Habitat split and the global decline of amphibians.
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.
Becker
Carlos Guilherme
CG
Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas SP, Brazil.
Fonseca
Carlos Roberto
CR
Haddad
Célio Fernando Baptista
CF
Batista
Rômulo Fernandes
RF
Prado
Paulo Inácio
PI
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
D014867:Water