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Vassilieva AB. Tadpole of the Vietnamese jelly-nest tree frog, Feihyla palpebralis (Anura: Rhacophoridae): external morphology and chondrocranium. Zootaxa 2023; 5351:293-300. [PMID: 38221487 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5351.2.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The genus Feihyla Frost, Grant, Faivovich, Bain, Haas, Haddad, de S, Channing, Wilkinson, Donnellan, Raxworthy, Campbell, Blotto, Moler, Drewes, Nussbaum, Lynch, Green & Wheeler was established relatively recently (Frost et al. 2006), but to date its composition has changed several times due to the extremely confusing and labile systematics of small rhacophorids (e.g., Grosjean et al. 2008; Hertwig et al. 2013; Biju et al. 2020). It embeds rather miniature, delicate tree frogs and currently comprises six species (Frost 2023). The type species, Feihyla palpebralis (Smith 1924), was described from Mount Langbian in the southern part of the Truong Son Range (Annamite Mountains) and was long considered endemic to Vietnam; recent reports that it is also distributed in China can be based on misidentification and need reliable confirmation (Biju et al. 2020).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna B Vassilieva
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences; 33; Leninsky prospect; Moscow 117071; Russia. Joint Vietnam-Russian Tropical Science and Technology Research Center; Southern Branch; 3; 3/2 Street; 10 District; Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam.
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2
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Liedtke HC, Wiens JJ, Gomez-Mestre I. The evolution of reproductive modes and life cycles in amphibians. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7039. [PMID: 36396632 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34474-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphibians have undergone important evolutionary transitions in reproductive modes and life-cycles. We compare large-scale macroevolutionary patterns in these transitions across the three major amphibian clades: frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. We analyse matching reproductive and phylogenetic data for 4025 species. We find that having aquatic larvae is ancestral for all three groups and is retained by many extant species (33-44%). The most frequent transitions in each group are to relatively uncommon states: live-bearing in caecilians, paedomorphosis in salamanders, and semi-terrestriality in frogs. All three groups show transitions to more terrestrial reproductive modes, but only in caecilians have these evolved sequentially from most-to-least aquatic. Diversification rates are largely independent of reproductive modes. However, in salamanders direct development accelerates diversification whereas paedomorphosis decreases it. Overall, we find a widespread retention of ancestral modes, decoupling of trait transition rates from patterns of species richness, and the general independence of reproductive modes and diversification.
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Cui L, Huang A, He Z, Ao L, Ge F, Fan X, Zeng B, Yang M, Yang D, Ni Q, Li Y, Yao Y, Xu H, Yang J, Wei Z, Li T, Yan T, Zhang M. Complete Mitogenomes of Polypedates Tree Frogs Unveil Gene Rearrangement and Concerted Evolution within Rhacophoridae. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2449. [PMID: 36139309 PMCID: PMC9494961 DOI: 10.3390/ani12182449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Duplicated control regions have been reported several times in the tree frog family Rhacophoridae, and previous studies have mostly relied on sequence analysis to reconstruct their evolution. This is the first study to employ a phylogenetic method to demonstrate the existence of concerted and parallel evolution succinctly and intuitively in the duplicated control regions of the family Rhacophoridae. Phylogenetic relationships were also used to illustrate the parallel evolution of ATP8 loss of function in the genus Polypedates. In general, this study elucidated the evolutionary patterns and pathways of mitochondrial gene rearrangement of the family Rhacophoridae from a phylogenetic perspective, which aids in understanding the evolutionary history of this fascinating tree frog taxon from a molecular evolution standpoint. Abstract New developments in sequencing technology and nucleotide analysis have allowed us to make great advances in reconstructing anuran phylogeny. As a clade of representative amphibians that have radiated from aquatic to arboreal habitats, our understanding of the systematic status and molecular biology of rhacophorid tree frogs is still limited. We determined two new mitogenomes for the genus Polypedates (Rhacophoridae): P. impresus and P. mutus. We conducted comparative and phylogenetic analyses using our data and seven other rhacophorid mitogenomes. The mitogenomes of the genera Polypedates, Buergeria, and Zhangixalus were almost identical, except that the ATP8 gene in Polypedates had become a non-coding region; Buergeria maintained the legacy “LTPF” tRNA gene cluster compared to the novel “TLPF” order in the other two genera; and B. buergeri and Z. dennysi had no control region (CR) duplication. The resulting phylogenetic relationship supporting the above gene rearrangement pathway suggested parallel evolution of ATP8 gene loss of function (LoF) in Polypedates and CR duplication with concerted evolution of paralogous CRs in rhacophorids. Finally, conflicting topologies in the phylograms of 185 species reflected the advantages of phylogenetic analyses using multiple loci.
