Species richness, relative abundance, and habitat of reproduction of terrestrial frogs in the Triangulo Mineiro region, Cerrado biome, southeastern Brazil

Based oil field observations and Pitfall sampling. we determined the species richness. relative abundance. and reproductive habitat of terrestrial frogs in three municipalities in the Triangulo Mineiro region South Cerrado biome in southeastern Brazil. We found thirty-two species of terrestrial frogs. belonging to the families Brachycephalidae. Bufonidae, Cycloramphidae. Dendrobatidae, Leiuperidae. Leptodactylidae and Microhylidae. Most of the species were found in open areas and reproduced in human-generated environments. Such as artificial takes (10 species) and ponds (14 species). Dominance was high. with Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger, 1826 (Leiuperidae) representing 48% of sampled frogs. A number of individuals was captured in the we( season, when most of the species were reproduction. Compared to other areas of Cerrado biome, the Triangulo Mineiro sites presented a larger number of species. which may be attributed to the larger sampled area and greater sampling effort, lower altitude and prescence of human habitats. The richness of terrestrial frogs was also larger than that in some forested localities in southeastern Brazil, indicating, that file number of species cannot he explained only by precipitation and type of vegetation cover. The greater abundance of individuals during the wet season may be related to a greater movement Of adults to breeding sites and to juvenile recruitment/dispersion. The heterogeneity of environments ill the Cerrado biome, including its several isolated highlands, contributes to its high (local and regional) diversity of environments in the Cerrado biome, including its several isolated highlands, contributes to its high (local and regional) diversity of frogs.