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López-Hervas K, Santos JC, Ron SR, Betancourth-Cundar M, Cannatella DC, Tarvin RD. Deep divergences among inconspicuously colored clades of Epipedobates poison frogs. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 195:108065. [PMID: 38531492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) are famous for their aposematic species, having a combination of diverse color patterns and defensive skin toxins, yet most species in this family are inconspicuously colored and considered non-aposematic. Epipedobates is among the youngest genus-level clades of Dendrobatidae that includes both aposematic and inconspicuous species. Using Sanger-sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear markers, we demonstrate deep genetic divergences among inconspicuous species of Epipedobates but relatively shallow genetic divergences among conspicuous species. Our phylogenetic analysis includes broad geographic sampling of the inconspicuous lineages typically identified as E. boulengeri and E. espinosai, which reveals two putative new species, one in west-central Colombia (E. sp. 1) and the other in north-central Ecuador (E. aff. espinosai). We conclude that E. darwinwallacei is a junior subjective synonym of E. espinosai. We also clarify the geographic distributions of inconspicuous Epipedobates species including the widespread E. boulengeri. We provide a qualitative assessment of the phenotypic diversity in each nominal species, with a focus on the color and pattern of inconspicuous species. We conclude that Epipedobates contains eight known valid species, six of which are inconspicuous. A relaxed molecular clock analysis suggests that the most recent common ancestor of Epipedobates is ∼11.1 million years old, which nearly doubles previous estimates. Last, genetic information points to a center of species diversity in the Chocó at the southwestern border of Colombia with Ecuador. A Spanish translation of this text is available in the supplementary materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karem López-Hervas
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador; Museo de Zoología, Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Juan C Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Jamaica, NY 11439, USA
| | - Santiago R Ron
- Museo de Zoología, Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - David C Cannatella
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Center, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Rebecca D Tarvin
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Center, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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2
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Betancourth-Cundar M, Canoine V, Fusani L, Cadena CD. Does testosterone underly the interplay between male traits and territorial behavior in neotropical poison frogs? Horm Behav 2024; 162:105547. [PMID: 38677262 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The ability of individual animals to defend a territory as well as various phenotypic and behavioral traits may be targets of sexual selection used by males to evaluate their competitors or by females to choose males. A frequent question in animal behavior is whether male traits and characteristics of their territory are correlated and what are the mechanisms that may mediate such associations when they exist. Because hormones link phenotype to behavior, by studying the role of testosterone in territoriality one may come closer to understanding the mechanisms mediating correlations or lack thereof between characteristics of territories and of males. We evaluated whether variation in characteristics of territories (size and quality) are correlated with variation in morphology, coloration, testosterone, heterozygosity, and calls in two species of poison frogs. The Amazonian frog Allobates aff. trilineatus exhibits male care and defends territories only during the breeding season, while the endangered frog Oophaga lehmanni displays maternal care and defends territories throughout the year. We found that morphological traits (body length, weight, thigh size), call activity, and testosterone levels correlated with size and various indicators of quality of the territory. However, the direction of these correlations (whether positive or negative) and which specific morphological, acoustic traits or testosterone level variables covaried depended on the species. Our findings highlight an endocrine pathway as part of the physiological machinery that may underlie the interplay between male traits and territorial behavior. We were able to identify some male traits related to territory attributes, but whether females choose males based on these traits requires further research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Virginie Canoine
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leonida Fusani
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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3
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Weller HI, Hiller AE, Lord NP, Van Belleghem SM. recolorize: An R package for flexible colour segmentation of biological images. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14378. [PMID: 38361466 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Colour pattern variation provides biological information in fields ranging from disease ecology to speciation dynamics. Comparing colour pattern geometries across images requires colour segmentation, where pixels in an image are assigned to one of a set of colour classes shared by all images. Manual methods for colour segmentation are slow and subjective, while automated methods can struggle with high technical variation in aggregate image sets. We present recolorize, an R package toolbox for human-subjective colour segmentation with functions for batch-processing low-variation image sets and additional tools for handling images from diverse (high-variation) sources. The package also includes export options for a variety of formats and colour analysis packages. This paper illustrates recolorize for three example datasets, including high variation, batch processing and combining with reflectance spectra, and demonstrates the downstream use of methods that rely on this output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah I Weller
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna E Hiller
- Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Nathan P Lord
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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4
