Influencia de los gradientes ambientales en la abundancia de tres especies de renacuajos asociados a charcas permanentes y temporales

The objective of the research was to analyze the influence of the biotic and abiotic variables in environmental gradients on the abundance of 3 tadpole species associated with permanent and temporary ponds in a tropical stream in southeastern Mexico. The search for individuals and the environmental variables records were carried out from March to July 2021. A total of 975 tadpoles of 3 species were recorded: Lithobates vaillanti, Incilius valliceps, and Exerodonta bivocata, and this last species was recorded exclusively in ponds located in primary vegetation, so this anuran is a specialist of conserved habitats. Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (Permanova) determined that vegetation type had a significant effect on the variables recorded in each environmental gradient (pseudo-F = 3.46, p [perm] = 0.0015). Distance-based Linear Model (DistLM) of tadpole assemblage suggests that total tadpole abundance is explained by water temperature, salinity and pH. This study provides key information about how environmental gradients influence tadpole abundance. This is fundamental for the conservation and management of specialist organisms that are poorly known for their reproductive modes or are in some category of risk.