Interspecific patterns for egg and clutch sizes of African Bufonidae (Amphibia: Anura)

Liedtke, H. Christoph; Müller, Hendrik; Hafner, Julian; Nagel, Peter; Loader, Simon P.

doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2014.02.003

Cited by 12 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Body, clutch, and egg size measurements were taken from Liedtke et al. () and references therein, with new measurements for Churamiti maridadi . Traits were mapped on the CRS tree, pruning terminal branches (species) for which traits are unknown, resulting in a dataset of 60, 46, and 42 species for body, clutch, and egg size, respectively.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, diverse modes of life history strategies (biphasic aquatic breeding to viviparity) are evident in African bufonids (Liedtke ; Liedtke et al. ) and components of these, such as fecundity (clutch size) and parental investment per offspring (egg size), are good indicators for adaptation to extrinsic factors (Dobzhansky ; Duellman and Trueb ; Roff ; Räsänen et al. ).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Nonetheless, African bufonids display a rich array of phenotypes, reproductive modes, and habitat preferences (Tandy and Keith ; Clarke ; Liedtke et al. ), which raises the question whether this diversity was spurred by EO.…”

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confidence: 99%

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No ecological opportunity signal on a continental scale? Diversification and life-history evolution of African true toads (Anura: Bufonidae)

et al. 2016

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The niche-filling process predicted by the "ecological opportunity" (EO) model is an often-invoked mechanism for generating exceptional diversity in island colonizers. Whether the same process governs lineage accumulation and trait disparity during continental colonization events is less clear. Here, we test this prediction by investigating the rate dynamics and trait evolution of one of Africa's most widespread amphibian colonizers, the true toads (Bufonidae). By reconstructing the most complete molecular phylogeny of African Bufonidae to date, we find that the diversification of lineages in Africa best conforms to a constant rate model throughout time and across subclades, with little support for EO. Evolutionary rates of life-history traits have similarly been constant over time. However, an analysis of generalists and specialists showed a shift toward higher speciation rates associated with habitat specialization. The overall lack of EO signal can be interpreted in a number of ways and we propose several explanations. Firstly, methodological issues might preclude the detection of EO. Secondly, colonizers might not experience true EO conditions and due to the size, ecological heterogeneity and age of landmasses, the diversification processes might be more complex. Thirdly, lower speciation rates of habitat generalists may have affected overall proliferation of lineages.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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No ecological opportunity signal on a continental scale? Diversification and life-history evolution of African true toads (Anura: Bufonidae)

et al. 2016

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“…Assuming a life expectancy of three years, each female may give birth to about 20 offspring during her lifetime (32 if females survive four years). For a toad this is a very small number (Liedtke et al 2014). This even assumes that females are mature three months after their birth and mate at the end of the rainy season of the same year.…”

Section: Annual Seasonality and Activity Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Newborn toadlets on the other hand, have an average SVL of 7.5 mm (Lamotte and Xavier 1976a, Xavier 1977, range: 6-10 mm, Angel and Lamotte 1944b, Lamotte and Rey 1957, Xavier 1971, this is one third of the mother's SVL , Xavier 1971, and an average weight of 45 mg (range: 30-60 mg, Xavier 1971, Lamotte and Xavier 1976a, 1976b. In a family-wide analysis of African bufonid egg sizes, Nimba toad eggs were described as being exceptionally small and well below the average egg size for other species of comparable adult size (Liedtke et al 2014). Two anurans of similar adult size are, for example, the direct developing Arthroleptis crusculum (SVL < 20 mm, Guibé and Lamotte 1958) and the lecitotrophic Nectophrynoides tornieri (SVL: 25-27 mm, Angel and Lamotte 1948).…”

Section: Matrotrophymentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the reproductive biology of the only known matrotrophic viviparous anuran, the West African Nimba toad, Nimbaphrynoides occidentalis

Sandberger-Loua¹,

Müller²,

Rödel³

2017

ZSE

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Amphibians, and anurans in particular, show the highest diversity of reproductive modes among tetrapods. Nevertheless, viviparity is scarce in anurans and its occurrence is even more often assumed rather than confirmed. Probably the best studied viviparous amphibian is the Nimba toad, Nimbaphrynoides occidentalis. During more than 40 years of research, the Nimba toad's reproductive morphology, endocrine activity of the ovary as well as the pituitary gland, and to some extent the ecological impact (seasonality, humidity, food availability) on reproduction was examined. Due to the Nimba toad's unique reproductive mode, summaries are usually included in reviews discussing amphibian reproduction and articles on reproductive biology often discuss the exceptional reproductive system of Nimba toads. However, to our knowledge a detailed synthesis, summarising all the different original studies on the toad's reproduction, is so far missing. In this paper we review and summarise all available initial publications, which often have been published in French and/or are difficult to access. A short overview is given of the climatic and environmental conditions experienced by Nimba toads and the key findings supporting a "true" viviparous reproduction with matrotrophy (maternal provision of nutrition during the gestation) and pueriparity (birth of juveniles). Then foetal development (morphological, gonad and pituitary development), and the female (ovary, oviduct, pituitary and their endocrine interactions) and the male reproductive system (testes and pituitary) are reviewed. Finally, the reproductive cycle and its link to the Nimba mountains' seasonality and ecological/ conservation implications are discussed. Key WordsAmphibia development evolution ovary oviduct pueriparity seasonality testes uterus

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Parallel diversification of the African tree toad genus Nectophryne (Bufonidae)

Liedtke

Soler-Navarro

Gómez-Mestre

et al. 2021

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

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Interspecific patterns for egg and clutch sizes of African Bufonidae (Amphibia: Anura)

Cited by 12 publications

References 23 publications

No ecological opportunity signal on a continental scale? Diversification and life-history evolution of African true toads (Anura: Bufonidae)

No ecological opportunity signal on a continental scale? Diversification and life-history evolution of African true toads (Anura: Bufonidae)

A review of the reproductive biology of the only known matrotrophic viviparous anuran, the West African Nimba toad, Nimbaphrynoides occidentalis

Parallel diversification of the African tree toad genus Nectophryne (Bufonidae)

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