Classification and sensitivity of taxonomic and functional diversity indices of anurans in the Andean coffee cultural landscape

A study reveals that the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia supports higher functional diversity of anurans (frogs and toads) in areas with greater anthropogenic intervention, such as those surrounding houses. This suggests that landscape mosaics—including both natural and human-modified habitats—can play a crucial role in conserving diverse functional traits among anuran species. The research found that Rao's quadratic entropy, functional dispersion, and average functional diversity were the most sensitive metrics to land-use changes, indicating that these indices are particularly effective for monitoring the impacts of landscape transformation on biodiversity. While taxonomic diversity did not vary significantly with seasonal climate changes, larger-bodied species showed a preference for anthropogenic landscapes. These findings underscore the importance of integrating functional trait measurements into conservation strategies to better understand and mitigate the effects of land-use change on anuran assemblages.

María Galindo-Uribe, D., Mario Hoyos-Hoyos, J., Isaacs-Cubides, P., Corral-Gómez, N., & Urbina-Cardona, N. (2022). Classification and sensitivity of taxonomic and functional diversity indices of anurans in the Andean coffee cultural landscape. Ecological Indicators, 136, 108650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108650