Effects of secondary forest succession on the richness and composition of frog species in humid tropical forest

Our aim was to evaluate whether the richness and composition of anurans responded time forest regeneration via secondary succession. We sampled anuran community in a mosaic areas at three different stages succession Atlantic Forest, southern Brazil. The were collected from nine lentic ponds their margins up 50 m radius. late sheltered higher species richness, followed by primary forest. spatial variation related stage predominance arboreal vegetation on pond edge. changed throughout stages, regardless distance among areas. Along gradient succession, environmental changes have driven distribution, limiting occurrence favoring colonization early opportunist species. could observe that determining factor structure, with advancement both partly restored. Thus, conservation forests might be an efficient strategy preserve biodiversity Forest.