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Molly C Womack - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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evolution of the unique Anuran pelvic and hind limb skeleton in relation to microhabitat locomotor mode and jump performance
Integrative and Comparative Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Shannon M Buttimer, Natasha Stepanova, Molly C WomackAbstract:Anurans (frogs and toads) have a unique pelvic and hind limb skeleton among tetrapods. Although their distinct body plan is primarily associated with saltation, Anuran species vary in their primary locomotor mode (e.g., walkers, hoppers, jumpers, and swimmers) and are found in a wide array of microhabitats (e.g., burrowing, terrestrial, arboreal, and aquatic) with varying functional demands. Given their largely conserved body plan, morphological adaptation to these diverse niches likely results from more fine-scale morphological change. Our study determines how shape differences in Anura's unique pelvic and hind limb skeletal structures vary with microhabitat, locomotor mode, and jumping ability. Using microCT scans of preserved specimens from museum collections, we added 3D landmarks to the pelvic and hind limb skeleton of 230 Anuran species. In addition, we compiled microhabitat and locomotor data from the literature for these species that span 52 of the 55 families of frogs and ∼210 million years of Anuran evolution. Using this robust dataset, we examine the relationship between pelvic and hind limb morphology and phylogenetic history, allometry, microhabitat, and locomotor mode. We find pelvic and hind limb changes associated with shifts in microhabitat ("ecomorphs") and locomotor mode ("locomorphs") and directly relate those morphological changes to the jumping ability of individual species. We also reveal how individual bones vary in evolutionary rate and their association with phylogeny, body size, microhabitat, and locomotor mode. Our findings uncover previously undocumented morphological variation related to Anuran ecological and locomotor diversification and link that variation to differences in jumping ability among species.
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Anuran limbs reflect microhabitat and distal later developing bones are more evolutionarily labile
Evolution, 2020Co-Authors: Natasha Stepanova, Molly C WomackAbstract:Tetrapod limbs have been used as a model system to investigate how selective pressures and constraints shape morphological evolution. Anurans have had many independent transitions to various microhabitats, allowing us to dissect how these factors influence limb morphology. Furthermore, Anurans provide a unique system to test the generality of developmental constraints proposed in mammals, namely that later-developing limb bones are under less constraint and show more variation. We used microcomputed tomography scans of 236 species from 52 of 55 families, geometric morphometrics, and modern phylogenetic comparative methods to examine how limb bones are related to microhabitat, phylogeny, allometry, and developmental timing. Although there was significant phylogenetic signal, Anuran limb shape showed a relationship with microhabitat and to a lesser extent, body size. We found that distal bones had higher evolutionary rates than proximal bones, providing evidence that developmental constraints are reduced in later-developing bones. Distal bones also showed increased selection related to allometry and microhabitat, providing an additional explanation for higher evolutionary rates. By looking at the evolution of limb shape across a diverse clade, we demonstrated that multiple factors have shaped Anuran limbs and that greater evolutionary lability in later-developing limb bones is likely a general trend among tetrapods.
Natasha Stepanova - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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evolution of the unique Anuran pelvic and hind limb skeleton in relation to microhabitat locomotor mode and jump performance
Integrative and Comparative Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Shannon M Buttimer, Natasha Stepanova, Molly C WomackAbstract:Anurans (frogs and toads) have a unique pelvic and hind limb skeleton among tetrapods. Although their distinct body plan is primarily associated with saltation, Anuran species vary in their primary locomotor mode (e.g., walkers, hoppers, jumpers, and swimmers) and are found in a wide array of microhabitats (e.g., burrowing, terrestrial, arboreal, and aquatic) with varying functional demands. Given their largely conserved body plan, morphological adaptation to these diverse niches likely results from more fine-scale morphological change. Our study determines how shape differences in Anura's unique pelvic and hind limb skeletal structures vary with microhabitat, locomotor mode, and jumping ability. Using microCT scans of preserved specimens from museum collections, we added 3D landmarks to the pelvic and hind limb skeleton of 230 Anuran species. In addition, we compiled microhabitat and locomotor data from the literature for these species that span 52 of the 55 families of frogs and ∼210 million years of Anuran evolution. Using this robust dataset, we examine the relationship between pelvic and hind limb morphology and phylogenetic history, allometry, microhabitat, and locomotor mode. We find pelvic and hind limb changes associated with shifts in microhabitat ("ecomorphs") and locomotor mode ("locomorphs") and directly relate those morphological changes to the jumping ability of individual species. We also reveal how individual bones vary in evolutionary rate and their association with phylogeny, body size, microhabitat, and locomotor mode. Our findings uncover previously undocumented morphological variation related to Anuran ecological and locomotor diversification and link that variation to differences in jumping ability among species.