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Medina I, Dong C, Marquez R, Perez DM, Wang IJ, Stuart-Fox D. Anti-predator defences are linked with high levels of genetic differentiation in frogs. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232292. [PMID: 38264783 PMCID: PMC10806439 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Predator-prey interactions have been suggested as drivers of diversity in different lineages, and the presence of anti-predator defences in some clades is linked to higher rates of diversification. Warning signals are some of the most widespread defences in the animal world, and there is evidence of higher diversification rates in aposematic lineages. The mechanisms behind such species richness, however, are still unclear. Here, we test whether lineages that use aposematism as anti-predator defence exhibit higher levels of genetic differentiation between populations, leading to increased opportunities for divergence. We collated from the literature more than 3000 pairwise genetic differentiation values across more than 700 populations from over 60 amphibian species. We find evidence that over short geographical distances, populations of species of aposematic lineages exhibit greater genetic divergence relative to species that are not aposematic. Our results support a scenario where the use of warning signals could restrict gene flow, and suggest that anti-predator defences could impact divergence between populations and potentially have effects at a macro-evolutionary scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliana Medina
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
| | - Caroline Dong
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA
| | - Roberto Marquez
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Michigan Society of Fellows, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Daniela M. Perez
- Max Plank Institute of Animal Behaviour, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Ian J. Wang
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, Rausser College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
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5
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Wan YC, Navarrete Méndez MJ, O'Connell LA, Uricchio LH, Roland AB, Maan ME, Ron SR, Betancourth-Cundar M, Pie MR, Howell KA, Richards-Zawacki CL, Cummings ME, Cannatella DC, Santos JC, Tarvin RD. Selection on Visual Opsin Genes in Diurnal Neotropical Frogs and Loss of the SWS2 Opsin in Poison Frogs. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad206. [PMID: 37791477 PMCID: PMC10548314 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Amphibians are ideal for studying visual system evolution because their biphasic (aquatic and terrestrial) life history and ecological diversity expose them to a broad range of visual conditions. Here, we evaluate signatures of selection on visual opsin genes across Neotropical anurans and focus on three diurnal clades that are well-known for the concurrence of conspicuous colors and chemical defense (i.e., aposematism): poison frogs (Dendrobatidae), Harlequin toads (Bufonidae: Atelopus), and pumpkin toadlets (Brachycephalidae: Brachycephalus). We found evidence of positive selection on 44 amino acid sites in LWS, SWS1, SWS2, and RH1 opsin genes, of which one in LWS and two in RH1 have been previously identified as spectral tuning sites in other vertebrates. Given that anurans have mostly nocturnal habits, the patterns of selection revealed new sites that might be important in spectral tuning for frogs, potentially for adaptation to diurnal habits and for color-based intraspecific communication. Furthermore, we provide evidence that SWS2, normally expressed in rod cells in frogs and some salamanders, has likely been lost in the ancestor of Dendrobatidae, suggesting that under low-light levels, dendrobatids have inferior wavelength discrimination compared to other frogs. This loss might follow the origin of diurnal activity in dendrobatids and could have implications for their behavior. Our analyses show that assessments of opsin diversification in across taxa could expand our understanding of the role of sensory system evolution in ecological adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Chen Wan
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - María José Navarrete Méndez
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Museo de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Lawrence H Uricchio
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Alexandre-Benoit Roland
- FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Research Centre on Animal Cognition (CRCA), Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), UMR5169 CNRS, Toulouse University, Toulouse, France
| | - Martine E Maan
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Santiago R Ron
- Museo de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Marcio R Pie
- Department of Zoology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
- Biology Department, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United Kingdom
| | - Kimberly A Howell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Molly E Cummings
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - David C Cannatella
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Biodiversity Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Juan C Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca D Tarvin
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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6
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Lorioux-Chevalier U, Tuanama Valles M, Gallusser S, Mori Pezo R, Chouteau M. Unexpected colour pattern variation in mimetic frogs: implication for the diversification of warning signals in the genus Ranitomeya. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230354. [PMID: 37293365 PMCID: PMC10245201 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Predation is expected to promote uniformity in the warning coloration of defended prey, but also mimicry convergence between aposematic species. Despite selection constraining both colour-pattern and population divergence, many aposematic animals display numerous geographically structured populations with distinct warning signal. Here, we explore the extent of phenotypic variation of sympatric species of Ranitomeya poison frogs and test for theoretical expectations on variation and convergence in mimetic signals. We demonstrate that both warning signal and mimetic convergence are highly variable and are negatively correlated: some localities display high variability and no mimicry while in others the phenotype is fixed and mimicry is perfect. Moreover, variation in warning signals is always present within localities, and in many cases this variation overlaps between populations, such that variation is continuous. Finally, we show that coloration is consistently the least variable element and is likely of greater importance for predator avoidance compared to patterning. We discuss the implications of our results in the context of warning signal diversification and suggest that, like many other locally adapted traits, a combination of standing genetic variation and founding effect might be sufficient to enable divergence in colour pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mario Tuanama Valles
- Instituto de Investigación Biológica de las Cordilleras Orientales, Tarapoto, Peru
| | - Stephanie Gallusser
- Instituto de Investigación Biológica de las Cordilleras Orientales, Tarapoto, Peru
| | - Ronald Mori Pezo
