López-Hernández, Diana C.

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The effect of Hurricane María on the Eleutherodactylus community and occupancy modelling of E. richmondi: A bioacoustics monitoring study at the Carite State Forest
(2019-05-14) López-Hernández, Diana C.; Puente-Rolón, Alberto R.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Bird-Picó, Fernando J.; Macchiavelli, Raúl E.; Department of Biology; Gregory Crespo, Alexandra
Hurricane María restructured Puerto Rico’s forests, including vegetation and animal communities. One of the main links on the trophic chains of these forests are amphibians of the Eleutherodactylus genus. A species whose populations have been declining is Eleutherodactylus richmondi. Finding new populations and understanding its ecology is necessary for its conservation. Using bioacoustics and occupancy modelling, this study quantifies the effect of Hurricane María on the Eleutherodactylus assemblages, and it identifies a new population of E. richmondi and its site occupancy. Results showed that there was a change in the acoustic environment after the hurricane due to changes in insect and amphibian calling activity. Most species decreased their calling activity, except E. antillensis and E. brittoni. Occupancy modelling showed that E. richmondi occupies sites with high percent canopy cover and terrain slope. This study showed how acoustic communities react to disturbances and added necessary information on Eleutherodactylus richmondi.