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Yan C, Ma H, Yang Y, Mi Z. Sexual Dimorphism in the Limb Bones of Asiatic Toad ( Bufo gargarizans) in Relation to Sexual Selection. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2638. [PMID: 37627429 PMCID: PMC10451170 DOI: 10.3390/ani13162638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is often considered to be the result of differences in the intensity of sexual selection between sexes. From this point of view, the sexual dimorphism of the limb bones of the Bufo gargarizans in southwest China was studied. Results showed that the fore- and hindlimb skeletons of this species were sexually dimorphic in anatomy. The humerus, radioulna, and total lengths of the forelimb skeleton of males were substantially longer than those of females, but the hand length of males was smaller than that of females. Several other features of males, such as deltoid and medial crest areas and humerus and radioulnar weights, were also significantly larger than those of females. The femoris, tibiofibula, talus-calcaneus, and foot lengths; total hindlimb skeleton length; and femoral upper crest areas of males were significantly greater than those of females. However, no significant intersexual difference in femoris and tibiofibular weights was observed. These findings suggested that robust forelimb bones and long hindlimb bones could contribute to the mating success of males; if so, sexual selection promotes the evolution of sexual size and shape dimorphism in the limb bones of the B. gargarizans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Zhiping Mi
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; (C.Y.); (H.M.); (Y.Y.)
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Guarino FM, Andreone F, Mezzasalma M, Licata F, Puoti S, Santos B, Cocca W, Solofoniaina Fidy JF, Ndriantsoa SH, Noel J, Rakotonanahary TF, Harison RF, Odierna G, Crottini A. Life History Traits and Longevity of the Invasive Asian Common Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) in Madagascar. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2099. [PMID: 37443897 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We analyzed the body length, age structure, and age at sexual maturity of the invasive Asian common toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus from different sites in Toamasina, east Madagascar. We used skeletochronology as a proxy for age estimation, while gonads were histologically analyzed to determine the age of sexual maturity. The analysis of pooled age data from three sites investigated in 2016 showed that both sexes were larger, although not older, than those of native populations. For the individuals from Madagascar, the males were significantly smaller and younger (mean ± SD, SVL: 71.4 ± 1.6 mm; age: 1.8 ± 0.7 years) than the females (SVL: 78.42 ± 1.9 mm; age: 2.7 ± 1.3 years), when the data were pooled, but when the data were analyzed separately for each of the three sites, similar results were obtained only for one site. The oldest recorded male and female were 3 and 6 years old, respectively. Gonadal histology showed that the males and females reach sexual maturity after the first and second years of age, respectively. Further studies are needed to understand if the larger size and faster growth rates observed in the invasive population of D. melanostictus in Madagascar are a consequence of more favorable environmental conditions with respect to the native range (e.g., the availability of larger trophic niches, a lack of competitors, and lower predatory pressure), and we suggest to extend the monitoring of these life history traits to understand how they might influence the invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Maria Guarino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, I-80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Franco Andreone
- Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Via G. Giolitti, 36, I-10123 Torino, Italy
| | - Marcello Mezzasalma
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science (DiBEST)-University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, I-87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Fulvio Licata
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Simona Puoti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, I-80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Bárbara Santos
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Walter Cocca
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | | | | | - Jean Noel
- Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group, BP 442, Toamasina 501, Madagascar
| | | | - Rodino Fetrarijahona Harison
- Institut Supérieur de Science, Environnement et Développement Durable (ISSEDD), Université de Toamasina, Toamasina 501, Madagascar
| | - Gaetano Odierna
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, I-80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Angelica Crottini
