Species Composition, Biogeography, and Conservation of the Caatinga Lizards

Mesquita, Daniel Oliveira; Costa, Gabriel C.; Garda, Adrian Antonio; Delfim, Fagner Ribeiro

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-68339-3_6

Cited by 29 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…The north area borders with Caatinga, a dry forest biome, and the south with Campos Sulinos, an open grassland biome. Both are known for low number of synthesis studies when compared to Cerrado, Amazonia and Atlantic Forest (this scenario is starting to change‐Guedes, Sawaya, & Nogueira, ; Mesquita, Costa, Garda, & Delfim, ) and could be influencing the low values on these regions, but further investigation is necessary. Hence, we believe that the areas highlighted on the map are very conservative.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary history of Neotropical savannas geographically concentrates species, phylogenetic and functional diversity of lizards

Fenker

Domingos²,

Tedeschi

et al. 2020

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim: Understanding where and why species diversity is geographically concentrated remains a challenge in biogeography and macroevolution. This is true for the Cerrado, the most biodiverse tropical savanna in the world, which has experienced profound biodiversity loss. Previous studies have focused on a single metric (species composition), neglecting the fact that 'species' within the biome are often composed of cryptic species. In order to identify biodiversity hotspots more robustly and across multiple dimensions we integrate functional, spatial and new phylogeographic data for the Cerrado lizard fauna by (a) mapping the spatial patterns of species and phylogenetic diversity; and (b) using endemism measures to identify areas of unique diversity. We then quantify the extent to which existing protected areas represent the diversity.Location: Brazilian savanna (Cerrado). Methods:We generated species distribution models using distribution records for all Cerrado lizard species. These, combined with mitochondrial DNA phylogenies and natural history data, allowed us to map species richness, phylogenetic and functional diversity and phylogenetic and weighted endemism. Phylogenetic endemism maps were then cross-referenced against protected areas to calculate the amount of evolutionary history preserved within these areas. Results:The central region of the Cerrado, a vast and climatically stable plateau, stands out as important under all biodiversity metrics. Including evolutionary relationships in biodiversity assessment, we detected four regional hotspots with high concentration of spatially restricted evolutionary diversity. Protected areas cover only 10% of the Cerrado area and hold 11.64% of the summed phylogenetic endemism of all lizards in the biome. Main Conclusions: We highlighted both stable (Chapada dos Veadeiros and Serra do Espinhaço plateaus) and environmentally heterogenous regions (Araguaia and Tocantins valleys) as hotspots of evolutionary diversity. The creation and/or manipulation of | 1131 FENKER Et al.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary history of Neotropical savannas geographically concentrates species, phylogenetic and functional diversity of lizards

Fenker

Domingos²,

Tedeschi

et al. 2020

Journal of Biogeography

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“…Further to the south‐west is the Chaco, a floristically distinct subtropical mosaic of xerophytic forests and savanna grasses and shrubs. Although these formations harbour high vertebrate species richness and endemism (Garda et al., ; Lima, Ramos, da Silva, & Rosa, ; Mesquita, Costa, Garda, & Delfim, ), the tempo and causes of diversification throughout this huge region are poorly known.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversification with gene flow and niche divergence in a lizard species along the South American “diagonal of open formations”

Fonseca

Gehara

Werneck

et al. 2018

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim: To assess the effects of historical events on the tempo and mode of diversification of the lizard Polychrus acutirostris along the South American diagonal of open formations (DOF).Location: Caatinga and Cerrado biomes in Brazil. Methods:We sequenced fragments of one mtDNA and three nuDNA genes of 68 individuals from 33 localities. We used population assignment methods to access genetic structure and estimate lineage boundaries. Next, we estimated lineage relationships, intraspecific diversity, environmental niche similarity and demographic history. Finally, we tested 12 diversification scenarios using an approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) approach. Results:We recovered three non-overlapping, geographically structured lineages corresponding to Caatinga, north-east Cerrado and south-west Cerrado, with the major divergence event dating to the Late Neogene. We also recovered a complex scenario of divergence associated with gene flow and niche divergence. Main conclusions:We show a complex history of diversification along the South American DOF. Our findings support the role of environmental features as the likely drivers of P. acutirostris intraspecific diversification during the Late Neogene. K E Y W O R D Sapproximate Bayesian computation, Caatinga, Cerrado, phylogeography, Polychrus acutirostris,

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“…Climatic oscillations or climatic gradients may also act at different latitudes, altitudes, and ecotone zones, directly affecting the genetic structure of some widely distributed species and species pairs (e.g., Boana albopunctata , Prado, Haddad, & Zamudio, 2012; Ameivula ocellifera , Oliveira et al, 2015; Polychrus acutirostris , Fonseca et al, 2018; Lygodactylus klugei , Lanna et al, 2018). For the Caatinga, the largest continuous block of Seasonally dry Tropical Forests (Werneck, Costa, Colli, Prado, & Sites, 2011), the São Francisco River has been shown to act as a soft barrier to gene flow for some species (Faria, Nascimento, de Oliveira, & Bonvicino, 2013; Nascimento et al, 2013; Oliveira, Martinez, et al, 2018; Werneck, Leite, Geurgas, & Rodrigues, 2015), while the Espinhaço Mountain Range (Garda et al, 2017) and the middle São Francisco Dunes region (Mesquita, Costa, Garda, & Delfim, 2017; Passoni, Benozzati, & Rodrigues, 2008; Siedchlag, Benozzati, Passoni, & Rodrigues, 2010) are known centers of endemism, harboring a large number of endemics of the Caatinga herpetofauna. However, none of these landscape features and processes seem to have affected the genetic structure of Proceratophrys from lowland areas of Caatinga.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revising the taxonomy ofProceratophrysMiranda‐Ribeiro, 1920 (Anura: Odontophrynidae) from the Brazilian semiarid Caatinga: Morphology, calls and molecules support a single widespread species

Mângia

Oliveira

Santana

et al. 2020

J. Zool. Syst. Evol. Res.

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Recently, Proceratophrys cristiceps was redescribed along with the description of two species from the Caatinga biome: P. aridus and P. caramaschii. However, only a small fraction of the populations related to such species in Northeastern Brazil was examined, and most populations of central Caatinga were not contemplated in this analysis. Comparisons were also based exclusively on external morphology, precluding a more accurate delimitation of such taxa in the light of multiple characters. Such geographic paucity and reliance in only one data source caused the species status of most central Caatinga populations to be uncertain. Thus, the revision of Proceratophrys populations from the Caatinga biome is of utmost importance to establish a solid taxonomic background and to test the validity of the described species. Based on morphologic, morphometric, acoustic, and multilocus genetic data, we define the range of inter‐ and intrapopulation variation in the parameters we analyzed, establishing which ones are useful as diagnostic characters for Proceratophrys in the Caatinga. We found no evidence supporting P. aridus and P. caramaschii as distinct species and thus place them as junior synonyms of P. cristiceps. Our results reinforce the importance of using multiple lines of evidence to avoid taxonomic instability.

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Species Composition, Biogeography, and Conservation of the Caatinga Lizards

Cited by 29 publications

References 63 publications

Evolutionary history of Neotropical savannas geographically concentrates species, phylogenetic and functional diversity of lizards

Evolutionary history of Neotropical savannas geographically concentrates species, phylogenetic and functional diversity of lizards

Diversification with gene flow and niche divergence in a lizard species along the South American “diagonal of open formations”

Revising the taxonomy ofProceratophrysMiranda‐Ribeiro, 1920 (Anura: Odontophrynidae) from the Brazilian semiarid Caatinga: Morphology, calls and molecules support a single widespread species

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