DOCSLIB.ORG

Evolutionary Integration of the Frog Cranium

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

ORIGINAL ARTICLE doi:10.1111/evo.13984 Evolutionary integration of the frog cranium Carla Bardua,1,2,3 Anne-Claire Fabre,4 Margot Bon,4 Kalpana Das,5 Edward L. Stanley,6 David C. Blackburn,7 and Anjali Goswami4 1Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, London , WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom 2Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London , SW7 5BD, United Kingdom 3E-mail: [email protected] 4Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London , SW7 5BD, United Kingdom 5Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin 10115, Germany 6Department of Herpetology, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 7Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 Received September 10, 2019 Accepted April 17, 2020 Evolutionary integration (covariation) of traits has long fascinated biologists because of its potential to elucidate factors that have shaped morphological evolution. Studies of tetrapod crania have identified patterns of evolutionary integration that reflect functional or developmental interactions among traits, but no studies to date have sampled widely across the species-rich lissam- phibian order Anura (frogs). Frogs exhibit a vast range of cranial morphologies, life history strategies, and ecologies. Here, using high-density morphometrics we capture cranial morphology for 172 anuran species, sampling every extant family. We quantify the pattern of evolutionary modularity in the frog skull and compare patterns in taxa with different life history modes. Evolutionary changes across the anuran cranium are highly modular, with a well-integrated “suspensorium” involved in feeding. This pattern is strikingly similar to that identified for caecilian and salamander crania, suggesting replication of patterns of evolutionary integra- tion across Lissamphibia. Surprisingly, possession of a feeding larval stage has no notable influence on cranial integration across frogs. However, late-ossifying bones exhibit higher integration than early-ossifying bones. Finally, anuran cranial modules show diverse morphological disparities, supporting the hypothesis that modular variation allows mosaic evolution of the cranium, but we find no consistent relationship between degree of within-module integration and disparity. KEY WORDS: Frogs, cranial morphology, integration, development, morphometrics, disparity. Trait integration is an inherent property of biological systems and been suggested to promote the diversification of form. Several manifests at many scales of analysis, from populations to large recent studies have explored this hypothesized relationship by clades. Correlations among traits, and their organization into quantifying phenotypic (or variational) and evolutionary integra- highly integrated, semi-autonomous modules, can result from ge- tion and modularity and determining how they relate to disparity netic, developmental, or functional interactions, and it is thought and rates of evolution in various species or clades. These studies that patterns of genetic and developmental integration may provide extensive evidence that the presence of evolutionary evolve adaptively to promote functional integration (Riedl 1978; modules is associated with higher disparity or evolutionary Cheverud 1984; Wagner and Altenberg 1996). These trait associ- rate (Goswami and Polly 2010; Claverie and Patek 2013; Randau ations may be replicated in macroevolutionary patterns observed and Goswami 2017; Felice and Goswami 2018; Larouche et al. across larger clades, with traits evolving in either a coordinated 2018; Dellinger et al. 2019; Watanabe et al. 2019; Bardua et al. or a modular fashion. The modular organization of phenotypic 2019b). Many studies have also assessed whether the magnitude evolution is central to many fundamental concepts in evolution- of evolutionary integration among traits (across an entire pheno- ary biology, including mosaicism (De Beer 1954), which have type or within a module) correlates with higher or lower disparity © 2020 The Authors. Evolution published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Society for the Study of Evolution 1200 This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Evolution 74-6: 1200–1215 FROG CRANIAL INTEGRATION or evolutionary rate. For this question, the answer is less clear tadpoles and frogs can evolve independently, responding to an- than for the one above. Some studies find that high evolutionary tagonistic selection pressures (Sherratt et al. 2017), and different integration among traits is correlated with low disparity and slow tadpole morphologies can converge to the same