Avaliação dos efeitos da plantação de palmas (Elaeis guineensis) na conservação de anuros na Amazônia oriental

Abstract

In this thesis, we analyzed the effects of oil palm cultivation (Elaeis guineensis) on taxonomic and functional diversity of anurans in the eastern Amazon. In addition, we analyzed the response of anurans to environmental variation in oil palm plantations and surrounding forests. We surveyed for the presence of anurans in April 2012, 2015 and 2016, in 2100 m² plots through visual and acoustic searches. In April 2016, we also measured microclimatic (air temperature and humidity) and habitat structural variables (water body width and depth, leaf litter depth, canopy openness and number of trees) in both habitat types. We found higher functional diversity and species richness in forests, with difference in species composition and functional characters distribution between forests and oil palm plantations. Water body depth and width positively affected species richness and number of individuals, while water body depth and diurnal temperature influenced species composition in oil palm plantations. Only number of individuals was positively affected by diurnal temperature and nocturnal humidity in forests, while species composition and richness were not affected by any environmental variable in this habitat type. Our results make clear that conversion of forests to oil palm plantations negatively affects anurans taxonomic and functional diversity, making urgent the maintenance of forests surrounding the plantations as a way to reduce the negative impacts.