Influences of environmental heterogeneity on amphibian composition at breeding sites in a semiarid region of Mexico

Identification of factors that determine the behavior and diversity of species is crucial to our understanding of the ecology of species and communities. Satellite remote sensing (SRS) provides information relevant to the study of biodiversity and associated environmental traits at multiple spatial...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of arid environments 2020-11, Vol.182, p.104259, Article 104259
Main Authors: Esparza-Orozco, Alfredo, Lira-Noriega, Andrés, Martínez-Montoya, Juan F., Pineda-Martínez, Luis F., Méndez-Gallegos, Santiago de Jesús
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anurans
Environmental suitability
Mexican altiplano
Mexican plateau
Remote sensing
Xeric shrubland
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Summary:Identification of factors that determine the behavior and diversity of species is crucial to our understanding of the ecology of species and communities. Satellite remote sensing (SRS) provides information relevant to the study of biodiversity and associated environmental traits at multiple spatial and temporal resolutions. Pond-breeding amphibians allow for comparative ecological analysis regarding the influence of environmental heterogeneity derived from SRS. Here, we characterize the influence of heterogeneity in abiotic (TWI, LST) and habitat-related (NDVI, NDWI) factors derived at fine spatial resolution on reproductive activity in the anuran community of the South Altiplano semiarid biogeographic province in Mexico. We used anuran reproductive data from seasonal and permanent water bodies and tested for the influence of abiotic and habitat heterogeneity with a spatiotemporal perspective using multivariate analysis, linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) and ecological niche models (ENMs). The results suggest that habitat heterogeneity best explains reproductive activity, whereas abiotic heterogeneity was second in importance. Implementation of ENMs using these abiotic and habitat heterogeneity variables allowed the detection of areas highly suitable for breeding across the study region. This research underlines the importance of environmental heterogeneity for predicting anuran breeding areas and their species compositions in the semiarid South Altiplano region of Mexico. •South Altiplano anuran breeding activity is explained by habitat heterogeneity.•Abiotic and habitat heterogeneity from SRS are good surrogates for anuran breeding activity.•Use of SRS variables with ENMs can correctly predict suitability of anuran breeding sites.
ISSN:0140-1963
1095-922X
DOI:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2020.104259