Influence of fluorite mining on ecological traits of anuran amphibian assemblages from central Argentina

Abstract

Mining activity can alter the ecological integrity of aquatic and terrestrial environments affecting the associated biota. We evaluated the impact of fluorite mining on the richness and abundance of anuran assemblages. For this, we sampled three different condition sites (low natural fluoride (LNF), medium natural fluoride (MNF), and high artificial fluoride (HAF)) at Los Cerros Negros mine. We detected a total of nine species. The average richness was 3.4 (2–5) species in LNF, 1.7 (1–3) species in MNF, and 3.1 (2–6) species in HAF. Relative abundance was higher in less-disturbed sites (LNF) and in sites with greater chemical alteration of the water (HAF). While the lowest abundance was recorded in sites with alterations in the course and margin of water bodies (MNF). Although a reduction in richness and abundance was expected in HAF conditions, their spatial and temporal stability can represent attractive cues for amphibians, even though these environments can represent ecological traps. In conclusion, the richness and abundance of amphibians concerning to fluorite mining respond more negatively to physical modifications of the environment than to alterations in the chemical parameters of the water.