Long‐term impacts of the invasive frog Polypedates megacephalus on Taiwan's native frogs: A 16‐year community science study

Abstract Invasive species pose a major threat to biodiversity worldwide, and the invasive frog Polypedates megacephalus has become a significant concern for native amphibian populations in Taiwan. This 16‐year community science study, based on longitudinal data from the Taiwan Amphibians Database (2007–2023), assessed population trends among frogs. Our analysis revealed that relative habitat specialists experienced a greater proportion of population declines compared to relative habitat generalists, likely due to their narrower ecological niches and increased vulnerability to environmental changes. Furthermore, Polypedates braueri and Hyla chinensis showed greater declines than other native species, possibly due to ecological overlap with P. megacephalus , including niche similarity, predation, or pathogen transmission. At the community level, sites where P . megacephalus was present showed significantly higher proportions of declining native frog species in the univariate analysis, but this relationship was not significant after including environmental covariates, indicating a context‐dependent association rather than a direct causal effect. These findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring and management of P . megacephalus , particularly in low‐altitude and northern regions where the species is most prevalent.