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Messenger KR, Othman SN, Chuang MF, Yang Y, Borzée A. Description of a new Kurixalus species (Rhacophoridae, Anura) and a northwards range extension of the genus. Zookeys 2022; 1108:15-49. [PMID: 36760702 PMCID: PMC9848858 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1108.81725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of biodiversity before species become extinct is paramount to conservation, especially when the relevant species are far from their expected distribution and, thus, likely overlooked. Here, we describe a new Kurixalus species corresponding to a range extension of Kurixalus on the Asian mainland, with the closest population in Taiwan. The species diverged from its closest relative during the Late Pliocene to Pleistocene, ca. 3.06 Mya (HPD 95%: 5.82-0.01), based on calibrations with a relaxed clock species tree of unlinked mtDNA 12S rRNA and nuclear DNA TYR. The status of the newly-described species is also supported by a divergence in call properties and morphometrics. We named the species described here as Kurixalusinexpectatus sp. nov. due to the nature of the discovery, as well as the adjunct distribution of the species relative to its closest congeners. The species was found in Zhejiang Province and it represents a range extension of 663 km for the Kurixalus genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R. Messenger
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037 China
| | - Siti N. Othman
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037 China
| | - Ming-Feng Chuang
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037 China
| | - Yi Yang
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037 China
| | - Amaël Borzée
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Rd, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037 China
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Ellepola G, Pie MR, Pethiyagoda R, Hanken J, Meegaskumbura M. The role of climate and islands in species diversification and reproductive-mode evolution of Old World tree frogs. Commun Biol 2022; 5:347. [PMID: 35411020 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03292-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Large diversifications of species are known to occur unevenly across space and evolutionary lineages, but the relative importance of their driving mechanisms, such as climate, ecological opportunity and key evolutionary innovations (KEI), remains poorly understood. Here, we explore the remarkable diversification of rhacophorid frogs, which represent six percent of global amphibian diversity, utilize four distinct reproductive modes, and span a climatically variable area across mainland Asia, associated continental islands, and Africa. Using a complete species-level phylogeny, we find near-constant diversification rates but a highly uneven distribution of species richness. Montane regions on islands and some mainland regions have higher phylogenetic diversity and unique assemblages of taxa; we identify these as cool-wet refugia. Starting from a centre of origin, rhacophorids reached these distant refugia by adapting to new climatic conditions (‘niche evolution’-dominant), especially following the origin of KEIs such as terrestrial reproduction (in the Late Eocene) or by dispersal during periods of favourable climate (‘niche conservatism’-dominant). By examining climate, geographical and phylogenetic data, the diversification and evolution of rhacophorid frogs is explored
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Ferraro DP. Combined phylogenetic analysis of Pleurodema (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Leiuperinae). Cladistics 2022; 38:301-319. [PMID: 34985147 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Pleurodema comprises 15 species distributed through the Neotropical region, from sea level up to 5000 m.a.s.l. A total-evidence analysis of Pleurodema is provided based on the parsimony criterion. The combined dataset included morphometric, phenotypic, and DNA evidence (34 taxa, 4441 characters). The parsimony analysis yielded one most-parsimonious tree. Pleurodema was recovered as a well-supported clade composed of two major subclades. One subclade has an identical topology to that of previous analyses, the P. brachyops Clade (P. alium, P. borellii, P. brachyops, P. cinereum, P. diplolister, and P. tucumanum). The other subclade includes the remaining nine species of the genus, exhibiting a topology different from that of previous studies. According to the present phylogeny, this second lineage is formed by the P. nebulosum Clade (P. guayapae + P. nebulosum), P. marmoratum, the re-defined P. thaul Clade (P. bufoninum, P. somuncurense, P. thaul) and the P. bibroni Clade (P. bibroni, P. cordobae, P. kriegi). The reproductive modes of Pleurodema represent a unique combination of features within Leiuperinae, including three egg-clutch structures, two types of amplexus, and lack of vocalization. Also, some species of Pleurodema have been considered fossorial, because they are capable of digging with their hind-limbs and remaining in self-made burrows during dry seasons. The evolution of characters associated with reproductive biology and fossoriality is discussed in light of the obtained results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiana Paola Ferraro
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" -CONICET, Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires, C1405DJR, Argentina
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7
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McGrath-Blaser S, Steffen M, Grafe TU, Torres-Sánchez M, McLeod DS, Muletz-Wolz CR. Early life skin microbial trajectory as a function of vertical and environmental transmission in Bornean foam-nesting frogs. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:83. [PMID: 34930504 PMCID: PMC8686334 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00147-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amphibian skin microbiome is an important mediator of host health and serves as a potential source of undiscovered scientifically significant compounds. However, the underlying modalities of how amphibian hosts obtain their initial skin-associated microbiome remains unclear. Here, we explore microbial transmission patterns in foam-nest breeding tree frogs from Southeast Asia (Genus: Polypedates) whose specialized breeding strategy allows for better delineation between vertically and environmentally derived microbes. To facilitate this, we analyzed samples associated with adult frog pairs taken after mating-including adults of each sex, their foam nests, environments, and tadpoles before and after environmental interaction-for the bacterial communities using DNA metabarcoding data (16S rRNA). Samples were collected from frogs in-situ in Brunei, Borneo, a previously unsampled region for amphibian-related microbial diversity. RESULTS Adult frogs differed in skin bacterial communities among species, but tadpoles did not differ among species. Foam nests had varying bacterial community composition, most notably in the nests' moist interior. Nest interior bacterial communities were discrete for each nest and overall displayed a narrower diversity compared to the nest exteriors. Tadpoles sampled directly from the foam nest displayed a bacterial composition less like the nest interior and more similar to that of the adults and nest exterior. After one week of pond water interaction the tadpole skin microbiome shifted towards the tadpole skin and pond water microbial communities being more tightly coupled than between tadpoles and the internal nest environment, but not to the extent that the skin microbiome mirrored the pond bacterial community. CONCLUSIONS Both vertical influence and environmental interaction play a role in shaping the tadpole cutaneous microbiome. Interestingly, the interior of the foam nest had a distinct bacterial community from the tadpoles suggesting a limited environmental effect on tadpole cutaneous bacterial selection at initial stages of life. The shift in the tadpole microbiome after environmental interaction indicates an interplay between underlying host and ecological mechanisms that drive community formation. This survey serves as a baseline for further research into the ecology of microbial transmission in aquatic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah McGrath-Blaser
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 421 Carr Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
| | - Morgan Steffen
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, 951 Carrier Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 USA
| | - T. Ulmar Grafe
- Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Tungku Link, Gadong, BE 1410 Brunei
| | - María Torres-Sánchez
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 421 Carr Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
| | - David S. McLeod
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, 951 Carrier Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 USA
