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7611349 
Journal Article 
Habitat split and the global decline of amphibians 
Becker, CG; Fonseca, CR; Haddad, CF; Batista, RF; Prado, PI; , 
2007 
1 
Science
ISSN: 0036-8075
EISSN: 1095-9203 
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE 
WASHINGTON 
1775-1777 
English 
18079402 
WOS:000251616800041 
The worldwide decline in amphibians has been attributed to several causes, especially habitat loss and disease. We identified a further factor, namely "habitat split"-defined as human-induced disconnection between habitats used by different life history stages of a species-which forces forest-associated amphibians with aquatic larvae to make risky breeding migrations between suitable aquatic and terrestrial habitats. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we found that habitat split negatively affects the richness of species with aquatic larvae but not the richness of species with terrestrial development (the latter can complete their life cycle inside forest remnants). This mechanism helps to explain why species with aquatic larvae have the highest incidence of population decline. These findings reinforce the need for the conservation and restoration of riparian vegetation.