Comparative Morphometrics in Ranid Frogs (Subgenus Nenirana): Are Apomorphic Elongation and a Blunt Snout Responses to Small-bore Burrow Dwelling in Crawfish Frogs (Lithobates areolatus)?

Engbrecht, Nathan J.; Lannoo, Susan J.; Whitaker, John O.; Lannoo, Michael J.

doi:10.1643/cg-10-075

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…) that are probably relevant for basic ecological functions (obtaining food, Engbrecht et al . ; avoiding predators, Choi et al . ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1) in 2010-2011 by ARW using hand calipers to the nearest tenth of a centimetre. Body measurements (defined in Table S3, Supporting information) included total body length (snoutvent length; SVL) and 12 other standard measures (Means & Longden 1976;Duellman 2001;Gvo zd ık et al 2008) that are probably relevant for basic ecological functions (obtaining food, Engbrecht et al 2011;avoiding predators, Choi et al 2003). Frogs were significantly different in SVL among regions (ANOVA; d.f.…”

Section: Morphometric Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geographic variation in the Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii): concordance of genetic, morphometric and acoustic signal data

2015

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Delimiting species is important to every subfield in biology. Templeton's cohesion species concept uses genetic and ecological exchangeability to identify sets of populations that ought to be considered as the same species, and the lack of exchangeability helps determine which populations can be grouped as evolutionarily significant units (ESU) in conservation science. However, previous work assessing genetic and ecological interchangeability among populations has been limited in scope. Here, we provide a method for assessing exchangeability that incorporates multiple, independent lines of multivariate evidence in genetic, behavioural and morphological data. We use this approach to assess exchangeability across three disjunct groups of populations of the Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii) from the eastern United States. This species is considered threatened by each state in which it occurs and conservation management of this taxon requires a clearer understanding of how populations in these three regions may differ from one another. We find a strikingly concordant pattern in which the first axis of variation for each of the three types of data distinguishes populations along a latitudinal gradient and the second axis distinguishes the set of populations occurring in the Carolinas from those occurring in the New Jersey and Florida/Alabama regions. We know of no comparable data set that displays such concordance among different types of data across so large a geographic range. The overlap in trait values (i.e. exchangeability) between neighbouring regions, however, is substantial in all three types of data, which supports continued consideration of this taxon as a single species.

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“…) that are probably relevant for basic ecological functions (obtaining food, Engbrecht et al . ; avoiding predators, Choi et al . ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Morphometric Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographic variation in the Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii): concordance of genetic, morphometric and acoustic signal data

2015

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“…), Nenirana clade (Engbrecht et al. ) and in Western Mediterranean anurans (Enriquez‐Urzelai et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At a more exclusive level, research is even scarcer, e.g. in Hylids (Soliz et al 2017), Nenirana clade (Engbrecht et al 2011) andin Western Mediterranean anurans (Enriquez-Urzelai et al 2015). In the genus Leptodactylus, no relationship has been found between locomotor modes and other morphological characters such as the morphometry of limbs (Ponssa & Medina, 2016) or the tendinous system and these same studies recommend that other structures involved in locomotion should be explored further (Ponssa & Medina, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenetic patterns and correlation of key structures for jumping: bone crests and cross‐sectional areas of muscles inLeptodactylus(Anura, Leptodactylidae)

2018

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Anurans are characterized by their saltatory mode of locomotion, which is associated with a specific morphology. The coordinated action of the muscles and bones of the pelvic girdle is key to the transmission of the force of the hindlimbs to the axial skeleton during jumping. Two features are critical for optimal locomotory performance: the cross-sectional area of muscle and the bone crest attachment sites. The first character is a proxy of the force exerted by the muscle, whereas the crests are muscle attachments sites related to muscle force. The provisory relationship between these features has previously been identified and bone crest size can be used to infer the magnitude and, therefore, muscle force in fossils records. In this work, we explore the correlation between the cross-sectional area of essential muscles to the jumping mechanism (longissimus dorsi, extensor iliotibialis B, tenuissimus, puboischiofemoralis internus B, coccygeo-sacralis and coccygeo-iliacus) and the bone crests where these muscles are inserted (dorsal tubercle, dorsal crest and urostylar crest) in species of the genus Leptodactylus. This genus, along with other leptodactylids, exhibits a diversity of locomotor modes, including jumping, hopping, swimming and burrowing. We therefore analyzed the morphometric variation in the two features, cross-sectional area and bone crest area, expecting a correlation with different locomotor types. Our results showed: (i) a correlation between the urostylar crest and the cross-sectional area of the related muscles; (ii) that the bone crest surface area of urostyle and ilium and the cross-sectional area of the corresponding muscles can be utilized to infer locomotor faculties in leptodactylid frogs; and (iii) that the evolution of both characters demonstrates a general tendency from lower values in leptodactylid ancestors to higher values in the Leptodactylus genus. The results attest to the importance of the comparison of current ecological and phylogenetic analogues as they allow us to infer functionality and behavior in fossil and extant groups based on skeletal evidence. Phylogenetic patterns in character evolution and their correlation with locomotory types could imply that functional restrictions are also inherited in leptodactylid.

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“…One species, the Southern Crawfish Frog (Lithobates areolatus areolatus), is of particular conservation interest. Lithobates areolatus is an unusual anuran that is noted for its brief breeding season and extensive use of burrows (Thompson 1915;Smith 1934;Heemeyer and Lannoo 2010;Engbrecht et al 2011). On rainy nights in early spring, L. areolatus migrate up to 1.2 km to fishless pools to breed (McCarley 1970;Engbrecht et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chorusing Patterns of a Diverse Anuran Community, With an Emphasis on Southern Crawfish Frogs (Lithobates Areolatus Areolatus)

McKnight

Ligon

2016

jnah

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Wildlife surveys have a critical role in conservation efforts and the collection of life history data. For anuran amphibians these surveys often focus on calling males. In order to further our understanding of anuran ecology, we used automated recording systems to monitor the calling activities of the anuran communities at two beaver-formed lakes and one cattle pond in southeastern Oklahoma. We documented 14 anuran species between 5 February and 28 April 2012. Temperature had a significant effect on the calling patterns of Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toads (Gastrophryne carolinensis), Green Treefrogs (Hyla cinerea), Gray Treefrogs (Hyla versicolor), Southern Crawfish Frogs (Lithobates areolatus areolatus), and Cajun Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris fouquettei). Temperature did not have a significant effect on the calling patterns of Dwarf American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi), American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus), or Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans). There was not a significant relationship between rainfall and calling for L. a. areolatus. The presence of several of these species, including L. a. areolatus and Hurter’s Spadefoots (Scaphiopus hurterii) was unusual because these anurans typically breed in ephemeral, fishless pools, but the beaver lakes are permanent and sustain populations of carnivorous fishes.

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Comparative Morphometrics in Ranid Frogs (Subgenus Nenirana): Are Apomorphic Elongation and a Blunt Snout Responses to Small-bore Burrow Dwelling in Crawfish Frogs (Lithobates areolatus)?

Cited by 10 publications

References 44 publications

Geographic variation in the Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii): concordance of genetic, morphometric and acoustic signal data

Geographic variation in the Pine Barrens Treefrog (Hyla andersonii): concordance of genetic, morphometric and acoustic signal data

Phylogenetic patterns and correlation of key structures for jumping: bone crests and cross‐sectional areas of muscles inLeptodactylus(Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Chorusing Patterns of a Diverse Anuran Community, With an Emphasis on Southern Crawfish Frogs (Lithobates Areolatus Areolatus)

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