Repeated divergence of amphibians and reptiles across an elevational gradient in northern Madagascar

Scherz, Mark D.; Schmidt, Robin H.; Brown, Jason L.; Glos, Julian; Lattenkamp, Ella Zoe; Rakotomalala, Zafimahery; Rakotoarison, Andolalao; Rakotonindrina, Ricky T.; Randriamalala, Onja; Raselimanana, Achille P.; Rasolonjatovo, Safidy M.; Ratsoavina, Fanomezana M.; Razafindraibe, Jary H.; Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel

doi:10.1002/ece3.9914

Ecology and Evolution

2023

DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9914

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Repeated divergence of amphibians and reptiles across an elevational gradient in northern Madagascar

Mark D. Scherz

Robin H. Schmidt

Jason L. Brown

et al.

Abstract: How environmental factors shape patterns of biotic diversity in tropical ecosystems is an active field of research, but studies examining the possibility of ecological speciation in terrestrial tropical ecosystems are scarce. We use the isolated rainforest herpetofauna on the Montagne d'Ambre (Amber Mountain) massif in northern Madagascar as a model to explore elevational divergence at the level of populations and communities. Based on intensive sampling and DNA barcoding of amphibians and reptiles along a tra… Show more

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Cited by 2 publications

References 114 publications

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Integrative revision of the Blommersia wittei complex, with description of a new species of frog from western and north-western Madagascar

Vences¹,

Malte²,

Köhler³

et al. 2023

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Frogs of the Blommersia wittei complex are widespread in western and northern Madagascar, and are one of two clades of the family Mantellidae that have colonized the Comoran island of Mayotte. Based on a comprehensive set of DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and the nuclear-encoded RAG1 and SACS genes, integrated with morphological and bioacoustic data, we here analyze the genetic differentiation of populations of this complex across Madagascar. We confirm that a candidate species named B. sp. Ca5 in previous studies represents a genetically well-defined evolutionary lineage distributed over much of western Madagascar, which we describe herein as Blommeria bara sp. nov. based on its molecular and bioacoustic differentiation. Blommersia wittei occurs across northern Madagascar but its type locality Ambanja, at the lower Sambirano river, is very close to the range of another, newly discovered microendemic lineage that was only found at two sites along the upper Sambirano river (here named as candidate species B. sp. Ca12). The B. wittei complex thus provides an example of a clade of closely related Malagasy frogs that contains species widespread over hundreds of kilometers, as well as extreme microendemics. For a full resolution of this species complex, more data need to be collected on the geographical contact among these two lineages, on the morphology and bioacoustics of B. sp. Ca12, and on the north-eastern populations of B. wittei at Sambava, which are weakly differentiated in mitochondrial genes but differ in bioacoustics and possibly in the extent of foot webbing.

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Integrative revision of the Blommersia wittei complex, with description of a new species of frog from western and north-western Madagascar

Vences¹,

Malte²,

Köhler³

et al. 2023

Zootaxa

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show abstract

Communicator whistles: A Trek through the taxonomy of the Boophis marojezensis complex reveals seven new, morphologically cryptic treefrogs from Madagascar (Amphibia: Anura: Mantellidae)

Vences,

Köhler,

Hutter

et al. 2024

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The Malagasy stream-breeding treefrog species Boophis marojezensis contains bioacoustically and genetically highly divergent populations. Some of these populations have been defined as candidate species and emit somewhat bizarre advertisement calls consisting of multiple whistle-notes. We here enable a long-overdue taxonomic revision of this species complex by applying a museomics approach to sequence DNA from the holotype of B. marojezensis. Based on an integrative approach that combines divergence levels in mitochondrial DNA and in three nuclear-encoded genes, morphological data, and bioacoustic comparisons, we conclude that eight different species exist in this complex, seven of which are formally described herein as new. Although morphological differences between species are small and mainly separate small-sized from larger-sized species, conclusive evidence for the new species comes from their sympatric and sometimes syntopic occurrence without haplotype sharing in three nuclear genes and under maintenance of bioacoustic differences. Uncorrected genetic divergences in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene are >3% in almost all cases, and in some cases up to 8%. In reference to the otherworldly sounds by which these frogs fill Malagasy rainforests, some of them reminiscent of sounds of technical equipment in the fictional “Star Trek” universe, we here name and describe the seven new species in honor of fictional captains of starships, namely B. kirkisp. nov., B. picardisp. nov., B. siskoisp. nov., B. janewayaesp. nov., B. archerisp. nov., B. pikeisp. nov., and B. burnhamaesp. nov. The majority of these species occur in northern Madagascar, where up to three species can occur in immediate geographical proximity, e.g., B. marojezensis, B. burnhamaesp. nov. and B. pikeisp. nov. at different elevations in the Marojejy Massif. South of 16°S latitude, only B. janewayaesp. nov., B. picardisp. nov., and B. kirkisp. nov. are found, with the latter extending southwards to Ranomafana National Park. Our study confirms the existence of numerous morphologically cryptic and microendemic species among Madagascar’s amphibians, some of which are known only from unprotected sites and require adequate conservation management.

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Repeated divergence of amphibians and reptiles across an elevational gradient in northern Madagascar

Cited by 2 publications

References 114 publications

Integrative revision of the Blommersia wittei complex, with description of a new species of frog from western and north-western Madagascar

Integrative revision of the Blommersia wittei complex, with description of a new species of frog from western and north-western Madagascar

Communicator whistles: A Trek through the taxonomy of the Boophis marojezensis complex reveals seven new, morphologically cryptic treefrogs from Madagascar (Amphibia: Anura: Mantellidae)

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