Spatiotemporal patterns of anuran functional diversity in temperate montane forests

[...]their functional characteristics, rather than their taxonomic identity, drive their biotic interactions (predation and competition) (Zhao et al., 2019). [...]in recent decades, an increasing number of studies have focused on functional diversity of communities, which is considered a more integrative approach for better understanding biodiversity across space and time (Eskildsen et al., 2015). [...]species with greater thermal tolerance can exhibit wider elevational distribution (Khatiwada et al., 2020). [...]different amphibian assemblages may be related to the distinct occupation of trait space, which is associated with changes in functional richness. [...]climatic factors can also control amphibian seasonal migration (e.g., breeding and hibernation) (Fei & Ye, 2016; Snyder & Weathers, 1975), causing fluctuations in species abundance, which may induce cascading effects on the evenness of trait distribution. [...]as environmental variables can affect species composition (occurrence and abundance), which exhibits distinct occupation of trait space, we predict that microhabitat features, such as water temperature, number of trees, canopy cover, shrub cover, leaf litter cover, and leaf litter depth, will play important roles in determining functional diversity of anuran communities.