Habitat split and the global decline of amphibians
Carlos Guilherme Becker1, Carlos Roberto Fonseca, Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
1Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas SP, Brazil.
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.
Related Concept Videos
Habitat Fragmentation
Threats to Biodiversity
Hybrid Zones
Conservation of Declining Populations
What is Conservation Biology?
Conservation of Small Populations


