Cryptic species complexes, widespread species and conservation: lessons from Amazonian frogs of the<i>Leptodactylus marmoratus</i>group (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

Angulo, Ariadne; Icochea, Javier

doi:10.1080/14772000.2010.507264

Cited by 76 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…This is consistent with recent studies in frogs [4,54] and suggests that calls evolve faster than morphology, perhaps owing to strong selection for species recognition or sexual selection on calls (or strong stabilizing selection on morphology). These results could explain why there are so many cryptic species: morphological differences among closely related species are generally subtle and are a weak indicator of reproductive isolation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Second, understanding the distribution of individual species is essential for assigning conservation status. For example, species that are considered single, widely distributed species of low conservation concern may actually be multiple morphologically similar cryptic species, each with small ranges that are of high conservation concern [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High levels of cryptic species diversity uncovered in Amazonian frogs

2011

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One of the greatest challenges for biodiversity conservation is the poor understanding of species diversity. Molecular methods have dramatically improved our ability to uncover cryptic species, but the magnitude of cryptic diversity remains unknown, particularly in diverse tropical regions such as the Amazon Basin. Uncovering cryptic diversity in amphibians is particularly pressing because amphibians are going extinct globally at an alarming rate. Here, we use an integrative analysis of two independent Amazonian frog clades, Engystomops toadlets and Hypsiboas treefrogs, to test whether species richness is underestimated and, if so, by how much. We sampled intensively in six countries with a focus in Ecuador (Engystomops: 252 individuals from 36 localities; Hypsiboas: 208 individuals from 65 localities) and combined mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA, morphological, and bioacoustic data to detect cryptic species. We found that in both clades, species richness was severely underestimated, with more undescribed species than described species. In Engystomops, the two currently recognized species are actually five to seven species (a 150 -250% increase in species richness); in Hypsiboas, two recognized species represent six to nine species (a 200 -350% increase). Our results suggest that Amazonian frog biodiversity is much more severely underestimated than previously thought.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High levels of cryptic species diversity uncovered in Amazonian frogs

2011

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“…regions of mtDNA) and commonplace genealogical analytical techniques will be sufficient to point out cases of pronounced intra-specific genetic divergence. Given strong evidence for the association between particular geographic features like rivers, and genetic variation for Amazonian anurans [41,[45][46][47], adopting surrogate measures of diversity in EIA's will reduce the risk of overlooking threatened components of diversity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Value of Including Intraspecific Measures of Biodiversity in Environmental impact Surveys is Highlighted by the Amazonian Brilliant-Thighed Frog (Allobates Femoralis)

Simões

Stow

Hödl

et al. 2014

Tropical Conservation Science

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The distribution of many vertebrate species in the Amazon basin is delimited by large rivers, which are frequently regarded as geographic barriers related with speciation and are therefore of high conservation value. Rapid development in the region includes plans to dam one of its thirteen major rivers, the Xingu. Environmental impact assessment is required for large scale development within the Brazilian portion of the Amazon Basin. However, impacts on biodiversity are only considered at the species level, and taxonomic work is far from described for many groups. In particular, anuran diversity is underestimated, in part owing to the scale of the region and, for some taxa, by morphological conservatism. Here we describe genetic and phenotypic variation in the brilliant-thighed frog, Allobates femoralis. We show that a unique genetic lineage, with a vocal repertoire distinct from that described for the species throughout its remaining geographic range, is located within the region to be directly and indirectly impacted by damming the Xingu River. Further, genetic variation within the A. femoralis group is largely structured in accordance to river systems, despite morphological conservatism. Our data add support for conservation policy to be amended to include intraspecific measures of diversity in order to more effectively conserve current biodiversity and evolutionary processes.Keywords Amazon, Amphibians, Bioacoustics, Dams, Hydropower, mtDNA Resumo Na bacia Amazônica, a distribuição de muitas espécies de vertebrados é delimitada por grandes rios, os quais são freqüentemente considerados barreiras geográficas relacionadas a processos de especiação e, portanto, de grande valor para conservação. O desenvolvimento da região ocorre de forma rápida e envolve projetos de barramento do Rio Xingu, um dos treze maiores rios da bacia. Estudos de impacto ambiental são obrigatórios em grandes projetos de infra-estrutura na Amazona brasileira. Entretanto, impactos sobre a biodiversidade são avaliados apenas até o nível de espécie, apesar de o conhecimento taxonômico ser bastante incompleto para muitos grupos de organismos. Especificamente, a diversidade de anuros é subestimada, em parte devido à escala da região e, para alguns taxa, devido a desafios impostos pela baixa variabilidade morfológica. Neste estudo, nós descrevemos a variação genética e fenotípica na rã-decoxa-brilhante, Allobates femoralis. Nós apontamos que uma linhagem genética única, com um repertório vocal distinto daquele descrito para a espécie ao longo do restante de sua distribuição, é encontrada dentro da região a ser impactada direta e indiretamente pelo barramento do rio Xingu. Além disso, a variabilidade genética em A. femoralis é fortemente particionada pelos sistemas fluviais, a despeito da morfologia conservativa do grupo. Os dados fornecidos apóiam que a política de conservação vigente seja atualizada, de forma a reconhecer medidas complementares de diversidade.

