title: Habitat split and the global decline of amphibians.
abstract: The worldwide decline in amphibians has been attributed to several causes, especially habitat loss and disease. We identified a further factor, namely "habitat split"-defined as human-induced disconnection between habitats used by different life history stages of a species-which forces forest-associated amphibians with aquatic larvae to make risky breeding migrations between suitable aquatic and terrestrial habitats. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we found that habitat split negatively affects the richness of species with aquatic larvae but not the richness of species with terrestrial development (the latter can complete their life cycle inside forest remnants). This mechanism helps to explain why species with aquatic larvae have the highest incidence of population decline. These findings reinforce the need for the conservation and restoration of riparian vegetation.
authors: Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas SP, Brazil.
authors: Carlos Guilherme
authors: CG
authors: Becker
authors: Carlos Roberto
authors: CR
authors: Fonseca
authors: Célio Fernando Baptista
authors: CF
authors: Haddad
authors: Rômulo Fernandes
authors: RF
authors: Batista
authors: Paulo Inácio
authors: PI
authors: Prado
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014197:Trees; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water