adult morphol- evolutionary rate (Claverie and Patek 2013; Felice and Goswami ogy (Bragg and Bragg 1958; Pfennig 1990). Frogs with a free- 2018; Martín-Serra et al. 2019). Conversely, others have found living, feeding larval stage may therefore experience fewer de- that highly integrated traits show greater disparity than less velopmental or genetic constraints, which may lead to a decrease integrated ones. In addition, some have found that there is no in strength of phenotypic integration and a greater partitioning of relationship between evolutionary modularity and disparity or traits into modules, or to greater variation in patterns of pheno- rate of evolution at this scale (Goswami et al. 2014; Watanabe typic integration across taxa, both of which would be reflected et al. 2019; Bardua et al. 2019b). However, our understanding in greater evolutionary modularity. Some support for this hypoth- of the factors shaping the evolutionary integration among traits esis is offered by recent analysis of evolutionary modularity in and its relevance for morphological evolution is incomplete, salamanders, with species undergoing complete metamorphosis with most studies focused on a few clades, such as mammals exhibiting elevated cranial modularity compared with pedomor- and birds, both of which have relatively little developmental phic taxa (Fabre et al., 2020). Life history may therefore have diversity. Here, we have expanded the study of evolutionary a significant and persistent influence on the strength and pattern modularity to one of the most taxonomically, developmentally, of cranial integration, and this effect is expected to be particu- ecologically, and morphologically diverse clades of tetrapods: larly strong in lineages with disparate free-living developmental the lissamphibian order Anura (frogs). stages, such as frogs. Lissamphibians constitute over 25% of extant tetrapod Other aspects of development may also influence evolu- species (totalling 8,160 species; AmphibiaWeb 2020), and yet tionary integration across frogs. For example, derivation from patterns of trait integration at any scale across this diverse clade different cranial neural crest (CNC) streams may generate remain largely unexplored compared to amniotes. Previous stud- developmental modules that may be expected to evolve in a ies of both phenotypic and evolutionary integration in lissam- coordinated manner (Felice and Goswami 2018). The pattern phibian crania have found limited support for modular structure, of the contribution of CNC streams to the osteocranium is with studies recovering either few modules or no modular struc- considerably different for the frog Xenopus than for the axolotl (a ture at all (Ivanovic´ and Kalezic´ 2010; Sherratt 2011; Ivanovic´ salamander) or for amniotes (Hanken and Gross 2005; Gross and and Arntzen 2014; Simon and Marroig 2017; Vidal-García and Hanken 2008; Piekarski et al. 2014), suggesting a possible deep Keogh 2017). With the application of high-dimensional geomet- divergence in the pattern of cranial development between frogs ric morphometric data, strong modular structure has been iden- and other tetrapod clades. Furthermore, frogs differ from other tified at the intraspecific (phenotypic) and evolutionary levels lissamphibian clades in cranial ossification sequence timing, across caecilian (Marshall et al. 2019; Bardua et al. 2019b) and with a heterochronic shift whereby frogs exhibit relatively later salamander (Bon et al. 2020; Fabre et al. 2020) crania, in analyses ossification of bones associated with adult feeding (Harrington exploring much wider ranges of models. However, the most di- et al. 2013). Larval and adult feeding modes differ more for frogs verse lissamphibians, frogs, have not yet been incorporated into than for salamanders or caecilians, so larval frog mouthparts these studies. The few studies of cranial modularity in frogs to would likely be more impeded by early ossification of bones in- date vary widely in taxonomic and morphological coverage as volved in adult feeding. However, direct-developing frogs, which well as data type, hindering our understanding of anuran cranial feed like adults immediately following hatching, partially reverse modularity and preventing direct comparison of modular struc- this trend (Hanken et al. 1992; Kerney et al. 2007; Harrington tures across Lissamphibia (e.g., Simon and Marroig 2017; Vidal- et al. 2013). Cranial ossification sequences therefore vary across García and Keogh 2017). Beyond their taxonomic diversity, anu- Anura (Weisbecker and Mitgutsch 2010), and can even vary rans provide a unique opportunity
Recommended publications
  • Morphological and Cytological Observations on Iwo Opalinid Endocommensals of Acanthixalus Spinosus (Amphibia, Anura)

