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Puig-Gironès R, Bel G, Cid N, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Fernández-Calero JM, Quevedo-Ortiz G, Fortuño P, Vinyoles D, Real J, Pujol-Buxó E, Bonada N. Water availability and biological interactions shape amphibian abundance and diversity in Mediterranean temporary rivers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:175917. [PMID: 39218102 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Amphibians, the most threatened vertebrates globally, face risks due to climate change, habitat loss, and fragmentation. Their sensitivity to environmental changes highlights their importance as ecological indicators. Temporary rivers, influenced by geological, climatic, and anthropogenic factors, play a critical role in shaping biodiversity and community structure. Some species of amphibians may be adapted to these temporary waters, a fact reflected in their life cycles and various biological traits. However, to develop effective conservation strategies for amphibians, it is essential to address the knowledge gaps surrounding the complex interactions between biological dynamics and fluvial habitat conditions. In this study, we investigated how trophic interactions between amphibians and other aquatic organisms (diatoms, macroinvertebrates, and fish), coupled with environmental factors (water availability and riparian structure), can affect amphibian abundance and diversity in temporary rivers. The study was conducted in a Mediterranean river network located in Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park (Catalonia, Spain). Our expectations were that habitats suitable for egg deposition, lacking predators (e.g. tadpole-predators and fish), and abundant in food sources would likely support higher amphibian abundance and diversity. However, water availability was identified as a crucial factor shaping abundance and diversity in the studied amphibian communities, even if it correlated with fish presence, and especially impacting amphibian species usually linked to permanent water bodies. Concerning biotic interactions, while our results suggested that amphibian populations in temporary rivers are more dependent on top-down than bottom-up interactions, the presence of aquatic predators was not as conclusive as expected, suggesting that in temporary rivers the fish-avoiding amphibian species can survive using microhabitats or breeding opportunities linked to natural river dynamics. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of considering multi-trophic interactions, hydroperiod and habitat heterogeneity in temporary river ecosystems for effective amphibian conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Puig-Gironès
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació (EBC-UB), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Ciències Ambientals, Universitat of Girona, C/Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Gemma Bel
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació (EBC-UB), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Cid
- IRTA Marine and Continental Waters Programme, Ctra de Poble Nou Km 5.5, 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Catalonia, Spain; Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM-Lab), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM-Lab), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C/de Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - José María Fernández-Calero
- Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM-Lab), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guillermo Quevedo-Ortiz
- Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM-Lab), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Fortuño
- Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM-Lab), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dolors Vinyoles
- Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM-Lab), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Real
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació (EBC-UB), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Núria Bonada
- Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM-Lab), Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals & Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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