Frog grid data (Bisley Experimental Watershed)

Population estimates from 1987 to 1995 are reported for the terrestrial anuran, Eleutherodactylus coqui, from four long-term study plots in the Luquillo Experimental Forest of northeastern Puerto Rico. The major factor influencing population size during this time was Hurricane Hugo, which deposited much of the canopy onto the forest floor in 1989. Population densities since Hurricane Hugo have been influenced by succession, with continued high densities associated with thickets of Cecropia and Heliconia. Trefalls, which are similar to hurricanes on a local scale, also were shown to influence population sizes. Years with prolonged dry periods reduced numbers of juvenile frogs, but rainfall patterns alone did not explain most population variation. Population levels of invertebrate predators were related to variation in frog numbers. Support for this work was provided by grants BSR-8811902, DEB-9411973, DEB-9705814 , DEB-0080538, DEB-0218039 , DEB-0620910 , DEB-1239764, DEB-1546686, and DEB-1831952 from the National Science Foundation to the University of Puerto Rico as part of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Additional support provided by the University of Puerto Rico and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service.

本数据集报道了1987至1995年间，波多黎各东北部卢奎尔实验林（Luquillo Experimental Forest）内4个长期研究样地中陆生无尾目物种科奎蛙（Eleutherodactylus coqui）的种群估算数据。此期间影响种群规模的核心因素为1989年的雨果飓风（Hurricane Hugo），该飓风将大量林冠植被刮落至林地表层。雨果飓风过后的种群密度受生态演替过程影响，持续的高密度种群与号角树属（Cecropia）及蝎尾蕉属（Heliconia）灌丛密切相关。局部尺度上效应类似飓风的树木倒伏事件，同样被证实会影响该蛙类的种群规模。长期干旱的年份会导致幼蛙数量下降，但仅靠降雨模式无法解释绝大多数的种群波动。无脊椎捕食者的种群丰度与蛙类种群数量的波动存在关联。本研究得到美国国家科学基金会（National Science Foundation）下设的卢奎尔长期生态研究计划资助，相关项目拨款编号为BSR-8811902、DEB-9411973、DEB-9705814、DEB-0080538、DEB-0218039、DEB-0620910、DEB-1239764、DEB-1546686及DEB-1831952，资助主体为波多黎各大学（University of Puerto Rico）。本研究同时得到波多黎各大学及美国农业部林务局（USDA Forest Service）下属的国际热带森林研究所（International Institute of Tropical Forestry）的额外资助。