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The value of remnant trees in pastures for a neotropical poison frog

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2013

Darvé Robinson ,
Adrienne Warmsley ,
A. Justin Nowakowski ,
Kelsey E. Reider  and
Maureen A. Donnelly
Darvé Robinson
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Planetary Science, 200 SRCC, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
Adrienne Warmsley
Affiliation:
College of Natural Resources and Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, 95521, USA
A. Justin Nowakowski*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Kelsey E. Reider
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Maureen A. Donnelly
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA College of Arts and Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
*
1Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract:

Conversion of natural habitats to anthropogenic land uses is a primary cause of amphibian declines in species-rich tropical regions. However, agricultural lands are frequently used by a subset of forest-associated species, and the habitat value of a given land use is likely modified by the presence and characteristics of remnant trees. Here we used mark–recapture methods to examine abundances and movement probability of the poison frog, Oophaga pumilio, at individual trees in forest-fragment edges and adjacent pastures in north-eastern Costa Rica. One hundred and forty-seven trees were surveyed at three replicate sites that each included a forest fragment and adjacent pasture. Trees were sampled at distances of ≤30 m into forest and ≤150 m into pastures for Oophaga pumilio, and local environmental characteristics were measured at each tree. We also measured indices of physical condition (size and endurance) of frogs captured in forest edges and in nearby pastures. Analyses of 167 marked individuals showed no difference in per-tree abundances or sex ratios between pasture and forest edges. We found significant interactions between habitat type and leaf-litter cover, tree dbh and number of logs, indicating greater influence of local variables on abundances in pastures. Movement among trees was infrequent and not predicted by sex, size, habitat type or environmental variables. While results of endurance tests did not differ for individuals from the two habitats, frogs captured in pastures were, on average, larger than frogs captured in forest edges. These data indicate that remnant trees are important habitat features for O. pumilio in pastures and corroborate research in other systems that suggests that large relictual trees should be retained to maximize the potential for altered landscapes to provide habitat for native species.

Keywords

amphibiankeystone structuresland useOophaga pumiliopastureremnant trees
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 29 , Issue 4 , July 2013 , pp. 345 - 352
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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References

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