    Morphological and Cytological Observations on Iwo Opalinid Endocommensals of Acanthixalus Spinosus (Amphibia, Anura)

    See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238037392 Morphological and cytological observations on two opalinid endocommensals of Acanthixalus spinosus (Amphibia, Anura) Article in Canadian Journal of Zoology · February 2011 DOI: 10.1139/z96-171 CITATIONS READS 2 133 3 authors, including: Félix-Marie Affa'a RAPPAUC 21 PUBLICATIONS 98 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE All content following this page was uploaded by Félix-Marie Affa'a on 23 January 2015. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. 1573 Morphological and cytological observations on Iwo opalinid endocommensals of Acanthixalus spinosus (Amphibia, Anura) Félix-Marie Affa'a, Jean-Pierre Mignot, and Jean-Louis Amiet Abstract: The morphology and cytology of two new opalinid species were studied using silver impregnation and fixation, which preserves the microfibrils. Both species, commensal on Acanthixalus spinosus, are hast-specifie. Light microscopy showed the existence of a posterior secant system in Opalina proteus n.sp. and its absence in Cepedea couillardi n.sp. (in agreement with the differences presently recognised between the two genera). At the ultrastructural level, however, bath species present a posterior fibrillar zone that seems to be homologous with the secant system. This apparent contradiction may be explained by the fact that the secant system is visible under light microscopy only in O. proteus because its fibrillar zone is more developed than in C. couillardi. The life cycle of C. couillardi spans stages from the tadpole to the adult; in contrast, O. proteus completes its cycle before metamorphosis of the hast. Résumé: Les auteurs ont étudié la morphologie et l'ultrastructure de deux nouvelles opalines par imprégnation à l'argent en microscopie optique et en microscopie électronique, après fixation par une technique réputée préserver les microfibrilles.
  • Catalogue of the Amphibians of Venezuela: Illustrated and Annotated Species List, Distribution, and Conservation 1,2César L

    Catalogue of the Amphibians of Venezuela: Illustrated and Annotated Species List, Distribution, and Conservation 1,2César L

    Mannophryne vulcano, Male carrying tadpoles. El Ávila (Parque Nacional Guairarepano), Distrito Federal. Photo: Jose Vieira. We want to dedicate this work to some outstanding individuals who encouraged us, directly or indirectly, and are no longer with us. They were colleagues and close friends, and their friendship will remain for years to come. César Molina Rodríguez (1960–2015) Erik Arrieta Márquez (1978–2008) Jose Ayarzagüena Sanz (1952–2011) Saúl Gutiérrez Eljuri (1960–2012) Juan Rivero (1923–2014) Luis Scott (1948–2011) Marco Natera Mumaw (1972–2010) Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 13(1) [Special Section]: 1–198 (e180). Catalogue of the amphibians of Venezuela: Illustrated and annotated species list, distribution, and conservation 1,2César L. Barrio-Amorós, 3,4Fernando J. M. Rojas-Runjaic, and 5J. Celsa Señaris 1Fundación AndígenA, Apartado Postal 210, Mérida, VENEZUELA 2Current address: Doc Frog Expeditions, Uvita de Osa, COSTA RICA 3Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales, Museo de Historia Natural La Salle, Apartado Postal 1930, Caracas 1010-A, VENEZUELA 4Current address: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Río Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Laboratório de Sistemática de Vertebrados, Av. Ipiranga 6681, Porto Alegre, RS 90619–900, BRAZIL 5Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Altos de Pipe, apartado 20632, Caracas 1020, VENEZUELA Abstract.—Presented is an annotated checklist of the amphibians of Venezuela, current as of December 2018. The last comprehensive list (Barrio-Amorós 2009c) included a total of 333 species, while the current catalogue lists 387 species (370 anurans, 10 caecilians, and seven salamanders), including 28 species not yet described or properly identified. Fifty species and four genera are added to the previous list, 25 species are deleted, and 47 experienced nomenclatural changes.
  • Amphibian Ark Conservation Needs Assessment, Philippines, July 2014 Page 1

