Local and landscape determinants of amphibian communities in urban ponds

Ecological ApplicationsVolume 21, Issue 2 p. 378-390 Article Local and landscape determinants of amphibian communities in urban ponds Andrew J. Hamer, Corresponding Author Andrew J. Hamer [email protected] Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, c/o School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010 Australia E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorKirsten M. Parris, Kirsten M. Parris School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010 AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author Andrew J. Hamer, Corresponding Author Andrew J. Hamer [email protected] Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, c/o School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010 Australia E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorKirsten M. Parris, Kirsten M. Parris School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010 AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 March 2011 https://doi.org/10.1890/10-0390.1Citations: 129Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Urbanization is currently responsible for widespread declines of amphibian populations globally through the loss, isolation, and degradation of habitat. However, it is not clear how urbanization affects amphibian communities at both local (pond) and landscape scales. We assessed the breeding distribution of frogs in ponds along an urban–rural gradient in Greater Melbourne, Australia, and examined community relationships with habitat quality and landscape context. We sampled frog larvae at 65 ponds on four separate occasions and collected data on local pond and landscape variables. Using Bayesian Poisson regression modeling we found that species richness decreased at ponds surrounded by high densities of human residents and at ponds with high water conductivity, whereas species richness increased substantially at ponds surrounded by a high proportion of green open space. Ordination of individual species presence-absence data by canonical correspondence analysis largely confirmed these findings. Ordination also highlighted the negative influences of pond shading and density of predatory fish, and the positive influence of aquatic vegetation, on community composition. Individual species’ responses to urbanization varied. Urbanization had strong negative effects on species that were associated with well-vegetated, sunny, fish-free ponds. Our study highlights the importance of strategic management actions in urban landscapes to improve terrestrial habitat and connectivity around ponds and other wetlands, and local management actions to improve water quality, remove predatory fish, and plant aquatic vegetation at breeding sites. Supporting Information Filename Description https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3294797 Research data pertaining to this article is located at figshare.com: Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article. Literature Cited Adams, M. J., K. O. Richter, and W. P. Leonard . 1997. Surveying and monitoring amphibians using aquatic funnel traps. Pages 47–54. in D. H. Olson, W. P. 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