Anuran richness and spatial-temporal distribution along an Araucaria Forest remnant in southeastern Parana State, Brazil

Species richness, spatial distribution and the seasonal occurrence of anurans (adults and tadpoles) were studied throughout 15 months in an Araucaria forest remnant at Fazenda Rio Grande, Parana State, Brazil. Thirty-two species were registered, which corresponds to the third largest anuran richness in Parana State. The spatial distribution of the species was not uniform between habitats showed: 46% of the species were associates with opened areas, occurring exclusively in habitats of open areas and/or in forest edges, 34% were associated with forest habitats, occurring, in habitats forest and/or forest edge, while that 13% were classified as generalists as they occurred in open formations, at the edge and interior of the forest fragments. The reproductive period of the species was correlated with rainfall, since 80% of the species were found in breeding activity the rainy season. About 40% of the registered anuran species were associated on the habitat features provided by the forest cover which reinforces the importance of conservation of Araucaria Forest remnants.