    Amphibian Ark Conservation Needs Assessment, Philippines, July 2014 Page 1

    Amphibian Ark Conservation Needs Assessment, Philippines, July 2014 Page 1 Species suited to Conservation Education 42 species Species that are specifically selected for management – primarily in zoos and aquariums - to inspire and increase knowledge in visitors, in order to promote positive behavioural change. For example, when a species is used to raise financial or other support for field conservation projects (this would include clearly defined ‘flagship’ or ‘ambassador’ species). Phylogenetic Cultural/socio-economic Scientific Education Species Biological Distinctiveness significance importance Importance potential Sanguirana everetti 8.659490771 No aspect of biology known to be No No research dependent on this Yes exceptional species Research into availability of founders needs to be prioritised. Known in the area it was first collected like Mt. Apo. Threat: Habitat loss. It is not seen in great numbers anymore in Mindanao and chytrid may already affected them – hard hit (Diesmos). New genetic data suggest that real S. everetti is a SW Mindanao species...not sure what the Apo population would be since it has not be included in a phylogenetic study (Brown). No inferences can be made on the basis of habitat or forest cover. Need actual surveys of populations (Brown). Recommended to be listed as Data Deficient, for its distribution. Data Deficient because no studies can be conducted in that region due to security issues (Brown). Hylarana similis 7.692704126 No aspect of biology known to be No No research dependent on this Yes exceptional species Chytrid infected, effects cannot be reversed in time, high priority, but (Diesmos) they are quiet common on other mountain areas in Luzon, one of the hardest hit frog.
  • Anura: Brachycephalidae) Com Base Em Dados Morfológicos

    Anura: Brachycephalidae) Com Base Em Dados Morfológicos

    Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal Laboratório de Anatomia Comparada de Vertebrados Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade de Brasília Sistemática filogenética do gênero Brachycephalus Fitzinger, 1826 (Anura: Brachycephalidae) com base em dados morfológicos Tese apresentada ao Programa de pós-graduação em Biologia Animal para a obtenção do título de doutor em Biologia Animal Leandro Ambrósio Campos Orientador: Antonio Sebben Co-orientador: Helio Ricardo da Silva Maio de 2011 Universidade de Brasília Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal TESE DE DOUTORADO LEANDRO AMBRÓSIO CAMPOS Título: “Sistemática filogenética do gêneroBrachycephalus Fitzinger, 1826 (Anura: Brachycephalidae) com base em dados morfológicos.” Comissão Examinadora: Prof. Dr. Antonio Sebben Presidente / Orientador UnB Prof. Dr. José Peres Pombal Jr. Prof. Dr. Lílian Gimenes Giugliano Membro Titular Externo não Vinculado ao Programa Membro Titular Interno Vinculado ao Programa Museu Nacional - UFRJ UnB Prof. Dr. Cristiano de Campos Nogueira Prof. Dr. Rosana Tidon Membro Titular Interno Vinculado ao Programa Membro Titular Interno Vinculado ao Programa UnB UnB Brasília, 30 de maio de 2011 Dedico esse trabalho à minha mãe Corina e aos meus irmãos Flávio, Luciano e Eliane i Agradecimentos Ao Prof. Dr. Antônio Sebben, pela orientação, dedicação, paciência e companheirismo ao longo do trabalho. Ao Prof. Dr. Helio Ricardo da Silva pela orientação, companheirismo e pelo auxílio imprescindível nas expedições de campo. Aos professores Carlos Alberto Schwartz, Elizabeth Ferroni Schwartz, Mácia Renata Mortari e Osmindo Pires Jr. pelos auxílios prestados ao longo do trabalho. Aos técnicos Pedro Ivo Mollina Pelicano, Washington José de Oliveira e Valter Cézar Fernandes Silveira pelo companheirismo e auxílio ao longo do trabalho.
  • Redalyc.Reproductive Features of Chaltenobatrachus Grandisonae