- Instituto de Investigación Biológica de las Cordilleras Orientales, Tarapoto, Peru
| | - Mathieu Chouteau
- LEEISA, UAR 3456, Université de Guyane, CNRS, IFREMER, Cayenne, France
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7
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Blackburn DC, Nielsen SV, Ghose SL, Burger M, Gonwouo LN, Greenbaum E, Gvoždík V, Hirschfeld M, Kouete MT, Kusamba C, Lawson D, McLaughlin PJ, Zassi-Boulou AG, Rödel MO. Phylogeny of African Long-Fingered Frogs (Arthroleptidae: Cardioglossa) Reveals Recent Allopatric Divergences in Coloration. ICHTHYOLOGY & HERPETOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1643/h2020165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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8
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Duarte-Marín S, González-Acosta CC, Santos Dias PH, Arias-Álvarez GA, Vargas-Salinas F. Advertisement call, tadpole morphology, and other natural history aspects of the threatened poison frog Andinobates daleswansoni (Dendrobatidae). J NAT HIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.1889068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Duarte-Marín
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación EECO, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | - Cristian C. González-Acosta
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación EECO, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | | | - Gustavo A. Arias-Álvarez
- Grupo de estudio de artrópodos (GEA), Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | - Fernando Vargas-Salinas
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación EECO, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
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9
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Posso-Terranova A, Andrés J. Skin transcriptional profiles in Oophaga poison frogs. Genet Mol Biol 2020; 43:e20190401. [PMID: 33211057 PMCID: PMC7678260 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2019-0401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Aposematic organisms advertise their defensive toxins to predators using a variety of warning
signals, including bright coloration. While most Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) rely on
crypsis to avoid predators, Oophaga poison frogs from South America advertise their
chemical defenses, a complex mix of diet-derived alkaloids, by using conspicuous hues. The present
study aimed to characterize the skin transcriptomic profiles of South American
Oophaga poison frogs. Our analyses showed very similar transcriptomic profiles for
these closely related species in terms of functional annotation and relative abundance of gene
ontology terms expressed. Analyses of expression profiles of Oophaga and available
skin transcriptomes of cryptic anurans allowed us to propose initial hypotheses for the active
sequestration of alkaloid-based chemical defenses and to highlight some genes that may be
potentially involved in resistance mechanisms to avoid self-intoxication and skin coloration. In
doing so, we provide an important molecular resource for the study of warning signals that will
facilitate the assembly and annotation of future poison frog genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Posso-Terranova
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Biology, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.,Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Palmira, Palmira, Colombia
| | - José Andrés
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Biology, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.,Cornell University, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Ithaca, NY, USA
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10
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Akopyan M, Gompert Z, Klonoski K, Vega A, Kaiser K, Mackelprang R, Rosenblum EB, Robertson JM. Genetic and phenotypic evidence of a contact zone between divergent colour morphs of the iconic red-eyed treefrog. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:4442-4456. [PMID: 32945036 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Hybrid zones act as natural laboratories where divergent genomes interact, providing powerful systems for examining the evolutionary processes underlying biological diversity. In this study, we characterized patterns of genomic and phenotypic variation resulting from hybridization between divergent intraspecific lineages of the Neotropical red-eyed treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas). We found genetic evidence of a newly discovered contact zone and phenotypic novelty in leg colour-a trait suspected to play a role in mediating assortative mating in this species. Analysis of hybrid ancestry revealed an abundance of later-generation Fn individuals, suggesting persistence of hybrids in the contact zone. Hybrids are predominantly of southern ancestry but are phenotypically more similar to northern populations. Genome-wide association mapping revealed QTL with measurable effects on leg-colour variation, but further work is required to dissect the architecture of this trait and establish causal links. Further, genomic cline analyses indicated substantial variation in patterns of introgression across the genome. Directional introgression of loci associated with different aspects of leg colour are inherited from each parental lineage, creating a distinct hybrid colour pattern. We show that hybridization can generate new phenotypes, revealing the evolutionary processes that potentially underlie patterns of phenotypic diversity in this iconic polytypic frog. Our study is consistent with a role of hybridization and sexual selection in lineage diversification, evolutionary processes that have been implicated in accelerating divergence in the most phenotypically diverse species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Akopyan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA, USA
| | | | - Karina Klonoski
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Kristine Kaiser
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA, USA
| | | | - Erica Bree Rosenblum
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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11