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“…Detailed characterizations of advertisement call repertoires have led to important advances in anuran taxonomy and conservation in the Neotropics, being especially important in the discovery of new taxa (e.g., Angulo & Icochea, 2010;Magalhães et al, 2014;Orrico et al, 2014), of evolutionary significant units and areas of increased scientific interest, such as hybrid Table 1 for a description of parameters of notes and silent intervals). Air temperature at the time of recording was 29.0°C.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the distinctive call of a threatened phenotype of Allobates femoralis (Anura: Aromobatidae) and its recognition by allopatric conspecific males

Pontes-da-Silva

Lima

Simões

2017

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

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ABSTRACT. The brilliant-thighed frog [Allobates femoralis (Boulenger, 1884)] is distributed across the Amazon basin and aggregates several allopatric evolutionary lineages, some of which present variation in their advertisement calls. In 2009, an unregistered call phenotype was discovered in the region of Altamira and Vitória do Xingu, State of Pará, Brazil, where males emit advertisement calls formed by six notes, diff ering from the typical four-note calls described for other A. femoralis populations. In this study, we describe in detail these untypical calls. Additionally, we test whether the aggressive responses of males of a 4-note reference population (Reserva Ducke -RFAD, in Manaus, States of Amazonas) is diff erential towards the 6-note calls of males recorded in Altamira (Pará State), and towards 4-note calls recorded in one location at the Tapajós-Xingu interfl uve (Belterra, Pará State), and in RFAD. Playback experiments were conducted between 2011-2012, and used standardized stimuli produced from natural call recordings. A total of 30 independent experiments were conducted, 10 for each stimuli class. We measured the phonotaxis of focal males in relation to the loudspeaker, considering the time to orientation and the time to approach the loudspeaker. We found that not all A. femoralis males at RFAD promptly recognize calls from males recorded in Altamira. However, when considering only males who approached the loudspeaker, diff erences in aggressive reactions were not seen between stimuli classes. Our fi ndings show that the ability to recognize calls from Altamira as belonging to co-specifi c males is not universal among males at RFAD. The new A. femoralis phenotype occurs in areas potentially impacted by the Belo Monte hydroelectric complex and complementary studies indicate that no gene fl ow exists between this group and A. femoralis from adjacent regions. Hence, developments in Altamira may put this incipient speciation process at risk.

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Cryptic species complexes, widespread species and conservation: lessons from Amazonian frogs of theLeptodactylus marmoratusgroup (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

Cited by 76 publications

References 42 publications

High levels of cryptic species diversity uncovered in Amazonian frogs

High levels of cryptic species diversity uncovered in Amazonian frogs

The Value of Including Intraspecific Measures of Biodiversity in Environmental impact Surveys is Highlighted by the Amazonian Brilliant-Thighed Frog (Allobates Femoralis)

On the distinctive call of a threatened phenotype of Allobates femoralis (Anura: Aromobatidae) and its recognition by allopatric conspecific males

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