    Redalyc.Reproductive Features of Chaltenobatrachus Grandisonae

    Revista Chilena de Historia Natural ISSN: 0716-078X [email protected] Sociedad de Biología de Chile Chile CISTERNAS, JAVIERA; CORREA, CLAUDIO; VELÁSQUEZ, NELSON; PENNA, MARIO Reproductive features of Chaltenobatrachus grandisonae (Anura: Batrachylidae) within a protected area in Patagonia, Chile Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, vol. 86, núm. 3, 2013, pp. 365-368 Sociedad de Biología de Chile Santiago, Chile Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=369944186013 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative REPRODUCTION OF CHALTENOBATRACHUS GRANDISONAE 365 REVISTA CHILENA DE HISTORIA NATURAL Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 86: 365-368, 2013 © Sociedad de Biología de Chile NATURAL HISTORY NOTE Reproductive features of Chaltenobatrachus grandisonae (Anura: Batrachylidae) within a protected area in Patagonia, Chile Características reproductivas de Chaltenobatrachus grandisonae (Anura: Batrachylidae) en un área protegida en Patagonia, Chile JAVIERA CISTERNAS1,2,*, CLAUDIO CORREA1,3, NELSON VELÁSQUEZ2 & MARIO PENNA2 1Aumen o el Eco de los montes, Organización No Gubernamental, P. O. Box 393, Coyhaique, Chile 2Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, P. O. Box 70005, Santiago, Chile 3Pontifi cia Universidad Católica de Chile, Departamento de Ecología, Alameda 340, P. O. Box 6513677, Santiago, Chile *Corresponding author: [email protected] Basso et al. (2011) assigned the monotypic Reproductive mode is defined by genus Chaltenobatrachus for the species a combination of characteristics including described originally as Telmatobius grandisonae breeding site, clutch structure, location of Lynch, 1975 (later transferred to the genus egg deposition, larval development site and Atelognathus by Lynch 1978).
  • Appendix 1: Maps and Plans Appendix184 Map 1: Conservation Categories for the Nominated Property

    Appendix 1: Maps and Plans Appendix184 Map 1: Conservation Categories for the Nominated Property

    Appendix 1: Maps and Plans Appendix184 Map 1: Conservation Categories for the Nominated Property. Los Alerces National Park, Argentina 185 Map 2: Andean-North Patagonian Biosphere Reserve: Context for the Nominated Proprty. Los Alerces National Park, Argentina 186 Map 3: Vegetation of the Valdivian Ecoregion 187 Map 4: Vegetation Communities in Los Alerces National Park 188 Map 5: Strict Nature and Wildlife Reserve 189 Map 6: Usage Zoning, Los Alerces National Park 190 Map 7: Human Settlements and Infrastructure 191 Appendix 2: Species Lists Ap9n192 Appendix 2.1 List of Plant Species Recorded at PNLA 193 Appendix 2.2: List of Animal Species: Mammals 212 Appendix 2.3: List of Animal Species: Birds 214 Appendix 2.4: List of Animal Species: Reptiles 219 Appendix 2.5: List of Animal Species: Amphibians 220 Appendix 2.6: List of Animal Species: Fish 221 Appendix 2.7: List of Animal Species and Threat Status 222 Appendix 3: Law No. 19,292 Append228 Appendix 4: PNLA Management Plan Approval and Contents Appendi242 Appendix 5: Participative Process for Writing the Nomination Form Appendi252 Synthesis 252 Management Plan UpdateWorkshop 253 Annex A: Interview Guide 256 Annex B: Meetings and Interviews Held 257 Annex C: Self-Administered Survey 261 Annex D: ExternalWorkshop Participants 262 Annex E: Promotional Leaflet 264 Annex F: Interview Results Summary 267 Annex G: Survey Results Summary 272 Annex H: Esquel Declaration of Interest 274 Annex I: Trevelin Declaration of Interest 276 Annex J: Chubut Tourism Secretariat Declaration of Interest 278
  • Congolius, a New Genus of African Reed Frog Endemic to The

