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Bharti DK, Edgecombe GD, Karanth KP, Joshi J. Spatial patterns of phylogenetic diversity and endemism in the Western Ghats, India: A case study using ancient predatory arthropods. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:16499-16513. [PMID: 34938452 PMCID: PMC8668739 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Western Ghats (WG) mountain chain in peninsular India is a global biodiversity hotspot, one in which patterns of phylogenetic diversity and endemism remain to be documented across taxa. We used a well-characterized community of ancient soil predatory arthropods from the WG to understand diversity gradients, identify hotspots of endemism and conservation importance, and highlight poorly studied areas with unique biodiversity. We compiled an occurrence dataset for 19 species of scolopendrid centipedes, which was used to predict areas of habitat suitability using bioclimatic and geomorphological variables in Maxent. We used predicted distributions and a time-calibrated species phylogeny to calculate taxonomic and phylogenetic indices of diversity, endemism, and turnover. We observed a decreasing latitudinal gradient in taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in the WG, which supports expectations from the latitudinal diversity gradient. The southern WG had the highest phylogenetic diversity and endemism, and was represented by lineages with long branch lengths as observed from relative phylogenetic diversity/endemism. These results indicate the persistence of lineages over evolutionary time in the southern WG and are consistent with predictions from the southern WG refuge hypothesis. The northern WG, despite having low phylogenetic diversity, had high values of phylogenetic endemism represented by distinct lineages as inferred from relative phylogenetic endemism. The distinct endemic lineages in this subregion might be adapted to life in lateritic plateaus characterized by poor soil conditions and high seasonality. Sites across an important biogeographic break, the Palghat Gap, broadly grouped separately in comparisons of species turnover along the WG. The southern WG and Nilgiris, adjoining the Palghat Gap, harbor unique centipede communities, where the causal role of climate or dispersal barriers in shaping diversity remains to be investigated. Our results highlight the need to use phylogeny and distribution data while assessing diversity and endemism patterns in the WG.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. K. Bharti
- CSIR‐Centre for Cellular and Molecular BiologyUppal RoadHyderabadIndia
| | | | | | - Jahnavi Joshi
- CSIR‐Centre for Cellular and Molecular BiologyUppal RoadHyderabadIndia
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Priti H, Gururaja KV, Aravind NA, Ravikanth G. Influence of microhabitat on the distribution of tadpoles of three endemic
Nyctibatrachus
species (Nyctibatrachidae) from the Western Ghats, India. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hebbar Priti
- Centre for Ecological Sciences Indian Institute of Science Bangalore India
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment Bangalore India
| | | | - Neelavar Anantharam Aravind
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment Bangalore India
- Yenepoya Research Centre Yenepoya (Deemed to be university) Mangalore India
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Rahman MM, Jahan H, Rabbe MF, Chakraborty M, Salauddin M. First Detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Wild Frogs from Bangladesh. ECOHEALTH 2021; 18:31-43. [PMID: 34028636 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-021-01522-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Global amphibian populations are facing a novel threat, chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which is responsible for the severe decline of a number of species across several continents. Chytridiomycosis in Asia is a relatively recent discovery yet there have been no reports on Bd-presence in Bangladeshi amphibians. We conducted a preliminary study on 133 wild frogs from seven sites in Bangladesh between April and July 2018. Nested PCR analysis showed 20 samples (15.04%) and 50% of the tested taxa (9 species from 6 genera and 4 families) as Bd-positive. Eight of the nine species are discovered as newly infected hosts. Analysis of Bd-positive samples shows prevalence does not significantly vary among different land cover categories, although the occurrence is higher in forested areas. The prevalence rate is similar in high and low disturbed areas, but the range of occurrence is statistically higher in low disturbance areas. Maximum entropy distribution modeling indicates high probabilities of Bd occurrence in hilly and forested areas in southeast and central-north Bangladesh. The Bd-specific ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 ribosomal gene sequence from the Bd-positive samples tested is completely identical. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree reveals that the identified strain shares a common ancestry with strains previously discovered in different Asian regions. Our results provide the first evidence of Bd-presence in Bangladeshi amphibians, inferring that diversity is at risk. The effects of environmental and climatic factors along with quantitative PCR analysis are required to determine the infection intensity and susceptibility of amphibians in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mokhlesur Rahman
- Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
| | - Hawa Jahan
- Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, FBMH, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Md Fazle Rabbe
- Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | | | - Md Salauddin
- Department of Geography and Environment, Jagannath University, Dhaka, 1100, Bangladesh
- Disaster Risk Management Department, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Red Crescent Sarak, Bara Moghbazar, Dhaka, 1217, Bangladesh
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Gaitonde N, Deshpande D. Breeding biology of Malabar Tree Toad Pedostibes tuberculosus (Anura: Bufonidae) from Castle Rock, Karnataka, India. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2020. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.5308.12.13.16912-16915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Malabar Tree Toad Pedostibes tuberculosus Günther, 1876 is an endemic and endangered species from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, however, its reproductive biology is barely understood. In 2018, we opportunistically encountered a breeding aggregation of P. tuberculosus at Castlerock, Karnataka, and recorded its breeding behavior. We found P. tuberculosus in the northern Western Ghats to aggregate in choruses and breed for a short duration (a couple of nights). Males physically competed in short duels to gain access to females. The males clasped the females around the armpits in a tight axillary amplexus lasting an entire night. The female in an overnight amplexus laid approximately 150 eggs. We observed the tadpoles to rapidly develop and complete metamorphosis within a month. We highlight the variation in reproductive traits in populations of P. tuberculosus distributed along the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot which will aid in conservation and systematics of this species group.
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Thorpe CJ, Lewis TR, Fisher MC, Wierzbicki CJ, Kulkarni S, Pryce D, Davies L, Watve A, Knight ME. Climate structuring of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection in the threatened amphibians of the northern Western Ghats, India. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:180211. [PMID: 30110422 PMCID: PMC6030269 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.180211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a pathogen killing amphibians worldwide. Its impact across much of Asia is poorly characterized. This study systematically surveyed amphibians for Bd across rocky plateaus in the northern section of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India, including the first surveys of the plateaus in the coastal region. These ecosystems offer an epidemiological model system since they are characterized by differing levels of connectivity, edaphic and climatic conditions, and anthropogenic stressors. One hundred and eighteen individuals of 21 species of Anura and Apoda on 13 plateaus ranging from 67 to 1179 m above sea level and 15.89 to 17.92° North latitude were sampled. Using qPCR protocols, 79% of species and 27% of individuals tested were positive for Bd. This is the first record of Bd in caecilians in India, the Critically Endangered Xanthophryne tigerina and Endangered Fejervarya cf. sahyadris. Mean site prevalence was 28.15%. Prevalence below the escarpment was 31.2% and 25.4% above. The intensity of infection (GE) showed the reverse pattern. Infection may be related to elevational temperature changes, thermal exclusion, inter-site connectivity and anthropogenic disturbance. Coastal plateaus may be thermal refuges from Bd. Infected amphibians represented a wide range of ecological traits posing interesting questions about transmission routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Thorpe
- Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Todd R. Lewis
- Westfield, 4 Worgret Road, Wareham, Dorset BH20 4PJ, UK
| | - Matthew C. Fisher
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Claudia J. Wierzbicki
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Siddharth Kulkarni
- Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, 2121 I St NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - David Pryce
- Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Lewis Davies
- Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Aparna Watve
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Apsinga Road, PO Box No. 09, Tuljapur 413 601, District-Osmanabad, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mairi E. Knight
- Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
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