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Ferreira AS, Lima AP, Jehle R, Ferrão M, Stow A. The Influence of Environmental Variation on the Genetic Structure of a Poison Frog Distributed Across Continuous Amazonian Rainforest. J Hered 2020; 111:457-470. [PMID: 32827440 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biogeographic barriers such as rivers have been shown to shape spatial patterns of biodiversity in the Amazon basin, yet relatively little is known about the distribution of genetic variation across continuous rainforest. Here, we characterize the genetic structure of the brilliant-thighed poison frog (Allobates femoralis) across an 880-km-long transect along the Purus-Madeira interfluve south of the Amazon river, based on 64 individuals genotyped at 7609 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci. A population tree and clustering analyses revealed 4 distinct genetic groups, one of which was strongly divergent. These genetic groups were concomitant with femoral spot coloration differences, which was intermediate within a zone of admixture between two of the groups. The location of these genetic groups did not consistently correspond to current ecological transitions between major forest types. A multimodel approach to quantify the relative influence of isolation-by-geographic distance (IBD) and isolation-by-environmental resistance (IBR) nevertheless revealed that, in addition to a strong signal of IBD, spatial genetic differentiation was explained by IBR primarily linked to dry season intensity (r2 = 8.4%) and canopy cover (r2 = 6.4%). We show significant phylogenetic divergence in the absence of obvious biogeographical barriers and that finer-scaled measures of genetic structure are associated with environmental variables also known to predict the density of A. femoralis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony S Ferreira
- Programa de Capacitação Institucional, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Albertina P Lima
- Coordenacão de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Robert Jehle
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Miquéias Ferrão
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Adam Stow
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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12
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Rojas D, Lima AP, Momigliano P, Simões PI, Dudaniec RY, de Avila-Pires TCS, Hoogmoed MS, da Cunha Bitar YO, Kaefer IL, Amézquita A, Stow A. The evolution of polymorphism in the warning coloration of the Amazonian poison frog Adelphobates galactonotus. Heredity (Edinb) 2020; 124:439-456. [PMID: 31712747 PMCID: PMC7028985 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-019-0281-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
While intraspecific variation in aposematic signals can be selected for by different predatory responses, their evolution is also contingent on other processes shaping genetic variation. We evaluate the relative contributions of selection, geographic isolation, and random genetic drift to the evolution of aposematic color polymorphism in the poison frog Adelphobates galactonotus, distributed throughout eastern Brazilian Amazonia. Dorsal coloration was measured for 111 individuals and genetic data were obtained from 220 individuals at two mitochondrial genes (mtDNA) and 7963 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). Four color categories were described (brown, blue, yellow, orange) and our models of frog and bird visual systems indicated that each color was distinguishable for these taxa. Using outlier and correlative analyses we found no compelling genetic evidence for color being under divergent selection. A time-calibrated mtDNA tree suggests that the present distribution of dorsal coloration resulted from processes occurring during the Pleistocene. Separate phylogenies based on SNPs and mtDNA resolved the same well supported clades, each containing different colored populations. Ancestral character state analysis provided some evidence for evolutionary transitions in color type. Genetic structure was more strongly associated with geographic features, than color category, suggesting that the distribution of color is explained by localized processes. Evidence for geographic isolation together with estimates of low effective population size implicates drift as playing a key role in color diversification. Our results highlight the relevance of considering the neutral processes involved with the evolution of traits with important fitness consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Rojas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, P.O. Box 2223, Manaus, AM, 69011-970, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Instituto de Natureza e Cultura, Rua 1º de Maio 05, Benjamin Constant, AM, 69630-000, Brazil
| | - Albertina P Lima
- Coordenação de Pesquisas em Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, Manaus, AM, 69011-970, Brazil
| | - Paolo Momigliano
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Research Programme in Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pedro Ivo Simões
- Coordenação de Pesquisas em Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, Manaus, AM, 69011-970, Brazil
- Departamento de Zoologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof Moraes 1235, Recife, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Rachael Y Dudaniec
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Balaclava Road, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | | | - Marinus S Hoogmoed
- Museu Paraense Emilío Goeldi, Caixa Postal 399, Belém, PA, 66017-970, Brazil
| | - Youszef Oliveira da Cunha Bitar
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia UFPA/Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Igor L Kaefer
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. Rodrigo Octávio 6200, Manaus, AM, 69077-000, Brazil
| | - Adolfo Amézquita
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Adam Stow
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Balaclava Road, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
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13
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Genetic differentiation and overexploitation history of the critically endangered Lehmann’s Poison Frog: Oophaga lehmanni. CONSERV GENET 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-020-01262-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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14
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Ebersbach J, Posso-Terranova A, Bogdanowicz S, Gómez-Díaz M, García-González MX, Bolívar-García W, Andrés J. Complex patterns of differentiation and gene flow underly the divergence of aposematic phenotypes in Oophaga poison frogs. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1944-1956. [PMID: 31971303 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hybridization and introgression can have complex consequences for both species evolution and conservation. Here, we investigated the origin and characteristics of a putative hybrid zone between two South American poison dart frog species, Oophaga anchicayensis and the critically endangered Oophaga lehmanni, which are heavily sought after on the illegal pet market. Using a combination of phenotypic (49 traits) and genomic (ddRADseq) data, we found that the putative hybrids are morphologically distinct from their parental species and confirmed genomic signatures of admixture in these populations. Several lines of evidence (hybrid indices, interspecific hybrid heterozygosity, genomic clines, comparisons with simulated hybrids and demographic modelling) support the conclusion that these populations are not comprised of early-generation hybrids and thus, they probably did not arise as a result of illegal translocations associated with wildlife trafficking. Instead, they probably represent an independent lineage which has persisted through isolation and has only relatively recently re-established gene flow with both parental species. Furthermore, we detected signals of differential introgression from parental species into these hybrid populations which suggest relaxed stabilizing selection on these aposematic colour morphs, potentially via context-dependent female choice. These populations thus provide a fascinating window into the role of hybridization, isolation and female choice in the diversification of South American poison dart frogs. In addition, our results underline the importance of landscape conservation measures to protect, not only known localities of nominal species, but also the phenotypic and genomic variation harbored by admixed lineages which represent crucial repositories for the impressive diversity in this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Ebersbach
