The Role of Aquatic and Terrestrial Factors in Influencing the Abundance of Adult and Larval Dryophytes plicatus (Hylidae) Along the Arroyo Los Axolotes

Abstract

Abstract. The ridged treefrog, Dryophytes plicatus, is currently categorized as threatened by the Mexican government. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about the ecology or the conservation threats confronting D. plicatus. Here, we examine how aspects of the terrestrial (proportion of visits with evidence of livestock, distance to nearest trees) and aquatic (proportion of visits with water, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, water temperature, stream width, water depth, bank height, water velocity) habitat affects the distribution of D. plicatus along the Arroyo del Axolotes, a stream in the mountains surrounding Mexico City. The distribution of adult D. plicatus was positively related to the proportion of visits during which a study reach had water. The distribution of larval D. plicatus was negatively related to the proportion of visits with evidence of livestock and water velocity, and positively related to stream width. In conclusion, the extent of current anthropogenic impacts on the distribution of D. plicatus along the Arroyo los Axolotes is currently limited; however, the effects of humans on this relatively unspoiled stream is likely to increase.