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Anuran limbs reflect microhabitat and distal later developing bones are more evolutionarily labile
Evolution, 2020Co-Authors: Natasha Stepanova, Molly C WomackAbstract:Tetrapod limbs have been used as a model system to investigate how selective pressures and constraints shape morphological evolution. Anurans have had many independent transitions to various microhabitats, allowing us to dissect how these factors influence limb morphology. Furthermore, Anurans provide a unique system to test the generality of developmental constraints proposed in mammals, namely that later-developing limb bones are under less constraint and show more variation. We used microcomputed tomography scans of 236 species from 52 of 55 families, geometric morphometrics, and modern phylogenetic comparative methods to examine how limb bones are related to microhabitat, phylogeny, allometry, and developmental timing. Although there was significant phylogenetic signal, Anuran limb shape showed a relationship with microhabitat and to a lesser extent, body size. We found that distal bones had higher evolutionary rates than proximal bones, providing evidence that developmental constraints are reduced in later-developing bones. Distal bones also showed increased selection related to allometry and microhabitat, providing an additional explanation for higher evolutionary rates. By looking at the evolution of limb shape across a diverse clade, we demonstrated that multiple factors have shaped Anuran limbs and that greater evolutionary lability in later-developing limb bones is likely a general trend among tetrapods.
Michael J Lannoo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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effects of landscape composition and wetland fragmentation on frog and toad abundance and species richness in iowa and wisconsin u s a
Conservation Biology, 1999Co-Authors: Melinda G Knutson, John R Sauer, Douglas A Olsen, Michael J Mossman, Lisa M Hemesath, Michael J LannooAbstract:: Management of amphibian populations to reverse recent declines will require defining high-quality habitat for individual species or groups of species, followed by efforts to retain or restore these habitats on the landscape. We examined landscape-level habitat relationships for frogs and toads by measuring associations between relative abundance and species richness based on survey data derived from Anuran calls and features of land-cover maps for Iowa and Wisconsin. The most consistent result across all Anuran guilds was a negative association with the presence of urban land. Upland and wetland forests and emergent wetlands tended to be positively associated with Anurans. Landscape metrics that represent edges and patch diversity also had generally positive associations, indicating that Anurans benefit from a complex of habitats that include wetlands. In Iowa the most significant associations with relative abundance were the length of the edge between wetland and forest ( positive) and the presence of urban land (negative). In Wisconsin the two most significant associations with relative abundance were forest area and agricultural area ( both positive). Anurans had positive associations with agriculture in Wisconsin but not in Iowa. Remnant forest patches in agricultural landscapes may be providing refuges for some Anuran species. Differences in Anuran associations with deep water and permanent wetlands between the two states suggest opportunities for management action. Large-scale maps can contribute to predictive models of amphibian habitat use, but water quality and vegetation information collected from individual wetlands will likely be needed to strengthen those predictions. Landscape habitat analyses provide a framework for future experimental and intensive research on specific factors affecting the health of Anurans. Resumen: El manejo de poblaciones de anfibios para revertir disminuciones recientes requerira de la definicion de habitats de alta calidad para ciertas especies o grupos de especies, seguido de esfuerzos para retener o restaurar estos habitats o paisajes. Examinamos relaciones de habitat a nivel de paisaje para sapos y ranas midiendo asociaciones entre la abundancia relativa y la riqueza de especies en base a datos de muestreos derivados de llamadas de anuros y caracteristicas de mapas de cobertura del suelo para Iowa y Wisconsin. Los resultados mas consistentes fueron para todas las asociaciones de anuros teniendo una relacion negativa con la presencia de tierras urbanas. Los bosques altos y de humedales y los humedales emergentes tendieron a estar positivamente asociados con los anuros. Las mediciones de paisaje que representan bordes y diversidad de parches tambien mostro asociaciones positivas, indicando que los anuros se benfician de una complejidad de habitats que incluyen a los humedales. En Iowa, las asociaciones mas significativas con la abundancia relative fueron la densidad del bosque de humedal ( positiva) y la presencia de tierras urbanas (negativa). En Wisconsin, las dos asociaciones mas significativas con la abundancia relativa fueron el area forestal y el area agricultural (ambas positivas) Los anuros tuvieron asociaciones positivas con la agricultura en Wisconsin, pero no en Iowa. Los parches remanentes de bosque en paisajes agriculturales puedon estar aportando refugio para algunas de las especies de anuros. Las diferencias en asociaciones de anuros con la profundidad del agua y humedales permanentes entre los dos estados sugiere oportunidades para acciones de manejo. Mapas de gran escala pueden contribuir en modelos de prediccion de uso del habitat por anfibios, pero la informacion colectada sobre calidad del agua y vegetacion en humedales individuales sera probablemente necesaria para fortalecer estas predicciones. El analisis de paisaje provee un marco para la investigacion experimental e intensiva a futuro sobre los factores especificos que afectan la salud de los anuros.