    Congolius, a New Genus of African Reed Frog Endemic to The

    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Congolius, a new genus of African reed frog endemic to the central Congo: A potential case of convergent evolution Tadeáš Nečas1,2*, Gabriel Badjedjea3, Michal Vopálenský4 & Václav Gvoždík1,5* The reed frog genus Hyperolius (Afrobatrachia, Hyperoliidae) is a speciose genus containing over 140 species of mostly small to medium-sized frogs distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. Its high level of colour polymorphism, together with in anurans relatively rare sexual dichromatism, make systematic studies more difcult. As a result, the knowledge of the diversity and taxonomy of this genus is still limited. Hyperolius robustus known only from a handful of localities in rain forests of the central Congo Basin is one of the least known species. Here, we have used molecular methods for the frst time to study the phylogenetic position of this taxon, accompanied by an analysis of phenotype based on external (morphometric) and internal (osteological) morphological characters. Our phylogenetic results undoubtedly placed H. robustus out of Hyperolius into a common clade with sympatric Cryptothylax and West African Morerella. To prevent the uncovered paraphyly, we place H. robustus into a new genus, Congolius. The review of all available data suggests that the new genus is endemic to the central Congolian lowland rain forests. The analysis of phenotype underlined morphological similarity of the new genus to some Hyperolius species. This uniformity of body shape (including cranial shape) indicates that the two genera have either retained ancestral morphology or evolved through convergent evolution under similar ecological pressures in the African rain forests. African reed frogs, Hyperoliidae Laurent, 1943, are presently encompassing almost 230 species in 17 genera.
  • Amphibiaweb's Illustrated Amphibians of the Earth

    Amphibiaweb's Illustrated Amphibians of the Earth

    AmphibiaWeb's Illustrated Amphibians of the Earth Created and Illustrated by the 2020-2021 AmphibiaWeb URAP Team: Alice Drozd, Arjun Mehta, Ash Reining, Kira Wiesinger, and Ann T. Chang This introduction to amphibians was written by University of California, Berkeley AmphibiaWeb Undergraduate Research Apprentices for people who love amphibians. Thank you to the many AmphibiaWeb apprentices over the last 21 years for their efforts. Edited by members of the AmphibiaWeb Steering Committee CC BY-NC-SA 2 Dedicated in loving memory of David B. Wake Founding Director of AmphibiaWeb (8 June 1936 - 29 April 2021) Dave Wake was a dedicated amphibian biologist who mentored and educated countless people. With the launch of AmphibiaWeb in 2000, Dave sought to bring the conservation science and basic fact-based biology of all amphibians to a single place where everyone could access the information freely. Until his last day, David remained a tirelessly dedicated scientist and ally of the amphibians of the world. 3 Table of Contents What are Amphibians? Their Characteristics ...................................................................................... 7 Orders of Amphibians.................................................................................... 7 Where are Amphibians? Where are Amphibians? ............................................................................... 9 What are Bioregions? ..................................................................................10 Conservation of Amphibians Why Save Amphibians? .............................................................................
  • Ecology and Demography of the Critically Endangered Kandian Torrent Toad Adenomus Kandianus: a Long-Lost Endemic Species of Sri Lanka

    Ecology and Demography of the Critically Endangered Kandian Torrent Toad Adenomus Kandianus: a Long-Lost Endemic Species of Sri Lanka

