Riparian buffers provide refugia during secondary forest succession

Abstract Aim Secondary forests regenerating from human disturbance are increasingly becoming a predominant forest type in many regions, and they play significant role community dynamics. Understanding the factors that underlie variation species responses during secondary succession is important for understanding assembly biodiversity monitoring management. Because vary ecology behaviour, to ecosystem change should among species. Here, we show habitat (riparian, upland), phylogeny, traits mediate anuran lizard probability of occurrence richness pasture forest. Location Sarapiquí Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Methods We used phylogenetic occupancy models estimate assemblage‐level species‐specific 30 chronosequence sites include pasture, mature sites. Results For majority species, found increasing upland habitats as regenerated similar riparian across forest, Species' stage were phylogenetically correlated, trend was especially strong response Anurans with lentic larval had positive habitat, anurans lotic variable different stages compared Main Conclusions Our study, which focuses on minimally isolated reference sites, indicated rapidly recovered level relatively short time span (approximately 20 years). Riparian key features our system provide refugia organisms early successional stages. Maintenance vegetation along streams shows can mitigate conversion by maintaining buffers.