics , species diversity , biology , environmental gradient , species distribution , productivity , economics , macroeconomics
Aim Patterns of diversity along elevational gradients are driven by species characteristics but remain poorly understood. Filling this gap is imperative given the deteriorating conservation status of anurans worldwide. Here, we examine frog diversity and species composition along a sharp subtropical elevational gradient and assess the degree to which these are determined by environmental and spatial predictors. Location An extensive southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest elevational gradient ranging from 300 to 1,800 m above sea level. Methods We sampled 38 ponds and used structural equation modelling to examine the direct and indirect effects of area, climate, habitat amount, habitat complexity and productivity on frog species richness and abundance. We also applied joint species distribution models to investigate the importance of these predictors on frog species composition using species distribution and co‐occurrence along the elevational gradient. Results We recorded 12,636 individuals of 41 frog species. Frog species richness was highest at intermediate elevations, showing a hump‐shaped pattern. Frog abundance was highest at lowlands and decreased towards higher elevations. We found support for only the habitat amount hypothesis in explaining overall species richness. Although temperature had a positive influence on productivity and frog abundance, neither predictors were related to species richness. Species composition diverged markedly between lowland and highland frog assemblages, which was mainly attributed to differences in ambient temperature. Main conclusion Elevations containing more extensive natural habitat areas retained the most species‐rich frog assemblages. The mid‐elevational peak is likely attributed to lowland habitat (<800 masl) heterogeneity and extreme climatic conditions in highland areas (>1,400 masl). The entire elevational gradient is, however, critical in maintaining anuran species diversity as lowland assemblages are distinct from those at mid‐ to high elevations. Our study also shows that anthropogenic habitat loss has a decisive effect on montane frog diversity, reinforcing the need to effectively protect these areas.