Santos S.m.a. - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Anurans Of The Estação Ecológica De Santa Bárbara, A Remnant Of Open Cerrado Formations In The State Of São Paulo [anuros Da Estação Ecológica De Santa Bárbara, Um Remanescente De Formações Abertas De Cerrado No Estado De São Paulo]
2015Co-Authors: Araujo C.o., Correa D.t., Santos S.m.a.Abstract:Although São Paulo is the state with the most knowledge about Anurans from Brazil, it still has important knowledge gaps about this group especially in the remnants of the Cerrado Biome. Only 0.5% of this biome is protected by conservation units in the state and remaining fragments suffer threats that include isolation, risk of fire and invasion by exotic plant species. The aim of this study was to obtain information on Anurans species recorded at Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara, one of the few remnants in Middle Paranapanema river basin that has a predominance of open Cerrado formations. The inventory was conducted monthly from October/2008 to March/2009, totaling 30 sampling days. Surveys were conducted using pitfall traps with drift fences, incidental encounters and acoustic and visual searches. We recorded 33 Anuran species, belonging to 14 genera and six families (Bufonidae, Cycloramphidae, Hylidae, Leiuperidae, Leptodactylidae e Microhylidae). Although species richness was not different between open and forest vegetation types, there was a greater abundance of Anurans in the open formations, reflecting the largest association of individuals to water bodies present in open phytophysiognomies during the reproductive period. This research is an important contribution to expanding the knowledge about Anurans species in the Cerrado, one of the priority global hotspots for biodiversity conservation
Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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frog communities from five remnants of sandy coastal plains in espirito santo state southeastern brazil
Journal of Coastal Conservation, 2020Co-Authors: Jane C F Oliveira, Juliane Pereiraribeiro, Arthur Favalessa, Carlos Frederico Duarte RochaAbstract:Restingas are sandy coastal plains environments belonging to the atlantic forest biome. This ecosystem holds considerable amount of the Anuran biodiversity of Brazil. However, there are still important remnants not yet sampled in its entirety (studies of Anuran communities). In this study, we inventory and compared the richness and abundance of Anuran species occurring in five restinga remnants along the southeastern coast of Espirito Santo state. We sampled amphibians at each site over a three-year period (2012, 2013 and 2014), during both rainy and dry seasons. We used Whittaker plots to analyze the observed pattern of species abundance. We recorded 3.376 Anurans belonging to 32 frog species, two of these endemic of restinga ecosystem. This study fills an important geographic gap in terms of knowledge of frog communities’ richness and abundance along Brazilian coast.
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journal of coastal conservation a review on the anurofauna of brazil s sandy coastal plains how much do we know about it
Journal of Coastal Conservation, 2015Co-Authors: Jane C F Oliveira, Carlos Frederico Duarte RochaAbstract:We gathered the available information about the anurofauna in Brazilian sand coastal plains (“restingas”) published since the 1966, which is the date of the first study we found that was conducted exclusively about Anurans in these ecosystems. We made a compilation of available data found in publications and sought to finding a pattern on Anuran communities of Brazilian sandy coastal plains. We found 63 published studies about Anurans in remaining restingas along the Brazilian coast. We record the occurrence of 14,010 individuals, comprised of 145 amphibian species from 12 families. The species were distributed latitudinally in a peculiar way, and here, we discuss this distribution regarding the characteristics of the species. Our results showed that the available existing base still does not allow us to define the structural patterns of the Anuran communities in sandy coastal plains in Brazil. The relative lack of studies about the anurofauna in “restingas” and the high rate of degradation are negative factors that can cause extinctions in these environments even before we understand the patterns and processes that act on Anuran communities in restinga environments.