**3. Results**

We found 15 anuran species from five families: Hylidae (four species), Leptodactylidae (four species), Bufonidae (two species), Phyllomedusidae, Microhylidae and Ranidae, both with one species each. We registered all the 15 species in the inner portion of gradient (the portion inside the PET) and only 10 species in the outside portion. The most conspicuous species were *Dendropsophus minutus* and *Scinax granulatus* both occurring at 31 of the 38 sampled ponds, respectively (**Table 2**). We found, based on the abundance distribution curve, that the ponds located at inner portion of the gradient have the species abundance more equally distributed (equability) than the ponds located at the outside portion (**Figure 2**).

Regarding the taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic patterns of diversity that we analysed, only the phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic redundancy were related to the studied gradient (r2 = 0.14, p > 0.05 and r2 = 0.20, p < 0.05, respectively). The phylogenetic diversity (opposed to what we assumed) decreased at the inner portion of the gradient, while the phylogenetic redundancy increased (see **Figure 3A** and **B**).


**Table 2.** Anuran species, place of occurrence, frequency of occurrence and maximum abundance recorded in ponds monitored at Parque Estadual do Turvo and adjacencies between 2014 and 2016.

Despite the total functional diversity not showing statistical significance, when evaluated alone with the distance gradient, the attributes (CWM matrix) showed that the individuals from the inner portion of the gradient presented higher values of the forelimb ratios (hind limbs r2 = 0.13, p < 0.05, forearms r2 = 0.11, p < 0.05) and mouth size ratio (r2 = 0.12, p < 0.05) than the individuals found at the outside portion of the gradient. The results also showed that the reproductive mode number 4 (eggs laid on small ponds constructed by the males) [43], exhibited by *Hypsiboas faber*, is more commonly found at the outside than the inner portion

**Figure 3.** Regression results between anuran functional, phylogenetic (p < 0.05) and taxonomic diversities and redundancy along the agricultural-preserved forest gradient (environmental filter) at Parque Estadual do Turvo and

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(r2 = 0.12, p < 0.05; see **Figure 4A**–**D**).

adjacencies, southern Brazil between 2014 and 2016.

**Figure 2.** Whittaker diagram, showing the distribution of abundance of 15 anuran species recorded along an agriculturalpreserved forest gradient at the Parque Estadual do Turvo, Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Black triangles represent the inner portion of the gradient, and the gray triangles represent the outside portion.

Enhanced Phylogenetic Diversity of Anuran Communities: A Result of Species Loss in… http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72256 27

**Figure 3.** Regression results between anuran functional, phylogenetic (p < 0.05) and taxonomic diversities and redundancy along the agricultural-preserved forest gradient (environmental filter) at Parque Estadual do Turvo and adjacencies, southern Brazil between 2014 and 2016.

Despite the total functional diversity not showing statistical significance, when evaluated alone with the distance gradient, the attributes (CWM matrix) showed that the individuals from the inner portion of the gradient presented higher values of the forelimb ratios (hind limbs r2 = 0.13, p < 0.05, forearms r2 = 0.11, p < 0.05) and mouth size ratio (r2 = 0.12, p < 0.05) than the individuals found at the outside portion of the gradient. The results also showed that the reproductive mode number 4 (eggs laid on small ponds constructed by the males) [43], exhibited by *Hypsiboas faber*, is more commonly found at the outside than the inner portion (r2 = 0.12, p < 0.05; see **Figure 4A**–**D**).

**Figure 2.** Whittaker diagram, showing the distribution of abundance of 15 anuran species recorded along an agriculturalpreserved forest gradient at the Parque Estadual do Turvo, Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Black triangles represent

**Table 2.** Anuran species, place of occurrence, frequency of occurrence and maximum abundance recorded in ponds

**Family/species Inside Outside Number of ponds (total 38)**

*Rhinella icterica* 01 04 04 *Rhinella ornata* 34 00 07

*Dendropsophus minutus* 74 40 31 *Hypsiboas faber* 30 24 18 *Ololygon aromothyella* 17 00 03 *Scinax fuscovarius* 04 00 01 *Scinax granulatus* 58 23 31 *Scinax perereca* 24 00 10

*Leptodactylus latrans* 27 13 12 *Leptodactylus mystacinus* 28 19 21 *Physalaemus cuvieri* 45 37 25 *Physalaemus* aff. *gracilis* 31 04 15

*Elachistocleis bicolor* 12 24 15

*Phyllomedusa tetraploidea* 18 00 08

*Lithobates catesbeianus\** 50 28 23

monitored at Parque Estadual do Turvo and adjacencies between 2014 and 2016.