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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Ma M, Luo S, Tang X, Chen Q. Age structure and growth pattern of a high-altitude lizard population based on age determination by skeletochronology. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 337:491-500. [PMID: 35226410 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Age determination provides crucial data regarding the life history of a species. Skeletochronology is considered to be a reliable method for age determination but is seldom applied to the genus Phrynocephalus (Agamidae) as it requires careful bone histological analysis to determine the formation of the lines of arrested growth (LAGs). We analyzed LAGs in different bones of Phrynocephalus vlangalii, a small, high-altitude lizard, and demonstrated that the phalanges are the best materials for skeletochronology in this species. We also found that the proximal half of the phalangeal diaphysis exhibits the most complete LAGs because of the unidirectional longitudinal growth of the phalange. Histologically, as the embryo bone that developed during the embryonic period was preserved even in very old individuals, no LAGs were eroded by endosteal resorption in the phalanges. The maximum age was 4 years for males and 5 years for females. It was determined that the age at maturity was 3 years for males and 2 or 3 years for females. On the basis of age determination, the age structures of both sexes were compared, and age-specific growth differences between the sexes were also analyzed. No differences in the snout-vent length were observed between sexes in any age group. However, the tail length of males aged 3 and above was significantly longer than that of females. Thus, the use of phalanges in the age determination of P. vlangalii is effective and can be widely applied to the ecological studies of this species as well as other small lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Ma
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Shuang Luo
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xiaolong Tang
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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Population diversification in the frog Mantidactylus bellyi on an isolated massif in northern Madagascar based on genetic, morphological, bioacoustic and ecological evidence. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263764. [PMID: 35358210 PMCID: PMC8970393 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the processes that give rise to new species, changes first occur at the population level. But with the continuous nature of the divergence process, change in biological properties delimiting the shift from “individuals of divergent populations” towards “individuals of distinct species”, as well as abiotic factors driving the change, remain largely ambivalent. Here we study diversification processes at the population level in a semi-aquatic frog, Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) bellyi, across the diverse vegetation types of Montagne d’Ambre National Park (MANP), Madagascar. Genetic diversity was assessed with seven newly developed microsatellite markers as well as mitochondrial DNA sequences and concordance with patterns of ecological, morphological, and bioacoustic divergence evaluated. We found M. bellyi lacking mitochondrial differentiation within MANP, while microsatellite datasets partitioned them into three highly differentiated, geographically separated subpopulations (with indications for up to five subpopulations). The molecular grouping–primarily clustering individuals by geographic proximity–was coincident with differences in mean depth and width of waters, suggesting a possible role of fluvial characteristics in genetic exchange in this stream-breeding species. Genetic clustering not consistent with differences in call properties, except for dominant call frequencies under the two-subpopulations model. Morphological divergence was mostly consistent with the genetic clustering; subpopulations strongly differed by their snout-vent length, with individuals from high-elevation subpopulations smaller than those from populations below 1000 m above sea level. These results exemplify how mountains and environmental conditions might primarily shape genetic and morphological divergence in frog populations, without strongly affecting their calls.
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Maria Guarino F, Di Nocera F, Pollaro F, Galiero G, Iaccarino D, Iovino D, Mezzasalma M, Petraccioli A, Odierna G, Maio N. Skeletochronology, age at maturity and cause of mortality of loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta stranded along the beaches of Campania (south-western Italy, western Mediterranean Sea). HERPETOZOA 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/herpetozoa.33.e47543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Information on demographic and life-history traits of endangered vertebrate species, such as sea turtles, is crucial for planning management and conservation actions. We applied skeletochronology of phalanges to estimate the age of loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, found dead stranded along the beaches of Campania (western Mediterranean) from 2013 to 2017. To obtain maturity data, we examined gonads from a subsample of 7 males and 11 females. Overall, curved carapace length (CCL) ranged from 5.6 to 90.8 cm, but for most turtles (89%) it was 50–79.9 cm. Predominance of stranded females (62%) was recorded. Ten out of the eighteen histologically examined gonads allowed estimating maturity. Based on the lines of arrested growth counting, the estimated age of the examined specimens ranged from 0 (hatchling) to 26 years. The modal age was 14 years for males and 17 years for females. The smallest male with spermatogenetic activity had a CCL of 65 cm and was estimated to be 16 years old. The smallest female with follicular development stage, characterising the transition towards adulthood, had a CCL of 69.5 cm and was estimated to be 20 years old. Anthropogenic factors were responsible for 36% of the mortality of individuals, followed by parasitic/infective pathologies (20%).
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