Genetic diversity and structure of an endemic and critically endangered stream river salamander (Caudata: Ambystoma leorae) in Mexico

Sunny, Armando; Monroy‐Vilchis, Octavio; Fajardo, Victor; Aguilera-Reyes, Ulises

doi:10.1007/s10592-013-0520-9

Cited by 27 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…We found a negative relationship between the gilled larvas of class type 1 to 3, this is due they being newly hatched individuals possibly close related individuals. However, the relationship is positive between the neotenic gilled larva of classes 4 to 8, most of this reproductive individuals are not strongly related as describe Sunny et al [7]. In addition, we found a positive relationship between the number of alleles and genotypes in places with a major percentage area covered by grass bushes outside the river.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 43%

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Microhabitat Types Promote the Genetic Structure of a Micro-Endemic and Critically Endangered Mole Salamander (Ambystoma leorae) of Central Mexico

et al. 2014

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The reduced immigration and emigration rates resulting from the lack of landscape connectivity of patches and the hospitality of the intervening matrix could favor the loss of alleles through genetic drift and an increased chance of inbreeding. In order for isolated populations to maintain sufficient levels of genetic diversity and adapt to environmental changes, one important conservation goal must be to preserve or reestablish connectivity among patches in a fragmented landscape. We studied the last known population of Ambystoma leorae, an endemic and critically threatened species. The aims of this study were: (1) to assess the demographic parameters of A. leorae and to distinguish and characterize the microhabitats in the river, (2) to determine the number of existing genetic groups or demes of A. leorae and to describe possible relationships between microhabitats types and demes, (3) to determine gene flow between demes, and (4) to search for geographic locations of genetic discontinuities that limit gene flow between demes. We found three types of microhabitats and three genetically differentiated subpopulations with a significant level of genetic structure. In addition, we found slight genetic barriers. Our results suggest that mole salamander’s species are very sensitive to microhabitat features and relatively narrow obstacles in their path. The estimates of bidirectional gene flow are consistent with the pattern of a stepping stone model between demes, where migration occurs between adjacent demes, but there is low gene flow between distant demes. We can also conclude that there is a positive correlation between microhabitats and genetic structure in this population.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 43%

“…Expected and observed heterozygosities, departures from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, and linkage disequilibrium are described in Sunny et al [7]. In addition, we analysed whether the latitude influenced the observed and expected heterozygosity and F is using GENETIC STUDIO.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microhabitat Types Promote the Genetic Structure of a Micro-Endemic and Critically Endangered Mole Salamander (Ambystoma leorae) of Central Mexico

et al. 2014

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“…For narrowly distributed endemics amphibians, genetic diversity is directly related species persistence in the future (Green, ; Reed & Frankham, ; Allentoft & O'Brien, ; Collins, ). In this study, although O. tormota is a narrowly distributed species, each population still harbored relatively high levels of genetic diversity compared with other narrowly distributed amphibia (Table ), such as the Majorcan midwife toad ( Alytes muletensis ) in the mountainous regions of Majorca, red‐bellied newt ( Taricha rivularis ) in northern California in the United States, Sonoran tiger salamander ( Ambystoma mavortium stebbinsi ) in the San Pedro River of Arizona in the United States, Leora's stream salamander ( A. leorae ) in Iztaccihuatl‐Popocatepetl National Park of Mexico, Fourche Mountain salamander ( Plethodon fourchensis ) in the Ouachita Mountains of the central United States, and dwarf black‐bellied salamander ( Desmognathus folkertsi ) in the United States (Kraaijeveld‐Smit et al ., ; Shepard & Burbrink, ; Wooten, Camp & Rissler, ; Reilly et al ., ; Storfer et al ., ; Sunny et al ., ). In addition, the O. tormota genetic diversity was slightly lower than that of the Shangcheng stout salamander ( Pachyhynobius shangchengensis ) in the Dabie Mountains of eastern China and the Leishan spiny toad ( Leptobrachium leishanense ) in south‐western China, which were described having high genetic diversity (Zhang et al ., ; Pan et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Amphibians generally require wet areas to survive and reproduce (Duellman & Trueb, 1994). For amphibians, the presence of natural barriers (e.g., rivers and mountains) can substantially affect their dispersal and population genetic structure (Sunny et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2015;Huang et al, 2017;Pan et al, 2019).…”

