The effects of amphibian population declines to the structure and function of Neotropical stream ecosystems.
Abstract: Amphibians can be important consumers in both aquatic and terrestrial
habitats and may represent an important energetic link between the two,
particularly in the tropics, where amphibian species richness and
abundance are high. In the past 20 years, amphibian populations have
declined dramatically around the world; numbers have decreased
catastrophically in protected upland sites throughout the neotropics,
usually resulting in the disappearance of over 75% of amphibians at a
given site, particularly those species that breed in streams. Most
studies of amphibian declines have focused on identifying causes and
documenting changes in adult abundance, rather than on their ecological
consequences. Here, we review evidence for the potential ecological
effects of catastrophic amphibian declines, focusing on neotropical
highland streams, where impacts will likely be greatest. Evidence to
date suggests that amphibian declines will have large-scale and lasting
ecosystem-level effects, including changes in algal community structure
and primary production, altered organic matter dynamics, changes in
other consumers such as aquatic insects and riparian predators, and
reduced energy transfers between streams and riparian habitats.
Furthermore, because of habitat and functional differences between
larvae and adults in most amphibians, the loss of a single species is
akin to losing two species.
Whiles, M., K. Lips, C. Pringle, S. Kilham, R. Bixby, R. Brenes, S. Connelly, J. C. Colon-Gaud, M. Hunte-Brown, A. D. Huryn, C. Montgomery, and S. Peterson. 2006. The effects of amphibian population declines to the structure and function of Neotropical stream ecosystems. Frontiers. 4(1): 27-34.
Back to Literature Page
| Pringle's Home Page | University of Georgia | Odum School of Ecology |