Larval masquerade: a new species of paedomorphic salamander (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Eurycea) from the Ouachita Mountains of North America

Steffen, Michael; Irwin, Kelly J.; Blair, Andrea L.; Bonett, Ronald M.

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3786.4.2

Cited by 499 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…We sampled 36 species representing all currently described Spelerpini salamanders and their subspecies, including the recently described E. subfluvicola (Steffen et al ., ), with the exception of E. robusta , which has not been seen since it was first discovered and for which no viable tissue exists (Chippindale et al ., ), and the subspecies G. porphyriticus duryi and G. palleucus necturoides . Additionally, our sampling included a number of putative species, primarily from the E. bislineata , E. multiplicata and E. quadridigitata complexes (Bonett & Chippindale, ; Kozak et al ., ; Wray, unpublished data).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological opportunity, historical biogeography and diversification in a major lineage of salamanders

Wray

Steppan

2016

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Spelerpini is a major radiation in the Plethodontidae, the largest family of salamanders. Seventy-five percent of its species richness occurs in Eurycea, one of its six genera. We hypothesized that this was the result of the transgression of the Western Interior Seaway that provided ecological opportunity via ancestral range expansion into novel geographical regions, leading to an adaptive radiation.Location Eastern North America. MethodsWe sampled all but one species and two subspecies of extant Spelerpini, including several putative species, for four genes using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference approaches to generate a comprehensive, robust phylogeny. We used five fossil calibrations to generate a chronogram, a likelihood framework to estimate the ancestral ranges/splits of all nodes on the phylogeny, and a Bayesian inference method to estimate diversification rate shifts putting the evolution of this group into a historical biogeographical context.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological opportunity, historical biogeography and diversification in a major lineage of salamanders

Wray

Steppan

2016

Journal of Biogeography

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“…However, these three states have not been reconstructed in the same analysis. Therefore, we also reconstructed ancestral life history (direct development, biphasic, paedomorphic) for 100 plethodontids, including all North American and Eurasian genera, as well as a newly described paedomorphic species ( E. subfluvicola [38]). Life history information for these species is well established and was taken from the literature (Additional file 1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterochrony repolarized: a phylogenetic analysis of developmental timing in plethodontid salamanders

Bonett

Steffen

Robison

2014

EvoDevo

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BackgroundDisentangling evolutionary shifts in developmental timing (heterochony) is dependent upon accurate estimates of ancestral patterns. However, many classic assessments of heterochronic patterns predate robust phylogenetic hypotheses and methods for trait reconstruction, and therefore may have been polarized with untested ‘primitive’ conditions. Here we revisit the heterochronic modes of development that underlie the evolution of metamorphosis, maturation, and paedomorphosis in plethodontid salamanders. We focus on the tribe Spelerpini, which is a diverse clade that exhibits tremendous variation in timing of metamorphosis and maturation, as well as multiple independent instances of larval form paedomorphosis. Based on morphology and biogeography, early investigators concluded that the most recent common ancestors of plethodontids, and also spelerpines, were large salamanders, with very long larval periods and late maturation times. This prevailing assumption influenced subsequent heterochronic assessments, which concluded that most modern spelerpines (with shorter larval periods) were derived through multiple independent accelerations in larval development. It was also concluded that most occurrences of larval form paedomorphosis in this clade resulted from progenesis (acceleration of gonadal development relative to metamorphosis).ResultsBy reconstructing the time to metamorphosis on a molecular-based phylogeny of plethodontids, we find that ancestral spelerpines likely had relatively shorter larval periods than previously proposed. Taken together with the credibility interval from our ancestral state estimation we show that very long larval periods are likely derived decelerations, only a few lineages have undergone appreciable accelerations in metamorphic timing, and the remaining taxa have lower probabilities of being different than the ancestral condition (possibly due to stasis). Reconstructing maturation age across nodes concomitant with the evolution of larval form paedomorphosis in one large radiation does not show clear evidence of progenesis, but more likely indicates a case of neoteny (delayed metamorphosis).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates cases in plethodontid salamanders where phylogenetic-based character reconstructions reject previously hypothesized ancestral life history conditions. As a result, several prior hypotheses of heterochronic evolution in this family are reversed.

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“…This view may persist for several of the following reasons: (1) several high profile, single-site endemic Eurycea species do not occur far beyond their large, highly modified spring habitats (e.g., E. sosorum : Chippindale, Price & Hillis, 1993 ; E. nana : Diaz et al, 2015 ; E. waterlooensis : Hillis et al, 2001 ); (2) ease of collection and high abundances around springs make these areas obvious locations for ecological studies ( Sweet, 1982 ; Bowles, Sanders & Hansen, 2006 ; Pierce et al, 2010 ; Bendik et al, 2014 ); or (3) physiological, morphological, or behavioral adaptations indicate the importance of groundwater-associated habitats to their evolutionary history ( Stejneger, 1896 ; Sweet, 1978 ; Sweet, 1984 ; Chippindale et al, 2000 ; Bendik et al, 2013a ). This habitat restriction is in contrast to most other Eurycea species that occupy headwater streams (in addition to seeps and springs) as aquatic larvae and paedomorphs ( Petranka, 1998 ; Tumlison & Cline, 1997 ; Martin et al, 2012 ; Steffen et al, 2014 ). These habitats are also present throughout the Edwards Plateau where springs emerge to feed headwater streams, potentially creating suitable habitat for salamanders within the stream or linking habitat patches (e.g., spring outlets) as a corridor for dispersal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Movement, demographics, and occupancy dynamics of a federally threatened salamander: evaluating the adequacy of critical habitat

Bendik¹,

McEntire

Sissel³

2016

PeerJ

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Critical habitat for many species is often limited to occupied localities. For rare and cryptic species, or those lacking sufficient data, occupied habitats may go unrecognized, potentially hindering species recovery. Proposed critical habitat for the aquatic Jollyville Plateau salamander (Eurycea tonkawae) and two sister species were delineated based on the assumption that surface habitat is restricted to springs and excludes intervening stream reaches. To test this assumption, we performed two studies to understand aspects of individual, population, and metapopulation ecology of E. tonkawae. First, we examined movement and population demographics using capture-recapture along a spring-influenced stream reach. We then extended our investigation of stream habitat use with a study of occupancy and habitat dynamics in multiple headwater streams. Indications of extensive stream channel use based on capture-recapture results included frequent movements of >15 m, and high juvenile abundance downstream of the spring. Initial occupancy of E. tonkawae was associated with shallow depths, maidenhair fern presence and low temperature variation (indicative of groundwater influence), although many occupied sites were far from known springs. Additionally, previously dry sites were three times more likely to be colonized than wet sites. Our results indicate extensive use of stream habitats, including intermittent ones, by E. tonkawae. These areas may be important for maintaining population connectivity or even as primary habitat patches. Restricting critical habitat to occupied sites will result in a mismatch with actual habitat use, particularly when assumptions of habitat use are untested, thus limiting the potential for recovery.

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Larval masquerade: a new species of paedomorphic salamander (Caudata: Plethodontidae: Eurycea) from the Ouachita Mountains of North America

Cited by 499 publications

References 41 publications

Ecological opportunity, historical biogeography and diversification in a major lineage of salamanders

Ecological opportunity, historical biogeography and diversification in a major lineage of salamanders

Heterochrony repolarized: a phylogenetic analysis of developmental timing in plethodontid salamanders

Movement, demographics, and occupancy dynamics of a federally threatened salamander: evaluating the adequacy of critical habitat

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