Amphibian richness along modified riparian areas of central Mexico: conservation priorities
Abstract Background Land-use change frequently affects faunistic populations and communities. To achieve successful conservation strategies, we need suitable information about species distribution and the causes of extinction risk. Many amphibian species depend on riparian vegetation to complete the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Ecological Processes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-022-00408-7 |
| _version_ | 1797989836666175488 |
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| author | Marco Tulio Oropeza-Sánchez Ireri Suazo-Ortuño Julieta Benítez-Malvido Erandi Monroy-Hernández Roberto Munguía-Steyer |
| author_facet | Marco Tulio Oropeza-Sánchez Ireri Suazo-Ortuño Julieta Benítez-Malvido Erandi Monroy-Hernández Roberto Munguía-Steyer |
| author_sort | Marco Tulio Oropeza-Sánchez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Land-use change frequently affects faunistic populations and communities. To achieve successful conservation strategies, we need suitable information about species distribution and the causes of extinction risk. Many amphibian species depend on riparian vegetation to complete their life cycles. About 41% of amphibian species are globally threatened, and accurate estimations of population size, species richness and the identification of critical habitats are urgently needed worldwide. To evaluate the magnitude of changes in species richness and demography, estimations that include detection probability are necessary. In this study, we employed multi-species occupancy models to estimate detection probability and the effect of land cover type (i.e., cropland, artificial pasture, secondary and mature forest) in a 500-m radius on the occupancy probability and richness of diurnal amphibians in 60 riparian zones in the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. Furthermore, we evaluated the potential of the endemic salamander Ambystoma ordinarium as a flagship species for the conservation of other native amphibian species. Results We registered a total of 20 amphibian species in the diurnal assemblage, of which 10 species are considered at risk of extinction. We found that cropland was the most important land-use type for explaining amphibian distribution in riparian zones, with negative effects on most amphibian species. We found no differences in species richness between zones with and without A. ordinarium. In riparian zones occupied by A. ordinarium, however, we found a higher number of species at risk of extinction. Conclusions Our findings showed negative effects of croplands on the distribution of most amphibian species. The riparian zones are important for the maintenance of native diurnal amphibian communities and A. ordinarium can act as a flagship species for the conservation of threatened amphibian species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:26:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8264b2cb4387478294756fdbf714db99 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2192-1709 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:26:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Processes |
| spelling | doaj.art-8264b2cb4387478294756fdbf714db992022-12-22T04:34:43ZengSpringerOpenEcological Processes2192-17092022-10-0111111410.1186/s13717-022-00408-7Amphibian richness along modified riparian areas of central Mexico: conservation prioritiesMarco Tulio Oropeza-Sánchez0Ireri Suazo-Ortuño1Julieta Benítez-Malvido2Erandi Monroy-Hernández3Roberto Munguía-Steyer4Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoInstituto de Investigaciones Sobre los Recursos Naturales (INIRENA), Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de HidalgoInstituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoInstituto de Investigaciones Sobre los Recursos Naturales (INIRENA), Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de HidalgoFacultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala (FES-Iztacala), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoAbstract Background Land-use change frequently affects faunistic populations and communities. To achieve successful conservation strategies, we need suitable information about species distribution and the causes of extinction risk. Many amphibian species depend on riparian vegetation to complete their life cycles. About 41% of amphibian species are globally threatened, and accurate estimations of population size, species richness and the identification of critical habitats are urgently needed worldwide. To evaluate the magnitude of changes in species richness and demography, estimations that include detection probability are necessary. In this study, we employed multi-species occupancy models to estimate detection probability and the effect of land cover type (i.e., cropland, artificial pasture, secondary and mature forest) in a 500-m radius on the occupancy probability and richness of diurnal amphibians in 60 riparian zones in the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. Furthermore, we evaluated the potential of the endemic salamander Ambystoma ordinarium as a flagship species for the conservation of other native amphibian species. Results We registered a total of 20 amphibian species in the diurnal assemblage, of which 10 species are considered at risk of extinction. We found that cropland was the most important land-use type for explaining amphibian distribution in riparian zones, with negative effects on most amphibian species. We found no differences in species richness between zones with and without A. ordinarium. In riparian zones occupied by A. ordinarium, however, we found a higher number of species at risk of extinction. Conclusions Our findings showed negative effects of croplands on the distribution of most amphibian species. The riparian zones are important for the maintenance of native diurnal amphibian communities and A. ordinarium can act as a flagship species for the conservation of threatened amphibian species.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-022-00408-7Flagship speciesHabitat qualityOccupancy modelsSalamandersThreatened species |
| spellingShingle | Marco Tulio Oropeza-Sánchez Ireri Suazo-Ortuño Julieta Benítez-Malvido Erandi Monroy-Hernández Roberto Munguía-Steyer Amphibian richness along modified riparian areas of central Mexico: conservation priorities Ecological Processes Flagship species Habitat quality Occupancy models Salamanders Threatened species |
| title | Amphibian richness along modified riparian areas of central Mexico: conservation priorities |
| title_full | Amphibian richness along modified riparian areas of central Mexico: conservation priorities |
| title_fullStr | Amphibian richness along modified riparian areas of central Mexico: conservation priorities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Amphibian richness along modified riparian areas of central Mexico: conservation priorities |
| title_short | Amphibian richness along modified riparian areas of central Mexico: conservation priorities |
| title_sort | amphibian richness along modified riparian areas of central mexico conservation priorities |
| topic | Flagship species Habitat quality Occupancy models Salamanders Threatened species |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-022-00408-7 |
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