Section: Geographic Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of dispersal barriers and geographic distance on the genetic structure of a narrowly distributed frog in a spatially structured landscape

et al. 2019

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Landscape features (e.g., mountains and rivers) can act as barriers to dispersal and gene flow, and therefore impede population connectivity, increasing genetic differentiation between populations. The concave‐eared torrent frog (Odorrana tormota) is a rare, stream‐associated species in eastern China. In this study, we investigated the genetic structure and population demography of this narrowly distributed frog based on mitochondrial Cyt b gene and seven nuclear microsatellite loci. As a result, we found that the rare frog still preserved a relatively high level of genetic diversity compared to some other amphibia. Population structure analyses distinctly identified three or four tentative genetic clusters for the species in the study area. Additionally, by fine‐scale spatial autocorrelation analysis, significant positive genetic structure was uncovered in the shortest distance classes (0–5 km, 5–10 km). Demographic analyses revealed a population expansion (0.075–0.017 Mya) and 15 times population decline (c. 9000 years ago). In conclusion, we supposed that stable montane environments and associated historical population expansion might provide an opportunity for the species to harbor high genetic diversity. The relatively recent population decline might be correlated with climate change as well as genetic differentiation among populations. In addition, our results showed that, on a small landscape scale, dispersal is closely linked to geographic distance and the presence of river systems may not substantially affect the genetic structure for the narrowly distributed O. tormota.

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“…The maximum body size of A. leorae to date is 103 mm SVL (Lemos-Espinal and Ballinger, 1994). This species of salamander shows relatively high levels of genetic diversity (Sunny et al 2014b). Additional information on A. leorae is needed to better understand its conservation and management.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural history of the critically endangered salamander Ambystoma leorae (Caudata: Ambystomatidae) from the Río Tonatzin, Mexico

Lemos‐Espinal¹,

Smith

Zamora³

et al. 2017

Phyllomedusa

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Natural history of the critically endangered salamander Ambystoma leorae (Caudata: Ambystomatidae) from the Río Tonatzin, Mexico. In Mexico, many species of Ambystoma are endangered, but unfortunately little is known about their natural history and ecology. We report on aspects of the natural history of A. leorae, a critically endangered endemic salamander, from the Río Tonatzin, State of México, Mexico. We observed egg masses, which were attached to vegetation, from April to June, with a mean of 7.28 eggs per egg mass. Larval A. leorae were found in sections of the Río Tonatzin with muddy bottoms and submerged aquatic vegetation. We observed adult and juvenile salamanders throughout the year except September, but with a peak from May to July. The use of sites along the Río Tonatzin by adult and juvenile A. leorae was driven primarily by vegetation type and substrate type of the site, with mud or sand substrate with grass roots and submerged aquatic vegetation being the most used site types. We found no evidence of sexual dimorphism in A. leorae. Our results suggest that adult and juvenile A. leorae use a variety of stream sites, although larvae appear to be more limited in their use of stream sites. These observations indicate that to maintain this population of A. leorae, the general conditions existing in the Río Tonatzin should be protected, especially the sections with muddy bottoms and aquatic vegetation where larvae, juveniles, and adults are found.

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Genetic diversity and structure of an endemic and critically endangered stream river salamander (Caudata: Ambystoma leorae) in Mexico

Cited by 27 publications

References 87 publications

Microhabitat Types Promote the Genetic Structure of a Micro-Endemic and Critically Endangered Mole Salamander (Ambystoma leorae) of Central Mexico

Microhabitat Types Promote the Genetic Structure of a Micro-Endemic and Critically Endangered Mole Salamander (Ambystoma leorae) of Central Mexico

Effects of dispersal barriers and geographic distance on the genetic structure of a narrowly distributed frog in a spatially structured landscape

Natural history of the critically endangered salamander Ambystoma leorae (Caudata: Ambystomatidae) from the Río Tonatzin, Mexico

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