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 USA
| | - Carly R. Muletz-Wolz
- Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Conservation Genomics, 3001 Connecticut Ave., Washington, DC 20008 USA
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Ellepola G, Herath J, Manamendra-Arachchi K, Wijayathilaka N, Senevirathne G, Pethiyagoda R, Meegaskumbura M. Molecular species delimitation of shrub frogs of the genus Pseudophilautus (Anura, Rhacophoridae). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258594. [PMID: 34665841 PMCID: PMC8525734 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sri Lanka is an amphibian hotspot of global significance. Its anuran fauna is dominated by the shrub frogs of the genus Pseudophilautus. Except for one small clade of four species in Peninsular India, these cool-wet adapted frogs, numbering some 59 extant species, are distributed mainly across the montane and lowland rain forests of the island. With species described primarily by morphological means, the diversification has never yet been subjected to a molecular species delimitation analysis, a procedure now routinely applied in taxonomy. Here we test the species boundaries of Pseudophilautus in the context of the phylogenetic species concept (PSC). We use all the putative species for which credible molecular data are available (nDNA-Rag-1; mt-DNA- 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA) to build a well resolved phylogeny, which is subjected to species delimitation analyses. The ABGD, bPTP, mPTP and bGMYC species delimitation methods applied to the 16S rRNA frog barcoding gene (for all species), 12S rRNA and Rag-1 nDNA grouped P. procax and P. abundus; P. hallidayi and P. fergusonianus; P. reticulatus and P. pappilosus; P. pleurotaenia and P. hoipolloi; P. hoffmani and P. asankai; P. silvaticus and P. limbus; P. dilmah and P. hankeni; P. fulvus and P. silus.. Surprisingly, all analyses recovered 14 unidentified potential new species as well. The geophylogeny affirms a distribution across the island's aseasonal 'wet zone' and its three principal hill ranges, suggestive of allopatric speciation playing a dominant role, especially between mountain masses. Among the species that are merged by the delimitation analyses, a pattern leading towards a model of parapatric speciation emerges-ongoing speciation in the presence of gene flow. This delimitation analysis reinforces the species hypotheses, paving the way to a reasonable understanding of Sri Lankan Pseudophilautus, enabling both deeper analyses and conservation efforts of this remarkable diversification. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DA869B6B-870A-4ED3-BF5D-5AA3F69DDD27.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajaba Ellepola
- College of Forestry, Guangxi Key Lab for Forest Ecology and Conservation, Guangxi University, Nanning, PR China.,Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Jayampathi Herath
- College of Forestry, Guangxi Key Lab for Forest Ecology and Conservation, Guangxi University, Nanning, PR China
| | | | - Nayana Wijayathilaka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Gayani Senevirathne
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Rohan Pethiyagoda
- Ichthyology Section, Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Madhava Meegaskumbura
- College of Forestry, Guangxi Key Lab for Forest Ecology and Conservation, Guangxi University, Nanning, PR China
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Blotto BL, Lyra ML, Cardoso MCS, Trefaut Rodrigues M, R Dias I, Marciano-Jr E, Dal Vechio F, Orrico VGD, Brandão RA, Lopes de Assis C, Lantyer-Silva ASF, Rutherford MG, Gagliardi-Urrutia G, Solé M, Baldo D, Nunes I, Cajade R, Torres A, Grant T, Jungfer KH, da Silva HR, Haddad CFB, Faivovich J. The phylogeny of the Casque-headed Treefrogs (Hylidae: Hylinae: Lophyohylini). Cladistics 2021; 37:36-72. [PMID: 34478174 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The South American and West Indian Casque-headed Treefrogs (Hylidae: Hylinae: Lophyohylini) include 85 species. These are notably diverse in morphology (e.g. disparate levels of cranial hyperossification) and life history (e.g. different reproductive modes, chemical defences), have a wide distribution, and occupy habitats from the tropical rainforests to semiarid scrubland. In this paper, we present a phylogenetic analysis of this hylid tribe based on sequence fragments of up to five mitochondrial (12S, 16S, ND1, COI, Cytb) and six nuclear genes (POMC, RAG-1, RHOD, SIAH, TNS3, TYR). We included most of its species (> 96%), in addition to a number of new species. Our results indicate: (i) the paraphyly of Trachycephalus with respect to Aparasphenodon venezolanus; (ii) the nonmonophyly of Aparasphenodon, with Argenteohyla siemersi, Corythomantis galeata and Nyctimantis rugiceps nested within it, and Ap. venezolanus nested within Trachycephalus; (iii) the polyphyly of Corythomantis; (iv) the nonmonophyly of the recognized species groups of Phyllodytes; and (v) a pervasive low support for the deep relationships among the major clades of Lophyohylini, including C. greeningi and the monotypic genera Itapotihyla and Phytotriades. To remedy the nonmonophyly of Aparasphenodon, Corythomantis, and Trachycephalus, we redefined Nyctimantis to include Aparasphenodon (with the exception of Ap. venezolanus, which we transferred to Trachycephalus), Argenteohyla, and C. galeata. Additionally, our results indicate the need for taxonomic work in the following clades: (i) Trachycephalus dibernardoi and Tr. imitatrix; (ii) Tr. atlas, Tr. mambaiensis and Tr. nigromaculatus; and (iii) Phyllodytes. On the basis of our phylogenetic results, we analyzed the evolution of skull hyperossification and reproductive biology, with emphasis on the multiple independent origins of phytotelm breeding, in the context of Anura. We also analyzed the inter-related aspects of chemical defences, venom delivery, phragmotic behaviour, co-ossification, and prevention of evaporative water loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris L Blotto
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana L Lyra
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Monica C S Cardoso
- Setor de Herpetologia, Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista, CEP 20940-040, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Iuri R Dias
- Tropical Herpetology Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, CEP 45662-900, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Euvaldo Marciano-Jr
- Tropical Herpetology Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, CEP 45662-900, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Francisco Dal Vechio
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Victor G D Orrico
- Tropical Herpetology Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, CEP 45662-900, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Reuber A Brandão
- Laboratório de Fauna e Unidades de Conservação, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Clodoaldo Lopes de Assis
- Museu de Zoologia João Moojen, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Amanda S F Lantyer-Silva
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mike G Rutherford
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of The West Indies Zoology Museum, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago
| | - Giussepe Gagliardi-Urrutia
- Laboratorio de Sistemática de Vertebrados, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Prédio 40, sala 110, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Mirco Solé
- Tropical Herpetology Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Jorge Amado, km 16, CEP 45662-900, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Diego Baldo
- Laboratorio de Genetica Evolutiva "Claudio Juan Bidau", Instituto de Biologıa Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Félix de Azara, 1552, CPA N3300LQF Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Ivan Nunes
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus do Litoral Paulista, CEP 11330-900, São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Cajade
- Laboratorio de Herpetología, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Av. Libertad 5470, 3400, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Ambrosio Torres
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, CONICET - Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251, 4000, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Taran Grant
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karl-Heinz Jungfer
- Department of Biology, Institute of Integrated Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Universitätsstr. 1, 56070, Koblenz, Germany
| | - Helio R da Silva
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Caixa Postal 74524, 23851-970, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Célio F B Haddad
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A 1515, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julián Faivovich