    Ecology and demography of the Critically Endangered Kandian torrent toad Adenomus kandianus: a long-lost endemic species of Sri Lanka S URANJAN K ARUNARATHNA,SUJAN H ENKANATHTHEGEDARA,DINESH G ABADAGE M ADHAVA B OTEJUE,MAJINTHA M ADAWALA and T HILINA D. SURASINGHE Abstract The tropical island nation of Sri Lanka is a bio- Keywords Adenomus kandianus, Amphibia, Bufonidae, diversity hotspot with a high diversity and endemism of am- conservation, Critically Endangered, montane streams, phibians. The endemic, stream-dwelling Kandian torrent Sri Lanka, tropical rainforests toad Adenomus kandianus is Critically Endangered and was considered to be extinct until its rediscovery in . The species is now known from two localities in tropical Introduction montane forests. We conducted a -year study using tran- sect surveys and opportunistic excursions to assess habitat he South Asian tropical island of Sri Lanka is rich in associations, demographics and abundance of A. kandianus Tamphibian diversity (Meegaskumbura et al., ). in and around Pidurutalagala Conservation Forest. We re- Of the country’s described amphibian species corded a mean of . post-metamorphs per year, with a (c. %) are endemic and . % are restricted to rainforests density of , individual per m , with occurrence within (Surasinghe, ; Wickramasinghe et al., ). Sri Lanka’s a narrow extent (c. km ) of the stream channel. amphibians are threatened by deforestation, environmental Behaviour and microhabitat selection varied depending on pollution and road traffic (Pethiyagoda et al., ; sex and stage of maturity. The species preferred moderately Karunarathna et al., ). These anthropogenic stressors have sized montane streams with rocky substrates and woody contributed to the extinction of amphibian species, and de- debris, colder temperatures, and closed-canopy, intact ri- clining populations of nearly half of the extant species (MOE, parian forests.
  • Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania Regional Focus

    Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania Regional Focus

    November 2011 Vol. 99 www.amphibians.orgFrogLogNews from the herpetological community Regional Focus Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania INSIDE News from the ASG Regional Updates Global Focus Recent Publications General Announcements And More..... Spotted Treefrog Nyctixalus pictus. Photo: Leong Tzi Ming New The 2012 Sabin Members’ Award for Amphibian Conservation is now Bulletin open for nomination Board FrogLog Vol. 99 | November 2011 | 1 Follow the ASG on facebook www.facebook.com/amphibiansdotor2 | FrogLog Vol. 99| November 2011 g $PSKLELDQ$UN FDOHQGDUVDUHQRZDYDLODEOH 7KHWZHOYHVSHFWDFXODUZLQQLQJSKRWRVIURP $PSKLELDQ$UN¶VLQWHUQDWLRQDODPSKLELDQ SKRWRJUDSK\FRPSHWLWLRQKDYHEHHQLQFOXGHGLQ $PSKLELDQ$UN¶VEHDXWLIXOZDOOFDOHQGDU7KH FDOHQGDUVDUHQRZDYDLODEOHIRUVDOHDQGSURFHHGV DPSKLELDQDUN IURPVDOHVZLOOJRWRZDUGVVDYLQJWKUHDWHQHG :DOOFDOHQGDU DPSKLELDQVSHFLHV 3ULFLQJIRUFDOHQGDUVYDULHVGHSHQGLQJRQ WKHQXPEHURIFDOHQGDUVRUGHUHG±WKHPRUH \RXRUGHUWKHPRUH\RXVDYH2UGHUVRI FDOHQGDUVDUHSULFHGDW86HDFKRUGHUV RIEHWZHHQFDOHQGDUVGURSWKHSULFHWR 86HDFKDQGRUGHUVRIDUHSULFHGDW MXVW86HDFK 7KHVHSULFHVGRQRWLQFOXGH VKLSSLQJ $VZHOODVRUGHULQJFDOHQGDUVIRU\RXUVHOIIULHQGV DQGIDPLO\ZK\QRWSXUFKDVHVRPHFDOHQGDUV IRUUHVDOHWKURXJK\RXU UHWDLORXWOHWVRUIRUJLIWV IRUVWDIIVSRQVRUVRUIRU IXQGUDLVLQJHYHQWV" 2UGHU\RXUFDOHQGDUVIURPRXUZHEVLWH ZZZDPSKLELDQDUNRUJFDOHQGDURUGHUIRUP 5HPHPEHU±DVZHOODVKDYLQJDVSHFWDFXODUFDOHQGDU WRNHHSWUDFNRIDOO\RXULPSRUWDQWGDWHV\RX¶OODOVREH GLUHFWO\KHOSLQJWRVDYHDPSKLELDQVDVDOOSUR¿WVZLOOEH XVHGWRVXSSRUWDPSKLELDQFRQVHUYDWLRQSURMHFWV ZZZDPSKLELDQDUNRUJ FrogLog Vol. 99 | November
  • What Is Driving Declines of Montane Endemic Amphibians? New Insights from Mount Bamboutos, Cameroon