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Andrés Posso-Terranova
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.,Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Palmira, Palmira, Colombia
| | - Steven Bogdanowicz
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mónica Gómez-Díaz
- Research Group in Animal Ecology, Department of Biology, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | | | - Wilmar Bolívar-García
- Research Group in Animal Ecology, Department of Biology, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - José Andrés
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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15
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16
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Peek RA, Bedwell M, O'Rourke SM, Goldberg C, Wengert GM, Miller MR. Hybridization between two parapatric ranid frog species in the northern Sierra Nevada, California, USA. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:4636-4647. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A. Peek
- Center for Watershed Sciences University of California Davis CA USA
- Department of Animal Science University of California Davis CA USA
| | - Mallory Bedwell
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman WA USA
| | - Sean M. O'Rourke
- Department of Animal Science University of California Davis CA USA
| | - Caren Goldberg
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman WA USA
| | | | - Michael R. Miller
- Center for Watershed Sciences University of California Davis CA USA
- Department of Animal Science University of California Davis CA USA
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17
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Bell RC, Irian CG. Phenotypic and genetic divergence in reed frogs across a mosaic hybrid zone on São Tomé Island. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Although naturally heterogeneous environments can lead to mosaic hybrid zones, human-induced habitat fragmentation can also lead to environmental heterogeneity and hybridization. Here we quantify phenotypic and molecular divergence across a reed frog mosaic hybrid zone on São Tomé Island as a first step towards understanding the consequences of hybridization across this heterogeneous landscape. The São Tomé giant reed frog (Hyperolius thomensis) is strongly tied to cool, wet, forest habitats whereas the distribution of Moller’s reed frog (H. molleri) spans cool, wet, forests to warm, dry, disturbed habitats. Correspondingly, hybridization is concentrated in the more forested, cool, wet sites relative to non-forested, warmer, drier habitats. Four of six sites with hybrid frogs are artificial water bodies near the forest edge, indicating that both breeding habitat and broader scale environmental variation are probably important for understanding interspecific interactions and the extent of hybridization in this system. Phenotypic variation (body size and ventral coloration) largely tracks genetic and environmental variation across the hybrid zone with larger and more pigmented frogs occurring in forested, cool, wet habitats. Understanding whether human-induced changes in habitat break down reproductive barriers will be essential for conservation management of the less abundant, forest-associated H. thomensis in the face of rampant hybridization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayna C Bell
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Christian G Irian
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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18
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Klonoski K, Bi K, Rosenblum EB. Phenotypic and genetic diversity in aposematic Malagasy poison frogs (genus Mantella). Ecol Evol 2019; 9:2725-2742. [PMID: 30891212 PMCID: PMC6406014 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraspecific color variation has long fascinated evolutionary biologists. In species with bright warning coloration, phenotypic diversity is particularly compelling because many factors, including natural and sexual selection, contribute to intraspecific variation. To better understand the causes of dramatic phenotypic variation in Malagasy poison frogs, we quantified genetic structure and color and pattern variation across three closely related species, Mantella aurantiaca, Mantella crocea, and Mantella milotympanum. Although our restriction site-associated DNA (RAD) sequencing approach identified clear genetic clusters, they do not align with current species designations, which has important conservation implications for these imperiled frogs. Moreover, our results suggest that levels of intraspecific color variation within this group have been overestimated, while species diversity has been underestimated. Within major genetic clusters, we observed distinct patterns of variation including: populations that are phenotypically similar yet genetically distinct, populations where phenotypic and genetic breaks coincide, and populations that are genetically similar but have high levels of within-population phenotypic variation. We also detected admixture between two of the major genetic clusters. Our study suggests that several mechanisms-including hybridization, selection, and drift-are contributing to phenotypic diversity. Ultimately, our work underscores the need for a reevaluation of how polymorphic and polytypic populations and species are classified, especially in aposematic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Klonoski
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCalifornia
- Museum of Vertebrate ZoologyUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCalifornia
| | - Ke Bi
- Museum of Vertebrate ZoologyUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCalifornia
- Computational Genomics Resource Laboratory (CGRL), California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3)University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCalifornia
| | - Erica Bree Rosenblum
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCalifornia
- Museum of Vertebrate ZoologyUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCalifornia
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19
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Posso-Terranova A, Andrés J. Multivariate species boundaries and conservation of harlequin poison frogs. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:3432-3451. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Posso-Terranova
- Department of Biology; University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon SK Canada
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Palmira; Palmira Colombia
| | - Jose Andrés
- Department of Biology; University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon SK Canada
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20
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Rojas B, Burdfield-Steel E, De Pasqual C, Gordon S, Hernández L, Mappes J, Nokelainen O, Rönkä K, Lindstedt C. Multimodal Aposematic Signals and Their Emerging Role in Mate Attraction. Front Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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21
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Casas-Cardona S, Márquez R, Vargas-Salinas F. Different colour morphs of the poison frogAndinobates bombetes(Dendrobatidae) are similarly effective visual predator deterrents. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Casas-Cardona
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación (EECO); Programa de Biología; Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías; Universidad del Quindío; Armenia Colombia
| | - Roberto Márquez
- Department of Ecology and Evolution; University of Chicago; Chicago IL USA
| | - Fernando Vargas-Salinas
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación (EECO); Programa de Biología; Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías; Universidad del Quindío; Armenia Colombia
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22
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Morales-Rozo A, Tenorio EA, Carling MD, Cadena CD. Origin and cross-century dynamics of an avian hybrid zone. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:257. [PMID: 29246108 PMCID: PMC5732383 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-1096-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Characterizations of the dynamics of hybrid zones in space and time can give insights about traits and processes important in population divergence and speciation. We characterized a hybrid zone between tanagers in the genus Ramphocelus (Aves, Thraupidae) located in southwestern Colombia. We evaluated whether this hybrid zone originated as a result of secondary contact or of primary differentiation, and described its dynamics across time using spatial analyses of molecular, morphological, and coloration data in combination with paleodistribution modeling. Results Models of potential historical distributions based on climatic data and genetic signatures of demographic expansion suggested that the hybrid zone likely originated following secondary contact between populations that expanded their ranges out of isolated areas in the Quaternary. Concordant patterns of variation in phenotypic characters across the hybrid zone and its narrow extent are suggestive of a tension zone, maintained by a balance between dispersal and selection against hybrids. Estimates of phenotypic cline parameters obtained using specimens collected over nearly a century revealed that, in recent decades, the zone appears to have moved to the east and to higher elevations, and may have become narrower. Genetic variation was not clearly structured along the hybrid zone, but comparisons between historical and contemporary specimens suggested that temporal changes in its genetic makeup may also have occurred. Conclusions Our data suggest that the hybrid zone likey resulted from secondary contact between populations. The observed changes in the hybrid zone may be a result of sexual selection, asymmetric gene flow, or environmental change. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: 10.1186/s12862-017-1096-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Morales-Rozo
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.,Programa de Biología y Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad de los Llanos, Sede Barcelona, Villavicencio, Colombia
| | - Elkin A Tenorio
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.,Calima: Fundación para la Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Conservación en el Trópico, Cali, Colombia
| | - Matthew D Carling
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Carlos Daniel Cadena
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
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23
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Roland AB, Santos JC, Carriker BC, Caty SN, Tapia EE, Coloma LA, O'Connell LA. Radiation of the polymorphic Little Devil poison frog ( Oophaga sylvatica) in Ecuador. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:9750-9762. [PMID: 29188006 PMCID: PMC5696431 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 09/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Some South American poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) are chemically defended and use bright aposematic colors to warn potential predators of their unpalatability. Aposematic signals are often frequency-dependent where individuals deviating from a local model are at a higher risk of predation. However, extreme diversity in the aposematic signal has been documented in poison frogs, especially in Oophaga. Here, we explore the phylogeographic pattern among color-divergent populations of the Little Devil poison frog Oophaga sylvatica by analyzing population structure and genetic differentiation to evaluate which processes could account for color diversity within and among populations. With a combination of PCR amplicons (three mitochondrial and three nuclear markers) and genome-wide markers from a double-digested RAD (ddRAD) approach, we characterized the phylogenetic and genetic structure of 199 individuals from 13 populations (12 monomorphic and 1 polymorphic) across the O. sylvatica distribution. Individuals segregated into two main lineages by their northern or southern latitudinal distribution. A high level of genetic and phenotypic polymorphism within the northern lineage suggests ongoing gene flow. In contrast, low levels of genetic differentiation were detected among the southern lineage populations and support recent range expansions from populations in the northern lineage. We propose that a combination of climatic gradients and structured landscapes might be promoting gene flow and phylogenetic diversification. Alternatively, we cannot rule out that the observed phenotypic and genomic variations are the result of genetic drift on near or neutral alleles in a small number of genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan C. Santos
- Department of Biological SciencesSt. John's UniversityQueensNYUSA
| | | | | | - Elicio E. Tapia
- Centro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de AnfibiosFundación OtongaQuitoEcuador
| | - Luis A. Coloma
