Current ecological and evolutionary research are increasingly moving from species- to trait-based approaches because traits provide a stronger link to organism’s function and fitness. Trait databases covering a large number of species are becoming available, but such data remains scarce for certain groups. Amphibians are among the most diverse vertebrate groups on Earth, and constitute an abundant component of major terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. They are also facing rapid population declines worldwide, which is likely to affect trait composition in local communities, thereby impacting ecosystem processes and services. In this context, we introduce AmphiBIO, a comprehensive database of natural history traits for amphibians worldwide. The database releases information on 17 traits related to ecology, morphology and reproduction features of amphibians. We compiled data from more than 1,500 literature sources, and for more than 6,500 species of all orders (Anura, Caudata and Gymnophiona), 61 families and 531 genera. This database has the potential to allow unprecedented large-scale analyses in ecology, evolution, and conservation of amphibians.
Two main hypotheses have been proposed to explain the diversification of the Caatinga biota. The riverine barrier hypothesis (RBH) claims that the São Francisco River (SFR) is a major biogeographic barrier to gene flow. The Pleistocene climatic fluctuation hypothesis (PCH) states that gene flow, geographic genetic structure and demographic signatures on endemic Caatinga taxa were influenced by Quaternary climate fluctuation cycles. Herein, we analyse genetic diversity and structure, phylogeographic history, and diversification of a widespread Caatinga lizard (Cnemidophorus ocellifer) based on large geographical sampling for multiple loci to test the predictions derived from the RBH and PCH. We inferred two well-delimited lineages (Northeast and Southwest) that have diverged along the Cerrado-Caatinga border during the Mid-Late Miocene (6-14 Ma) despite the presence of gene flow. We reject both major hypotheses proposed to explain diversification in the Caatinga. Surprisingly, our results revealed a striking complex diversification pattern where the Northeast lineage originated as a founder effect from a few individuals located along the edge of the Southwest lineage that eventually expanded throughout the Caatinga. The Southwest lineage is more diverse, older and associated with the Cerrado-Caatinga boundaries. Finally, we suggest that C. ocellifer from the Caatinga is composed of two distinct species. Our data support speciation in the presence of gene flow and highlight the role of environmental gradients in the diversification process.
There is an increasing interest in measuring loss of phylogenetic diversity and evolutionary distinctiveness which together depict the evolutionary history of conservation interest. Those losses are assessed through the evolutionary relationships between species and species threat status or extinction probabilities. Yet, available information is not always sufficient to quantify the threat status of species that are then classified as data deficient. Data‐deficient species are a crucial issue as they cause incomplete assessments of the loss of phylogenetic diversity and evolutionary distinctiveness. We aimed to explore the potential bias caused by data‐deficient species in estimating four widely used indices: HEDGE, EDGE, PDloss, and Expected PDloss. Second, we tested four different widely applicable and multitaxa imputation methods and their potential to minimize the bias for those four indices. Two methods are based on a best‐ vs. worst‐case extinction scenarios, one is based on the frequency distribution of threat status within a taxonomic group and one is based on correlates of extinction risks. We showed that data‐deficient species led to important bias in predictions of evolutionary history loss (especially high underestimation when they were removed). This issue was particularly important when data‐deficient species tended to be clustered in the tree of life. The imputation method based on correlates of extinction risks, especially geographic range size, had the best performance and enabled us to improve risk assessments. Solving threat status of DD species can fundamentally change our understanding of loss of phylogenetic diversity. We found that this loss could be substantially higher than previously found in amphibians, squamate reptiles, and carnivores. We also identified species that are of high priority for the conservation of evolutionary distinctiveness.
A new species of Leptodactylus belonging to the L. fuscus species group, and related to the L. mystaceus complex, is described from the Lagoa das Bromélias (20 o 53'S, 42 o 31'W; 1,227 m above sea level), Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro, Municipality of Ervália, State of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Leptodactylus cupreus sp. nov. is characterized by the large size for the group (SVL 50.1-55.1 mm in males) and color pattern. The new species has a non-pulsed advertisement call, with call rate about 12 calls/s and a dominant frequency between 2,800 and 3,058 Hz. Material and methodsExamined specimens are housed at the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (MNRJ) and Museu de História Natural João Moojen de Oliveira, Viçosa, Brasil (MZUFV). Comparative specimens are referred in the Appendix 1.Measurements were taken with digital calipers. Abbreviations of the measurements (in mm) are: SVL (snout-vent length); HL (head length); HW (head width); IND (internarial distance); END (eye to nostril distance); ED (eye diameter); UEW (upper eyelid width); IOD (interorbital distance); TD (tympanum diameter); HAL (hand length); THL (thigh length); TL (tibia length); FL (foot length). Morphological terminology follows Heyer et al. (1990).Specimens were recorded with a Panasonic RQ-L11 tape recorder on 08 October 2006, at 20 o C air temperature, by R. N. Feio. Calls were digitized from the same tape recorder to avoid velocity alterations and quality loss; and the digitized file did not present differences to the actual call when compared to hearing. Calls were digitized at a sampling rate of 22,050 Hz and resolution of 16 bits. Sound analyses were performed with the program Avisoft-SASLab Light for Windows, version 3.74 (www.avisoft.com). A sonogram was produced utilizing the following parameters: Bandwidth = 323 Hz; FFT length = 256; Frame = 100; Window = Flat Top; Overlap = 75; Time resolution = 2.90 ms; Contrast = char3.gray. Oscillograms and power spectrum of the calls were obtained with the program Sound Ruler Acoustic Analysis, version 0.9.6.0 (http://soundruler.sf.net). Terminology used for call description follows Duellman and Trueb (1994). ResultsLeptodactylus cupreus sp. nov. (Figures 1-3) Holotype: MNRJ 47752. Adult male (Figure 1). Lagoa das Bromélias (20 o 25'S, 43 o 29'W, 1,227 m above sea level), Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro, District of Careço, Municipality of Ervália, State of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Collected by R.N. Feio and V.A. São-Pedro, on 08 October 2006.FIGURE 1.Leptodactylus cupreus sp. nov., holotype (MNRJ 47752, SVL 51.8 mm), dorsal and ventral views. CARAMASCHI ET AL. 46 · Zootaxa 1861
Spatial patterns of genetic variation can help understand how environmental factors either permit or restrict gene flow and create opportunities for regional adaptations. Organisms from harsh environments such as the Brazilian semiarid Caatinga biome may reveal how severe climate conditions may affect patterns of genetic variation. Herein we combine information from mitochondrial DNA with physical and environmental features to study the association between different aspects of the Caatinga landscape and spatial genetic variation in the whiptail lizard Ameivula ocellifera. We investigated which of the climatic, environmental, geographical and/or historical components best predict: (1) the spatial distribution of genetic diversity, and (2) the genetic differentiation among populations. We found that genetic variation in A. ocellifera has been influenced mainly by temperature variability, which modulates connectivity among populations. Past climate conditions were important for shaping current genetic diversity, suggesting a time lag in genetic responses. Population structure in A. ocellifera was best explained by both isolation by distance and isolation by resistance (main rivers). Our findings indicate that both physical and climatic features are important for explaining the observed patterns of genetic variation across the xeric Caatinga biome.
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