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"-CONICET, Angel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Yinjiao Zhao, Wu D, Yu X, Wei S, Yan F. Isolation of a vasa Homolog from Tree Frog Feihyla palpebralis and Its Germline Specific Expression. Russ J Dev Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s106236042104007x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Kuroshima S, Tominaga A. Normal Development of an Aquatic Spawning Tree Frog, Buergeria japonica (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae). Current Herpetology 2021. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.40.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shota Kuroshima
- Faculty of Education, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara, Okinawa 903–0213, JAPAN
| | - Atsushi Tominaga
- Faculty of Education, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara, Okinawa 903–0213, JAPAN
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12
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Sato T, Arimura T, Murata K, Kawamura M, Obama W, Suzuki M, Nakauchi Y, Tominaga A, Morita M, Hiraoka K, Takayama-Watanabe E, Watanabe A. Differences of Extracellular Cues and Ca 2+ Permeable Channels in the Signaling Pathways for Inducing Amphibian Sperm Motility. Zoolog Sci 2021; 38:343-351. [PMID: 34342955 DOI: 10.2108/zs200159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Low osmolality of freshwater and/or sperm motility-initiating substance (SMIS) induce amphibian sperm motility through increases in intracellular Ca2+. In the internally fertilizing newt Cynops pyrrhogaster, the sperm motility-initiating substance engages T type voltage-dependent Ca2 + channels and N-methyl D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors to initiate sperm motility and L type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels to enhance motility. In the present study, differences in the usages of SMIS and Ca2+ permeable channels for sperm motility regulation were examined in amphibians that undergo different reproductive modes. Proteins of 14-17 kDa were detected by antibody against the active site peptide of SMIS in the oviduct secretion of internal fertilizers (C. pyrrhogaster, Cynops ensicauda, and Ambystoma mexicanum) and arboreal fertilizers (Rhacophorus arboreus and Rhacophorus schlegelii), but not in Buergeria japonica, an external fertilizer in freshwater. In the pharmacological study, a blocker of some transient receptor potential channels (RN1734) additionally suppressed enhancement of sperm motility in C. pyrrhogaster. In R. schlegelii, blockers of four types of channels differently suppressed sperm motility induced by low osmolality with or without the active site peptide of SMIS. Notably, blockers of L type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (nifedipine) and N-methyl D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors (MK801) suppressed sperm motility in the presence and the absence of the peptide, respectively. Low osmolality-induced sperm motility was suppressed by RN1734 and MK801 in B. japonica, but not in Xenopus laevis. These results reveal complex differences in the signaling pathways for inducing sperm motility that may be partly related to reproductive modes in amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Sato
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
| | - Takeshi Arimura
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
| | - Kenji Murata
- Center for Health & the Environment, University of California Davis, Davis CA 95616, USA
| | - Maako Kawamura
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
| | - Wataru Obama
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
| | - Megumu Suzuki
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
| | - Yuni Nakauchi
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
| | - Atsushi Tominaga
- Faculty of Education, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Masaya Morita
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Sesoko, Motobu, Okinawa 905-0227, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Hiraoka
- Expo Memorial Tsukuba Advanced Technology Center, Fujikin Incorporated, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0841, Japan
| | | | - Akihiko Watanabe
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan,
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13
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Etter L, Haas A, Lee CC, Min PY, Das I, Hertwig ST. Out of the trap: A new phytothelm‐breeding species of
Philautus
and an updated phylogeny of Bornean bush frogs (Anura: Rhacophoridae). J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Etter
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Alexander Haas
- Centrum für Naturkunde Universität Hamburg Hamburg Germany
| | - Chien C. Lee
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Pui Yong Min
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Indraneil Das
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Stefan T. Hertwig
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern Bern Switzerland
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14
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Garg S, Suyesh R, Das S, Bee MA, Biju SD. An integrative approach to infer systematic relationships and define species groups in the shrub frog genus Raorchestes, with description of five new species from the Western Ghats, India. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10791. [PMID: 33717674 PMCID: PMC7936570 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Raorchestes is a large radiation of Old World tree frogs for which the Western Ghats in Peninsular India is the major center for origin and diversification. Extensive studies on this group during the past two decades have resolved long-standing taxonomic confusions and uncovered several new species, resulting in a four-fold increase in the number of known Raorchestes frogs from this region. Our ongoing research has revealed another five new species in the genus, formally described as Raorchestes drutaahu sp. nov., Raorchestes kakkayamensis sp. nov., Raorchestes keirasabinae sp. nov., Raorchestes sanjappai sp. nov., and Raorchestes vellikkannan sp. nov., all from the State of Kerala in southern Western Ghats. Based on new collections, we also provide insights on the taxonomic identity of three previously known taxa. Furthermore, since attempts for an up-to-date comprehensive study of this taxonomically challenging genus using multiple integrative taxonomic approaches have been lacking, here we review the systematic affinities of all known Raorchestes species and define 16 species groups based on evidence from multi-gene (2,327 bp) phylogenetic analyses, several morphological characters (including eye colouration and pattern), and acoustic parameters (temporal and spectral properties, as well as calling height). The results of our study present novel insights to facilitate a better working taxonomy for this rather speciose and morphologically conserved radiation of shrub frogs. This will further enable proper field identification, provide momentum for multi-disciplinary studies, as well as assist conservation of one of the most colourful and acoustically diverse frog groups of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Garg
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Robin Suyesh
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.,Department of Environmental Studies, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Sandeep Das
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala, India.,EDGE of Existence programme, Conservation and Policy, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Mark A Bee
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - S D Biju
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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15
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Abstract
The adults of several anuran amphibian species deposit their eggs externally in mucus secretions that are purposely aerated to produce a froth nest. This type of clutch structure has evolved independently several times in this group and has been proposed to serve a variety and often simultaneous adaptive functions associated with protecting offspring from sub-optimal conditions during embryogenesis and later stages after hatching has occurred. These functions range from buffering offspring from sub-optimal temperatures and desiccation, to defending against predation and improving oxygenation. This versatility has likely helped facilitate the reduced reliance of egg development on water and thus the penetration of anurans into environments where permanent aquatic systems are not always available. In this paper, I review the hypothesised functions of the anuran froth nest as a mucus-based solution to the environmental challenges offspring face during development, with consideration of the functions of froth nest breakdown and communal froth nesting, as well.