- Centro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de AnfibiosFundación OtongaQuitoEcuador
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24
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Posso-Terranova A, Andrés JÁ. Diversification and convergence of aposematic phenotypes: truncated receptors and cellular arrangements mediate rapid evolution of coloration in harlequin poison frogs. Evolution 2017; 71:2677-2692. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Posso-Terranova
- Department of Biology; University of Saskatchewan; 112 Science Pl Saskatoon SK Canada
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Sede de Palmira A.A. 237 Palmira Colombia
| | - José Á. Andrés
- Department of Biology; University of Saskatchewan; 112 Science Pl Saskatoon SK Canada
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25
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Sefc KM, Mattersdorfer K, Ziegelbecker A, Neuhüttler N, Steiner O, Goessler W, Koblmüller S. Shifting barriers and phenotypic diversification by hybridisation. Ecol Lett 2017; 20:651-662. [PMID: 28384842 PMCID: PMC6555762 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The establishment of hybrid taxa relies on reproductive isolation from the parental forms, typically achieved by ecological differentiation. Here, we present an alternative mechanism, in which shifts in the strength and location of dispersal barriers facilitate diversification by hybridisation. Our case study concerns the highly diverse, stenotopic rock-dwelling cichlids of the African Great Lakes, many of which display geographic colour pattern variation. The littoral habitat of these fish has repeatedly been restructured in the course of ancient lake level fluctuations. Genetic data and an experimental cross support the hybrid origin of a distinct yellow-coloured variant of Tropheus moorii from ancient admixture between two allopatric, red and bluish variants. Deficient assortative mating preferences imply that reproductive isolation continues to be contingent on geographic separation. Linking paleolimnological data with the establishment of the hybrid variant, we sketch a selectively neutral diversification process governed solely by rearrangements of dispersal barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M. Sefc
- Institute of Zoology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Karin Mattersdorfer
- Institute of Zoology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | | | - Nina Neuhüttler
- Institute of Zoology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Oliver Steiner
- Institute of Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Walter Goessler
- Institute of Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Stephan Koblmüller
- Institute of Zoology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
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26
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Arenas LM, Stevens M. Diversity in warning coloration is easily recognized by avian predators. J Evol Biol 2017; 30:1288-1302. [PMID: 28338250 PMCID: PMC5518184 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 01/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Warning coloration is a widespread strategy to alert predators about prey unprofitability. The success of this strategy partly depends on predators being able to learn and recognize certain signals as indicators of toxicity, and theory predicts that this is easier if signals converge on similar colours. However, the diversity in warning signal form is astonishing, contradicting predictions. Here, we quantified ladybird signal diversity with respect to avian vision, measuring how unique and discernible each signal is from one another. In addition, we measured signal conspicuousness against a series of backgrounds, namely an average green, average brown, and where we collected each species, to determine whether signals are more contrasting against the ladybirds' local substrates than compared to average ones. This allowed us to establish whether there are local adaptations in conspicuousness that promote signal diversity. We found that while ladybird signals are unique and recognizable, specialist species are more contrasting against the background they are most commonly found on. However, overall our study suggests that warning signals have evolved to be effective against a wide range of natural backgrounds, partly explaining the success of this strategy in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Arenas
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Centre for Ecology & Conservation, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - M Stevens
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
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27
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Tarvin RD, Powell EA, Santos JC, Ron SR, Cannatella DC. The birth of aposematism: High phenotypic divergence and low genetic diversity in a young clade of poison frogs. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2017; 109:283-295. [PMID: 28089841 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Rapid radiation coupled with low genetic divergence often hinders species delimitation and phylogeny estimation even if putative species are phenotypically distinct. Some aposematic species, such as poison frogs (Dendrobatidae), have high levels of intraspecific color polymorphism, which can lead to overestimation of species when phenotypic divergence primarily guides species delimitation. We explored this possibility in the youngest origin of aposematism (3-7 MYA) in poison frogs, Epipedobates, by comparing genetic divergence with color and acoustic divergence. We found low genetic divergence (2.6% in the 16S gene) despite substantial differences in color and acoustic signals. While chemical defense is inferred to have evolved in the ancestor of Epipedobates, aposematic coloration evolved at least twice or was lost once in Epipedobates, suggesting that it is evolutionarily labile. We inferred at least one event of introgression between two cryptically colored species with adjacent ranges (E. boulengeri and E. machalilla). We also find evidence for peripheral isolation resulting in phenotypic divergence and potential speciation of the aposematic E. tricolor from the non-aposematic E. machalilla. However, we were unable to estimate a well-supported species tree or delimit species using multispecies coalescent models. We attribute this failure to factors associated with recent speciation including mitochondrial introgression, incomplete lineage sorting, and too few informative molecular characters. We suggest that species delimitation within young aposematic lineages such as Epipedobates will require genome-level molecular studies. We caution against relying solely on DNA barcoding for species delimitation or identification and highlight the value of phenotypic divergence and natural history in delimiting species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca D Tarvin
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Collections, University of Texas, Austin, TX, United States.