**Bufonidae**

26 Tropical Forests - New Edition

**Hylidae**

**Leptodactylidae**

**Microhylidae**

**Ranidae**

\*

**Phyllomedusidae**

Exotic species.

the inner portion of the gradient, and the gray triangles represent the outside portion.

by eight genera (*Physalaemus* [two species], *Leptodactylus* [two species], *Rhinella* [two species], *Phyllomedusa* [one species], *Dendropsophus* [one species], *Scinax* [three species], *Ololygon* [one

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The anuran community of the PET is characterized as a mixture of species (from several families and genera) [44] given their distribution patterns. From the 15 species found at our study, five occurred only at the inner portion of the gradient (*Ololygon aromothyella*, *Phyllomedusa tetraploidea*, *Rhinella ornata*, *S. fuscovarius* and *S. perereca*), and four of them are quite dependent of the arboreal strata or the different types of vegetation at water surface (*O. aromothyella*,

The pattern observed at the Whittaker's diagram (**Figure 2**) showed the dominance of a low number of species at the inside and outside portions of the gradient. This kind of pattern is considerably recurrent; other studies already showed the decrease of richness and enhancing on dominance at places affected by anthropogenic disturbance [47–49]. In the present case, at both portions of the studied gradient, the native species *Dendropsophus minutus* and *S. granulatus* and the exotic species *Lithobates catesbeianus* presented higher abundances when compared to other species. These two native and abundant species share not just the reproductive mode but are also highly tolerant to human induced disturbances, being found close to human dwelling (or inside of them, like *S. granulatus*) and man-made water bodies. However, *L. catesbeianus* presents a high invasive potential, and as explained by Madalozzo et al. [50], its distribution is facilitated by the influence of the edge effect and the man-made water bodies along the borders of PET.

Our results show that despite the initial assumption of a higher taxonomic and functional diversity at the inner portions of the gradient, there is no significant difference between the two sampling sites. The great number of man-made water bodies available outside of PET area may explain the similarity on the taxonomic and functional diversity given the high number of generalist species that inhabit both agriculture and forest environments (e.g. *D. minutus*, *S. granulatus*, *L. catesbeianus*, and *Physalaemus* spp.) and their reproductive modes, associated to both permanent and temporary ponds. This pattern of occurrence is commonly found at studies on Atlantic rainforest *lato sensu* (with exception of the wet evergreen forest), mainly at locations that present ecotonal characteristics (given the recent anthropogenic modifications). This landscape feature may exert influence on anuran reproductive behavior and physiology, given the unpredictability of variables like temperature and evaporation at these places, enhancing the establishment of more plastic species which can respond differently and maybe more efficiently to disturbed environmental conditions [51, 52]. In this way, it is expected to find similar species (with similar functional traits) when thinking only on the pond-dwelling anurans, both, in and outside of the gradient, since they have to deal with the diversity of microhabitat of both places, diminishing the difference of this diversity patterns. However, when adding the stream (e.g. *Vitreorana uranoscopa*, *Hypsiboas curupi*, *Crossodactylus schmidti*) the marsh-dwelling anurans (e.g. *Odontophrynus americanus*, *Proceratophrys avelinoi* and *P. bigibosa*) and the extremely ephemeral pond-dwelling anurans (e.g. *Melanophryniscus*), we can expect to see greater differences.

species] and *Hypsiboas* [one species]).

*P. tetraploidea*, *S. fuscovarius* and *S. perereca*) [43, 45, 46].

**4. Discussion**

**Figure 4.** Regression results between the ratios of the morphological characteristics of anurans and their reproductive modes along the agricultural-preserved forest gradient (environmental filter) at Parque Estadual do Turvo and adjacencies, southern Brazil between 2014 and 2016.

**Figure 5.** Phylogeny of the anurans recorded at waterbodies monitored along an environmental gradient ranging from an agricultural landscape to a well-preserved forest at the southern Brazil. Generated based in Pyron and Wiens [34], Narvaes and Rodrigues [37], Faivovich (2002), Nascimento et al. [36], de Sá et al. (2012), [38] and Vieira (2010). We defined the branch length based on the estimative of the age of the clades, given by the TimeTree (Hedges et al., 2006).

The phylogeny generated concerning the anurans showed the formation of two distinct clades (**Figure 5**). The first, the oldest clade (about 90 million years), is formed by two genera with one species each (*Lithobates catesbeianus* and *Elachistocleis bicolor*); the second clade is formed by eight genera (*Physalaemus* [two species], *Leptodactylus* [two species], *Rhinella* [two species], *Phyllomedusa* [one species], *Dendropsophus* [one species], *Scinax* [three species], *Ololygon* [one species] and *Hypsiboas* [one species]).
