Data from: Do flood pulses structure amphibian communities in floodplain environments?

Beta diversity can provide insights into the processes that
regulate communities subjected to frequent disturbances, such as flood
pulses, which control biodiversity in floodplains. However, little is known
about which processes structure beta diversity of amphibians in
floodplains. Here, we tested the influence of flood pulses on the richness,
composition, and beta diversity of amphibians in Amazonian floodplain
environments. We also evaluated indicator species for each environment. We
established linear transects in three environments: low várzea, high
várzea, and macrophyte rafts. Species richness decreased and beta diversity
increased according to the susceptibility of habitats to flood pulses.
Indicator species differed among environments according to forest
succession promoted by the flood pulse. The decrease in species richness
between high and low várzea is due to non-random extinctions. The higher
rates of species turnover between várzeas and macrophyte rafts are driven
by the colonization of species adapted to open areas. Our results highlight
that the maintenance of complex environments is needed to protect
biodiversity in flood plains.