Between-year consistency of anuran assemblages in temporary ponds in a deforested area in Western Amazonia

Abstract

Many studies have shown that forest fragments are depauperate in forest-dependent fauna, and that fragments are invaded by generalist or colonising species. However, rather than representing generalist species, the anurans that occur in disturbed areas around forest remnants may represent a specialist fauna with its own complex interactions rather than generalist species capable of colonising any water bodies available for reproduction. We studied anuran assemblages in 10 temporary ponds around a forest fragment in the State of Acre, Brazil, on the southern border of the Amazon forest, between October and June in 2008, 2009 and 2010. We recorded 24 species in 6 families. Assemblages in ponds were temporally stable, indicating strong deterministic control of assemblage composition. Although they contain fewer species than found in the original forest, these assemblages inhabiting novel ecosystems are highly structured and probably have complex interactions with their biotic and abiotic environments. They are worthy of further study.