Interspecific synchrony in a local assemblage of anurans in Central Brazil: effects of phylogeny and reproductive patterns - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v25i1.2114

Abstract

We studied the pattern of temporal occurrence of 15 amphibians species that coexist in a Brazilian conservation unit from June 1995 to May 1998. Using the resultant binary data matrix, an interspecific association matrix (Jaccard coefficient) was calculated. As a unique local assemblage was temporally surveyed, this matrix represents how pairs of species are temporally associated (interspecific synchrony). Two symmetrical explanatory matrices, one based on taxonomic relationships amongst species and the other based on reproductive patterns, were also analyzed. Mantel tests indicated that interspecific synchrony was significantly correlated with taxonomy, and not with reproductive patterns. Thus, species of amphibians taxonomically related fluctuate more synchronously than expected by chance alone. Extrapolating this result for other assemblage groups with declining population, we infer that the number of amphibian species that are considered to be in decline is probably underestimated. In other words, if species that comprise an assemblage are temporally associated (synchronously related), besides the few monitored species that are considered to be in decline, those species taxonomically related within the assemblage groups could be in decline as well