| | - Emily A Powell
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Collections, University of Texas, Austin, TX, United States; Department of Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Juan C Santos
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Santiago R Ron
- Museo de Zoología, Escuela de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - David C Cannatella
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Collections, University of Texas, Austin, TX, United States
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28
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Costa MC, Oliveira PRR, Davanço PV, de Camargo C, Laganaro NM, Azeredo RA, Simpson J, Silveira LF, Francisco MR. Recovering the Genetic Identity of an Extinct-in-the-Wild Species: The Puzzling Case of the Alagoas Curassow. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169636. [PMID: 28056082 PMCID: PMC5215914 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The conservation of many endangered taxa relies on hybrid identification, and when hybrids become morphologically indistinguishable from the parental species, the use of molecular markers can assign individual admixture levels. Here, we present the puzzling case of the extinct in the wild Alagoas Curassow (Pauxi mitu), whose captive population descends from only three individuals. Hybridization with the Razor-billed Curassow (P. tuberosa) began more than eight generations ago, and admixture uncertainty affects the whole population. We applied an analysis framework that combined morphological diagnostic traits, Bayesian clustering analyses using 14 microsatellite loci, and mtDNA haplotypes to assess the ancestry of all individuals that were alive from 2008 to 2012. Simulated data revealed that our microsatellites could accurately assign an individual a hybrid origin until the second backcross generation, which permitted us to identify a pure group among the older, but still reproductive animals. No wild species has ever survived such a severe bottleneck, followed by hybridization, and studying the recovery capability of the selected pure Alagoas Curassow group might provide valuable insights into biological conservation theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariellen C. Costa
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luís, CEP, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo R. R. Oliveira
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Diversidade Biológica e Conservação, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, campus de Sorocaba, Rod. João Leme dos Santos, CEP, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo V. Davanço
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Diversidade Biológica e Conservação, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, campus de Sorocaba, Rod. João Leme dos Santos, CEP, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Crisley de Camargo
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Campus de Sorocaba, Rod. João Leme dos Santos, CEP, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Natasha M. Laganaro
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Diversidade Biológica e Conservação, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, campus de Sorocaba, Rod. João Leme dos Santos, CEP, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Roberto A. Azeredo
- CRAX—Sociedade de Pesquisa do Manejo e da Reprodução da Fauna Silvestre, rua Jarbas Camargo, Chácara Campestre, Contagem, MG, Brazil
| | - James Simpson
- CRAX—Sociedade de Pesquisa do Manejo e da Reprodução da Fauna Silvestre, rua Jarbas Camargo, Chácara Campestre, Contagem, MG, Brazil
| | - Luis F. Silveira
- Seção de Aves, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, CEP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mercival R. Francisco
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Campus de Sorocaba, Rod. João Leme dos Santos, CEP, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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29
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Pacheco-Sierra G, Gompert Z, Domínguez-Laso J, Vázquez-Domínguez E. Genetic and morphological evidence of a geographically widespread hybrid zone between two crocodile species,Crocodylus acutusandCrocodylus moreletii. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:3484-98. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gualberto Pacheco-Sierra
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad; Instituto de Ecología; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Ap. Postal 70-275 Ciudad Universitaria México DF 04510 México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Coyoacán México DF 04510 México
| | - Zachariah Gompert
- Department of Biology and Ecology Center; Utah State University; Logan UT 84322 USA
| | | | - Ella Vázquez-Domínguez
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad; Instituto de Ecología; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Ap. Postal 70-275 Ciudad Universitaria México DF 04510 México
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30
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Rojas B. Behavioural, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of diversity in frog colour patterns. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:1059-1080. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bibiana Rojas
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences; University of Jyvaskyla; PO Box 35 Jyväskylä FI 40001 Finland
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Differential detectability of polymorphic warning signals under varying light environments. Behav Processes 2014; 109 Pt B:164-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2014.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2014] [Revised: 08/09/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Stream noise, hybridization, and uncoupled evolution of call traits in two lineages of poison frogs: Oophaga histrionica and Oophaga lehmanni. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77545. [PMID: 24194888 PMCID: PMC3806806 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the acoustic adaptation hypothesis, communication signals are evolutionary shaped in a way that minimizes its degradation and maximizes its contrast against the background noise. To compare the importance for call divergence of acoustic adaptation and hybridization, an evolutionary force allegedly promoting phenotypic variation, we compared the mate recognition signal of two species of poison frogs (Oophaga histrionica and O. lehmanni) at five localities: two (one per species) alongside noisy streams, two away from streams, and one interspecific hybrid. We recorded the calls of 47 males and characterized the microgeographic variation in their spectral and temporal features, measuring ambient noise level, body size, and body temperature as covariates. As predicted, frogs living in noisy habitats uttered high frequency calls and, in one species, were much smaller in size. These results support a previously unconsidered role of noise on streams as a selective force promoting an increase in call frequency and pleiotropic effects in body size. Regarding hybrid frogs, their calls overlapped in the signal space with the calls of one of the parental lineages. Our data support acoustic adaptation following two evolutionary routes but do not support the presumed role of hybridization in promoting phenotypic diversity.
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