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16
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Chan KO, Hutter CR, Wood PL, Grismer LL, Brown RM. Target-capture phylogenomics provide insights on gene and species tree discordances in Old World treefrogs (Anura: Rhacophoridae). Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20202102. [PMID: 33290680 PMCID: PMC7739936 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-scale data have greatly facilitated the resolution of recalcitrant nodes that Sanger-based datasets have been unable to resolve. However, phylogenomic studies continue to use traditional methods such as bootstrapping to estimate branch support; and high bootstrap values are still interpreted as providing strong support for the correct topology. Furthermore, relatively little attention has been given to assessing discordances between gene and species trees, and the underlying processes that produce phylogenetic conflict. We generated novel genomic datasets to characterize and determine the causes of discordance in Old World treefrogs (Family: Rhacophoridae)-a group that is fraught with conflicting and poorly supported topologies among major clades. Additionally, a suite of data filtering strategies and analytical methods were applied to assess their impact on phylogenetic inference. We showed that incomplete lineage sorting was detected at all nodes that exhibited high levels of discordance. Those nodes were also associated with extremely short internal branches. We also clearly demonstrate that bootstrap values do not reflect uncertainty or confidence for the correct topology and, hence, should not be used as a measure of branch support in phylogenomic datasets. Overall, we showed that phylogenetic discordances in Old World treefrogs resulted from incomplete lineage sorting and that species tree inference can be improved using a multi-faceted, total-evidence approach, which uses the most amount of data and considers results from different analytical methods and datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kin Onn Chan
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377, Republic of Singapore
| | - Carl R. Hutter
- Museum of Natural Sciences and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Perry L. Wood
- Department of Biological Sciences and Museum of Natural History, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - L. Lee Grismer
- Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Biology, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA 92505, USA
| | - Rafe M. Brown
- Biodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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17
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Womack MC, Bell RC. Two-hundred million years of anuran body-size evolution in relation to geography, ecology and life history. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:1417-1432. [PMID: 32672849 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Surprisingly, little is known about body-size evolution within the most diverse amphibian order, anurans (frogs and toads), despite known effects of body size on the physiological, ecological and life-history traits of animals more generally. Here, we examined anuran body-size evolution among 2,434 species with over 200 million years of shared evolutionary history. We found clade-specific evolutionary shifts to new body-size optima along with numerous independent transitions to gigantic and miniature body sizes, despite the upper limits of anuran body size remaining quite consistent throughout the fossil record. We found a weak, positive correlation between a species' body size and maximum latitude and elevation, including a dearth of small species at higher elevations and broader latitudinal and elevational ranges in larger anurans. Although we found modest differences in mean anuran body size among microhabitats, there was extensive overlap in the range of body sizes across microhabitats. Finally, we found that larger anurans are more likely to consume vertebrate prey than smaller anurans are and that species with a free-swimming larval phase during development are larger on average than those in which development into a froglet occurs within the egg. Overall, anuran body size does not conform to geographic and ecological patterns observed in other tetrapods but is perhaps more notable for variation in body size within geographic regions, ecologies and life histories. Here, we document this variation and propose target clades for detailed studies aimed at disentangling how and why variation in body size was generated and is maintained in anurans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly C Womack
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Rayna C Bell
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Herpetology Department, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA
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18
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Yu GH, Du LN, Wang JS, Rao DQ, Wu ZJ, Yang JX. From mainland to islands: colonization history in the tree frog Kurixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae). Curr Zool 2020; 66:667-675. [PMID: 33391366 PMCID: PMC7769580 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoaa023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The origin and colonization history of Kurixalus, a genus of small arboreal tree frogs breeding exclusively in shallow swamps, is under disputed. On the basis of comprehensive sampling program, the evolutionary history of Kurixalus is investigated based on 3 mitochondrial genes. Our results indicate that the genus Kurixalus originated in the Asian mainland and subsequently arrived at its current distribution in Borneo, Taiwan, Ryukyu, and Hainan islands by a series of dispersal events. Moreover, the colonization of Taiwan from mainland Asia has occurred 2 times. The initial colonization of Taiwan occurred at 3.46–8.68 Mya (95% highest posterior density), which rejects the hypothesis that Kurixalus probably originated from Taiwan during the early Oligocene and favors the model of Neogene-origin rather than the model of Quaternary-origin for Taiwanese Kurixalus. Kurixalus eiffingeri has dispersed from Taiwan to the Ryukyus once or 2 times pending more data. Both transoceanic dispersal and landbridge dispersal have played a role in the colonization process; the former resulted in the colonization of Taiwan and the Ryukyus and the latter led to the colonization of Borneo and Hainan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Hua Yu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541004, China.,Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Li-Na Du
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541004, China.,Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Ji-Shan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Ding-Qi Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
| | - Zheng-Jun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin, 541004, China.,Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Jun-Xing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China
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19
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Chen JM, Prendini E, Wu YH, Zhang BL, Suwannapoom C, Chen HM, Jin JQ, Lemmon EM, Lemmon AR, Stuart BL, Raxworthy CJ, Murphy RW, Yuan ZY, Che J. An integrative phylogenomic approach illuminates the evolutionary history of Old World tree frogs (Anura: Rhacophoridae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 145:106724. [PMID: 31881327 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Rhacophoridae are one of the most speciose and ecologically diverse families of amphibians. Resolution of their evolutionary relationships is key to understanding the accumulation of biodiversity, yet previous hypotheses based on Sanger sequencing exhibit much discordance amongst generic relationships. This conflict precludes the making of sound macroevolutionary conclusions. Herein, we conduct the first phylogenomic study using broad-scale sampling and sequences of 352 nuclear DNA loci obtained using anchored hybrid enrichment targeted sequencing. The robust time-calibrated phylogenetic hypothesis clarifies several long-disputed relationships and facilitates the testing of evolutionary hypotheses on spatiotemporal diversification and reproductive modes. The major extant lineages of Rhacophoridae appear to have radiated in mainland Asia, and the spatiotemporal process corresponds with several common accumulations of biodiversity in Asia. Analyses do not detect any case of "Out of Himalaya" in Rhacophoridae. All transitions of reproductive modes appear to have evolved in an ordered, gradual sequence associated with gaining independence of standing water for larval development. The different reproductive modes are phylogenetically conserved and the completion of their transitions appear to have occurred over a period of ~30 Ma, which does not fit a pattern of a rapid burst of diversification. Innovations in reproductive modes associate statistically with the uneven distribution of species-richness between clades, where higher diversification is linked to increased terrestrial modes of reproduction. These results strengthen the hypothesis that breeding innovations drive diversification by providing new opportunities for ecological release and dispersion.
