Assessment of the effects of land use on amphibians in the Pampa Biome: a scientometric approach

In the Pampa Biome, habitat conversion for agriculture and livestock is the main driver of amphibian population decline, due to water contamination and habitat loss. We conducted a scientometric analysis to evaluate the existing knowledge on how land use affects the natural history and ecology of amphibians in the Pampa Biome. Our research was carried out on different platforms using a combination of the following keywords: anuran, agroecosystem, monoculture, urbanization, livestock, land use, soybean, rice, forestry, Uruguay, Argentina, Rio Grande do Sul. We identified 76 relevant articles published between 2000 and 2022, with most published in the last decade in broad-scope journals. Most studies focused on adult amphibians in natural habitats. Our analysis included data on 59 species, some of which are classified as threatened by the IUCN. Our study highlighted the need to expand research on the impacts of agroecosystems, industrial activities, and urbanization on amphibians. We emphasize the importance of employing complementary methodologies to understand contamination pathways and their effects. We also identified a lack of studies focused on threatened species and found that most research did not translate its findings into practical strategies, which limits their application in conservation policies and decision-making processes.