Checklist of amphibians in a rice paddy area in the Uruguayan savanna, southern Brazil

Abstract

With the objective of contributing to conservation strategies for areas outside conservation areas, we present an inventory of the amphibians occurring in rice fields with different types of management (conventional and organic), in Sentinela do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, a grassland area in the Uruguayan savanna ecoregion. Between August 2010 and April 2011, we collected tadpoles in rice fields and natural ponds. We recorded 14 species of six families, and only eight of these species occurred in rice fields. Species composition differed between organic and conventional fields. Habitat features (time of flooding, presence of fish, presence of vegetation) may act synergistically with agrochemical effects on anuran species composition. Since few areas of Uruguayan savanna lie within conservation units, it is paramount to develop conservation measures that help maintain biodiversity in agroecosystems.