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20
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de Sá FP, Haddad CFB, Gray MM, Verdade VK, Thomé MTC, Rodrigues MT, Zamudio KR. Male-male competition and repeated evolution of terrestrial breeding in Atlantic Coastal Forest frogs. Evolution 2019; 74:459-475. [PMID: 31710098 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Terrestrial breeding is a derived condition in frogs, with multiple transitions from an aquatic ancestor. Shifts in reproductive mode often involve changes in habitat use, and these are typically associated with diversification in body plans, with repeated transitions imposing similar selective pressures. We examine the diversification of reproductive modes, male and female body sizes, and sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in the Neotropical frog genera Cycloramphus and Zachaenus, both endemic to the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. Species in this clade either breed in rocky streams (saxicolous) or in terrestrial environments, allowing us to investigate reproductive habitat shifts. We constructed a multilocus molecular phylogeny and inferred evolutionary histories of reproductive habitats, body sizes, and SSD. The common ancestor was small, saxicolous, and had low SSD. Terrestrial breeding evolved independently three times and we found a significant association between reproductive habitat and SSD, with shifts to terrestrial breeding evolving in correlation with decreases in male body size, but not female body size. Terrestrial breeding increases the availability of breeding sites and results in concealment of amplexus, egg-laying, and parental care, therefore reducing male-male competition at all stages of reproduction. We conclude that correlated evolution of terrestrial reproduction and small males is due to release from intense male-male competition that is typical of exposed saxicolous breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio P de Sá
- Departamento de Zoologia and Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP), Instituto de Biociências, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, 13506-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Célio F B Haddad
- Departamento de Zoologia and Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP), Instituto de Biociências, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, 13506-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Miranda M Gray
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853
| | - Vanessa K Verdade
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, UFABC - Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, 09210-580, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Tereza C Thomé
- Departamento de Zoologia and Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP), Instituto de Biociências, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, 13506-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Miguel T Rodrigues
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, USP - Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kelly R Zamudio
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853
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21
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Meegaskumbura M, Senevirathne G, Manamendra-arachchi K, Pethiyagoda R, Hanken J, Schneider CJ. Diversification of shrub frogs (Rhacophoridae, Pseudophilautus) in Sri Lanka – Timing and geographic context. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 132:14-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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22
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Abraham RK, Mathew JK, Raju DV, Rao R, Zachariah A. Reproduction and metamorphosis in the Myristica Swamp tree frog, Mercurana myristicapalustris (Anura: Rhacophoridae). PeerJ 2018; 6:e5934. [PMID: 30498632 PMCID: PMC6252067 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The reproductive biology of the Myristica Swamp tree frog (Mercurana myristicapalustris), a monotypic rhacophorid frog endemic to the foothills of the Western Ghats mountains of India, has remained unknown since the description of the genus and species. We monitored individuals from parental generation amplexus to the completion of offspring generation tadpole metamorphosis. Surprisingly, our observations revealed that this species exhibits many previously unknown characteristics, including the first ever record of the female, and a diverse call repertoire, consisting of five different call types (the functions of which remain incompletely known). We were also able to determine that reproductive activity peaked during the late pre-monsoon season, that males engaged in intraspecific aggressive encounters to occupy and to defend desirable territories, and that oviposition took place in terrestrial nests made by females. Embryonic development in the unattended nest was followed by tadpole development, which concluded within 40 days. The specific breeding mode employed by Mercurana, which restricts its range to the endangered Myristica swamp ecosystem, likely renders it susceptible to multiple threats, which should be considered jointly in future conservation planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Kurian Abraham
- Biodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
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23
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Liedtke HC, Müller H, Hafner J, Penner J, Gower DJ, Mazuch T, Rödel MO, Loader SP. Terrestrial reproduction as an adaptation to steep terrain in African toads. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2016.2598. [PMID: 28356450 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
How evolutionary novelties evolve is a major question in evolutionary biology. It is widely accepted that changes in environmental conditions shift the position of selective optima, and advancements in phylogenetic comparative approaches allow the rigorous testing of such correlated transitions. A longstanding question in vertebrate biology has been the evolution of terrestrial life histories in amphibians and here, by investigating African bufonids, we test whether terrestrial modes of reproduction have evolved as adaptations to particular abiotic habitat parameters. We reconstruct and date the most complete species-level molecular phylogeny and estimate ancestral states for reproductive modes. By correlating continuous habitat measurements from remote sensing data and locality records with life-history transitions, we discover that terrestrial modes of reproduction, including viviparity evolved multiple times in this group, most often directly from fully aquatic modes. Terrestrial modes of reproduction are strongly correlated with steep terrain and low availability of accumulated water sources. Evolutionary transitions to terrestrial modes of reproduction occurred synchronously with or after transitions in habitat, and we, therefore, interpret terrestrial breeding as an adaptation to these abiotic conditions, rather than an exaptation that facilitated the colonization of montane habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Christoph Liedtke
- Department of Environmental Science (Biogeography), University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland .,Ecology, Evolution and Developmental Group, Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Hendrik Müller
- Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie mit Phyletischem Museum, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Erbertstraße 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Julian Hafner
- Department of Environmental Science (Biogeography), University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.,WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Penner
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany.,Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - David J Gower
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | | | - Mark-Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon P Loader
- Department of Environmental Science (Biogeography), University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 27, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK.,Department of Life Sciences, University of Roehampton, London SW15 4JD, UK
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24
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Wostl E, Riyanto A, Hamidy A, Kurniawan N, Smith EN, Harvey MB. A Taxonomic Revision of thePhilautus(Anura: Rhacophoridae) of Sumatra with the Description of Four New Species. Herpetological Monographs 2017. [DOI: 10.1655/herpmonographs-d-16-00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elijah Wostl
- Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center and Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Awal Riyanto
- Laboratory of Herpetology, Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences–LIPI, Widyasatwa Loka Jl. Raya Jakarta Bogor km 46, Cibinong, West Java 16911, Indonesia
| | - Amir Hamidy
- Laboratory of Herpetology, Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences–LIPI, Widyasatwa Loka Jl. Raya Jakarta Bogor km 46, Cibinong, West Java 16911, Indonesia
| | - Nia Kurniawan
- Department of Biology, Universitas Brawijaya, Jl. Veteran, Malang, East Java 65145, Indonesia
| | - Eric N. Smith
- Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center and Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Michael B. Harvey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Broward College, 3501 S.W. Davie Road; Davie, FL 33314, USA
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Pereira EB, Pinto-Ledezma JN, de Freitas CG, Villalobos F, Collevatti RG, Maciel NM. Evolution of the anuran foam nest: trait conservatism and lineage diversification. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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26
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Grant T, Rada M, Anganoy-Criollo M, Batista A, Dias PH, Jeckel AM, Machado DJ, Rueda-Almonacid JV. Phylogenetic Systematics of Dart-Poison Frogs and Their Relatives Revisited (Anura: Dendrobatoidea). South American Journal of Herpetology 2017. [DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-17-00017.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Taran Grant
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Amphibian Collection, Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo, 04263-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marco Rada
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marvin Anganoy-Criollo
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Abel Batista
- Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, David, Republic of Panama
- Los Naturalistas, David 0426-01459, Chiriquí, Panama
| | - Pedro Henrique Dias
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriana Moriguchi Jeckel
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Denis Jacob Machado
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Vassilieva AB. Heterochronies in the cranial development of Asian tree frogs (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) with different life histories. Dokl Biol Sci 2017; 473:50-52. [PMID: 28508201 DOI: 10.1134/s001249661702003x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of bony skull was studied in four species of Asian tree frogs (Rhacophoridae) with different life histories: biphasic development with free larval stage and direct development. In biphasic rhacophorids the sequence of the appearance of cranial bones generally followed the generalized pattern of craniogenesis, which was described for most studied anurans. In contrast, direct-developing species displayed some heterochronies in the formation of skull bones, namely, the accelerated formation of the anlagen of jaw and suspensorium bones. The obtained results support that the embryonization in amphibians is regularly accompanied by a heterochronic repatterning of craniogenesis, rather similar in different phyletic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Vassilieva
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
- Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
- Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technology Center, Nguyen Van Huyen, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Kishimoto K, Hayashi F. The Complete Embryonic and Larval Stages of the Oophagous FrogKurixalus eiffingeri(Rhacophoridae). Current Herpetology 2017. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.36.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Senevirathne G, Kerney R, Meegaskumbura M. Comparative Postembryonic Skeletal Ontogeny in Two Sister Lineages of Old World Tree Frogs (Rhacophoridae: Taruga, Polypedates). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0167939. [PMID: 28060923 PMCID: PMC5218391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhacophoridae, a family of morphologically cryptic frogs, with many genetically distinct evolutionary lineages, is understudied with respect to skeletal morphology, life history traits and skeletal ontogeny. Here we analyze two species each from two sister lineages, Taruga and Polypedates, and compare their postembryonic skeletal ontogeny, larval chondrocrania and adult osteology in the context of a well-resolved phylogeny. We further compare these ontogenetic traits with the direct-developing Pseudophilautus silus. For each species, we differentially stained a nearly complete developmental series of tadpoles from early postembryonic stages through metamorphosis to determine the intraspecific and interspecific differences of cranial and postcranial bones. Chondrocrania of the four species differ in 1) size; 2) presence/absence of anterolateral and posterior process; and 3) shape of the suprarostral cartilages. Interspecific variation of ossification sequences is limited during early stages, but conspicuous during later development. Early cranial ossification is typical of other anuran larvae, where the frontoparietal, exoccipital and parasphenoid ossify first. The ossification sequences of the cranial bones vary considerably within the four species. Both species of Taruga show a faster cranial ossification rate than Polypedates. Seven cranial bones form when larvae near metamorphic climax. Ossification of all 18 cranial bones is initiated by larval Gosner stage 46 in T. eques. However, some cranial bone formation is not initiated until after metamorphosis in the other three species. Postcranial sequence does not vary significantly. The comparison of adult osteology highlights two characters, which have not been previously recorded: presence/absence of the parieto-squamosal plates and bifurcated base of the omosternum. This study will provide a starting point for comparative analyses of rhacophorid skeletal ontogeny and facilitate the study of the evolution of ontogenetic repatterning associated with the life history variation in the family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayani Senevirathne
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- Postgraduate Institute of Science, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Ryan Kerney
- Department of Biology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Madhava Meegaskumbura
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
- Postgraduate Institute of Science, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
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Portik DM, Blackburn DC. The evolution of reproductive diversity in Afrobatrachia: A phylogenetic comparative analysis of an extensive radiation of African frogs. Evolution 2016; 70:2017-32. [PMID: 27402182 PMCID: PMC5129497 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The reproductive modes of anurans (frogs and toads) are the most diverse of terrestrial vertebrates, and a major challenge is identifying selective factors that promote the evolution or retention of reproductive modes across clades. Terrestrialized anuran breeding strategies have evolved repeatedly from the plesiomorphic fully aquatic reproductive mode, a process thought to occur through intermediate reproductive stages. Several selective forces have been proposed for the evolution of terrestrialized reproductive traits, but factors such as water systems and co‐evolution with ecomorphologies have not been investigated. We examined these topics in a comparative phylogenetic framework using Afrobatrachian frogs, an ecologically and reproductively diverse clade representing more than half of the total frog diversity found in Africa (∼400 species). We infer direct development has evolved twice independently from terrestrialized reproductive modes involving subterranean or terrestrial oviposition, supporting evolution through intermediate stages. We also detect associations between specific ecomorphologies and oviposition sites, and demonstrate arboreal species exhibit an overall shift toward using lentic water systems for breeding. These results indicate that changes in microhabitat use associated with ecomorphology, which allow access to novel sites for reproductive behavior, oviposition, or larval development, may also promote reproductive mode diversity in anurans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Portik
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas. .,Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California.
