To understand the influence of edge effects on an anuran community within two fragments of different size in an Andean cloud forest, anuran richness, abundance and diversity were studied on transects located at 2, 50, 100 and 200 m from the forest border to the interior. Measures of microhabitat and environmental variables in each sampling site were recorded. Borders with abrupt edges showed the lowest diversity, suggesting that the environmental variables registered demonstrate adverse conditions for the establishment of frogs. The use and the configuration of the adjacent matrix appears to have a strong influence on the edge effect as perceived by the anurans in this area, being much more pronounced across forest borders that abruptly neighbour cattle pasture.
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1 December 2008
Edge Effects on Richness, Abundance and Diversity of Frogs in Andean Cloud Forest Fragments
Angela M. Cortés,
Martha P. Ramírez-Pinilla,
Henry A. Suárez,
Elkin Tovar
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South American Journal of Herpetology
Vol. 3 • No. 3
December 2008
Vol. 3 • No. 3
December 2008
amphibians
Andean forest
Colombia
diversity
fragmentation
matrix