ANURANS RESPONSE TO DIRTY ROADS IN A RESERVE AT THE ATLANTIC FOREST

Roads modify natural landscape features and influence presence and distribution of anurans at both urban and natural areas. It is hypothesized that roads create negative edge effect on anurans. The distinct response to road effect is possibly based on breeding guild. We evaluated richness and abundance of anuran at four different distances from roads to forest interior in Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi, Santa Teresa municipality, Espírito Santo state, Southeastern Brazil. The study was conducted in December 2015 and January 2016. We recorded 415 individuals from 29 species in the 60 sample units (paired plots of 5m X 5m at four distances across 15 sites). There were 268 individuals of eight leaf-litter species, 143 individuals of 19 water-body species, three individuals of a bromeliad-dwelling species, and an individual of egg-brooding species. All guilds decreased in richness and abundance from the forest interior toward the road. 'Distance' was the best model to explain the richness and abundance of anuran species in the landscape. Across eight models of environmental variables, 'canopy cover' was the most suitable for explaining richness and abundance. The number of medium and large trees, leaf-litter depth, and canopy cover increased toward the forest. Temperature mean and wind speed decreased toward forest interior whereas humidity increased toward the forest interior. Seventeen species were exclusively found in forest interior compared to road and edge. Anurans are adversely affected by roads presence. For conservation, it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the area's characteristics, involving its environment and substrates, fundamental for all biological diversity.