| | - David C Blackburn
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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31
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Hissa DC, Bezerra WM, Freitas CDTD, Ramos MV, Lopes JLDS, Beltramini LM, Roberto IJ, Cascon P, Melo VMM. Frog Foam Nest Protein Diversity and Synthesis. J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol 2016; 325:425-33. [PMID: 27460953 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Some amphibian species have developed a breeding strategy in which they deposit their eggs in stable foam nests to protect their eggs and larvae. The frog foam nests are rich in proteins (ranaspumin), especially surfactant proteins, involved in the production of the foam nest. Despite the ecological importance of the foam nests for evolution and species conservation, the biochemical composition, the long-term stability and even the origin of the components are still not completely understood. Recently we showed that Lv-RSN-1, a 23.5-kDa surfactant protein isolated from the nest of the frog Leptodacylus vastus, presents a structural conformation distinct from any protein structures yet reported. So, in the current study we aimed to reveal the protein composition of the foam nest of L. vastus and further characterize the Lv-RSN-1. Proteomic analysis showed the foam nest contains more than 100 of proteins, and that Lv-RSN-1 comprises 45% of the total proteins, suggesting a key role in the nest construction and stability. We demonstrated by Western blotting that Lv-RSN-1 is mainly produced only by the female in the pars convoluta dilata, which highlights the importance of the female preservation for conservation of species that depend on the production of foam nests in the early stages of development. Overall, our results showed the foam nest of L. vastus is composed of a great diversity of proteins and that besides Lv-RSN-1, the main protein in the foam, other proteins must have a coadjuvant role in building and stability of the nest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Cavalcante Hissa
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Humberto Monte, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
| | - Walderly Melgaço Bezerra
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Humberto Monte, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Márcio Viana Ramos
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Ceará Av. Humberto Monte, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - José Luiz De Souza Lopes
- Instituto de Física, Universidade de São Paulo, Cidade Universitária, Rua do Matão, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Leila Maria Beltramini
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Igor Joventino Roberto
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Departamento de Biologia, Avenida General Rodrigo Octávio, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
| | - Paulo Cascon
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Humberto Monte, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Vânia Maria Maciel Melo
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Humberto Monte, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
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Abstract
Frog reproductive modes are complex phenotypes that include egg/clutch characteristics, oviposition site, larval development, and sometimes, parental care. Two evident patterns in the evolution of these traits are the higher diversity of reproductive modes in the tropics and the apparent progression from aquatic to terrestrial reproduction, often attributed to higher fitness resulting from decreased predation on terrestrial eggs and tadpoles. Here, we propose that sexual selection-and not only natural selection due to predation-favors terrestrial breeding by reducing the loss of fitness due to polyandry. To examine this novel selective mechanism, we reconstructed the evolution of reproductive diversity in two frog families (Hylidae and Leptodactylidae) and tested for concerted evolution of egg and tadpole development sites with specific mating behaviors. We found that oviposition and tadpole development sites are evolving independently, do not show the same diversity and/or directionality in terms of terrestriality, and thus may be diversifying due to different selective mechanisms. In both families, terrestrial egg deposition is correlated with amplexus that is hidden from competing males, and in hylids, testes mass was significantly larger and more variable in males with exposed amplexus that are vulnerable to polyandry. Our results indicate that intrasexual selection has been an underappreciated mechanism promoting diversification of frog reproductive modes.
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33
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Biju SD, Senevirathne G, Garg S, Mahony S, Kamei RG, Thomas A, Shouche Y, Raxworthy CJ, Meegaskumbura M, Van Bocxlaer I. Frankixalus, a New Rhacophorid Genus of Tree Hole Breeding Frogs with Oophagous Tadpoles. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0145727. [PMID: 26790105 PMCID: PMC4720377 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite renewed interest in the biogeography and evolutionary history of Old World tree frogs (Rhacophoridae), this family still includes enigmatic frogs with ambiguous phylogenetic placement. During fieldwork in four northeastern states of India, we discovered several populations of tree hole breeding frogs with oophagous tadpoles. We used molecular data, consisting of two nuclear and three mitochondrial gene fragments for all known rhacophorid genera, to investigate the phylogenetic position of these new frogs. Our analyses identify a previously overlooked, yet distinct evolutionary lineage of frogs that warrants recognition as a new genus and is here described as Frankixalusgen. nov. This genus, which contains the enigmatic ‘Polypedates’ jerdonii described by Günther in 1876, forms the sister group of a clade containing Kurixalus, Pseudophilautus, Raorchestes, Mercurana and Beddomixalus. The distinctiveness of this evolutionary lineage is also corroborated by the external morphology of adults and tadpoles, adult osteology, breeding ecology, and life history features.
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Affiliation(s)
- S D Biju
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India
| | - Gayani Senevirathne
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Sonali Garg
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India
| | - Stephen Mahony
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India.,School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
| | - Rachunliu G Kamei
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India.,Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
| | - Ashish Thomas
- Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India.,Department of Environmental Studies, Hindu College, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India
| | - Yogesh Shouche
- Microbial Culture Collection, National Center for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411 007, India
| | - Christopher J Raxworthy
- Herpetology Department, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York, 10024, United States of America
| | - Madhava Meegaskumbura
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Ines Van Bocxlaer
- Amphibian Evolution Lab, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
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