    What Is Driving Declines of Montane Endemic Amphibians? New Insights from Mount Bamboutos, Cameroon

    What is driving declines of montane endemic amphibians? New insights from Mount Bamboutos, Cameroon A. M. TCHASSEM F., T. M. DOHERTY-B ONE,M.M.KAMENI N. W. P. TAPONDJOU N.,J.L.TAMESSE and L . N . G ONWOUO Abstract Amphibians on African mountains are threatened Preserving a network of connected forest patches is there- by habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, disease and fore critical to save the endemic amphibians of Mount climate change. In particular, there have been recent reports Bamboutos. of declines of montane endemic frogs in Cameroon. Mount Keywords Africa, amphibians, anurans, Cameroon, caeci- Bamboutos, although home to numerous species of endemic lians, endemic species, forest degradation, mountains amphibians, has no official protection and its amphibian populations have so far not been studied quantitatively. Supplementary material for this article is available at We surveyed frog assemblages on this mountain along a https://doi.org/./S gradient of forest modification over a -year period. Through visual encounter surveys stratified across forest and farm- land, we found that threatened montane amphibian species Introduction are closely associated with forested areas, particularly the Critically Endangered Leptodactylodon axillaris and mphibians are threatened globally, with over one-third Endangered Leptodactylodon perreti, Astylosternus ranoides Aof all known species at risk of extinction and half show- and Cardioglossa oreas. Using the updated inventory of ing population declines (Stuart et al., ; IUCN, ). amphibians, which includes species with broader ranges Threats include habitat alteration, loss and fragmenta- across Africa, we found % of amphibian species on tion, pollution, overexploitation, disease, invasive species, Mount Bamboutos to be threatened. We did not record climate change and combinations of these factors (Beebee several species present in historical records, which suggests & Griffiths, ).
  • Species Assessment for Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog

    Species Assessment for Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog

    Species Status Assessment Class: Amphibia Family: Ranidae Scientific Name: Lithobates [Rana] kauffeldi Common Name: Atlantic Coast leopard frog Species synopsis: More than a century of taxonomic confusion regarding the leopard frogs of the East Coast was resolved in 2012 with the publication of a genetic analysis (Newman et al. 2012) confirming that a third, cryptic species of leopard frog (Rana [= Lithobates] sp. nov.) occurs in southern New York, northern New Jersey, and western Connecticut. The molecular evidence strongly supported the distinction of this new species from the previously known northern (R. pipiens [= L. pipiens]) and southern (R. sphenocephala [=L. sphenocephalus]) leopard frogs. Rana kauffeldi is morphologically similar to R. sphenocephala and R. pipiens, but distinguishable by advertisement call, genetics, habitat, geographic distribution, and a combination of morphological characters (Feinberg et al. 2014). Bioacoustic evidence of the frog’s occurrence in southern New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and as far south as the Virginia/North Carolina border is available, thereby raising uncertainty about which species of leopard frog occur(s) presently and historically throughout the region. Some evidence suggests that Long Island might at one time have had two species: the southern leopard frog in the pine barrens and the Atlantic Coast leopard frog in coastal wetlands and the Hudson Valley. For simplicity’s sake, in this assessment we retain the name “Atlantic Coast leopard frog” even though much of the information available may also refer to the southern leopard frog or a combination of species (Feinberg et al. 2014). 1 I. Status a. Current and Legal Protected Status i. Federal ____ Not Listed______________________ Candidate? ___No____ ii.