The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Michael Mahony - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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oviposition and egg mass morphology in barred frogs anura Myobatrachidae mixophyes gunther 1864 its phylogenetic significance and implications for conservation management
The Australian zoologist, 2015Co-Authors: Ross Knowles, Harry B Hines, Michael Mahony, Karen Thumm, David A Newell, Michael J CunninghamAbstract:Several species of the Australo-Papuan genus Mixophyes (barred frogs) have declined markedly and are now considered threatened. During field investigations into the possible causes of declines, we observed oviposition and numerous egg masses (700+) of the four species from southeast Australia. From these and published observations there are two markedly different ovipositional processes within Mixophyes. In M. coggeri, M. fasciolatus and M. iteratus eggs are laid in water then deposited terrestrially, propelled from the foot of the floating female onto a near-vertical or overhanging stream bank (Ovipositional Process 1). In M. balbus and M. fleayi eggs are deposited aquatically in the shallow riffle zones of small streams, either into a rounded nest depression in the substrate (Ovipositional Process 2A), or occasionally directly onto bedrock (Ovipositional Process 2B). These observations of ovipositing and egg masses show that there are three reproductive modes in the genus: mode 2 - eggs and exotrophic t...
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optimisation of an oviposition protocol employing human chorionic and pregnant mare serum gonadotropins in the barred frog mixophyes fasciolatus Myobatrachidae
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 2012Co-Authors: John Clulow, Michael Mahony, Simon Clulow, Jitong Guo, Andrew J French, Michael ArcherAbstract:Protocols for the hormonal induction of ovulation and oviposition are essential tools for managing threatened amphibians with assisted reproduction, but responses vary greatly between species and even broad taxon groups. Consequently, it is necessary to assess effectiveness of such protocols in representative species when new taxa become targets for induction. The threatened genus Mixophyes (family Myobatrachidae) has amongst the highest proportion of endangered species of all the Australian amphibians. This study developed and optimised the induction of oviposition in a non-threatened member of this taxon, the great barred frog (Mixophyes fasciolatus). Gravid female M. fasciolatus were induced to oviposit on one or more occasions by administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) with or without priming with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). Treatments involved variations in hormone doses and combinations (administered via injection into the dorsal lymph sacs), and timing of administration. Pituitary homogenates from an unrelated bufonid species (Rhinella marina) were also examined with hCG. When injected alone, hCG (900 to 1400 IU) induced oviposition. However, priming with two time dependent doses of PMSG (50 IU, 25 IU) increased responses, with lower doses of hCG (200 IU). Priming increased response rates in females from around 30% (hCG alone) to more than 50% (p = 0.035), and up to 67%. Increasing the interval between the first PMSG dose and first hCG dose from 3 to 6 days also produced significant improvement (p<0.001). Heterologous pituitary extracts administered with hCG were no more effective than hCG alone (p = 0.628). This study found that M. fasciolatus is amongst the few amphibian species (including Xenopus (Silurana) and some bufonids) that respond well to the induction of ovulation utilising mammalian gonadotropins (hCG). The optimal protocol for M. fasciolatus involved two priming doses of PMSG (50 IU and 25 IU) administered at 6 and 4 days respectively, prior to two doses of hCG (100 IU), 24 hours apart. This study is also the first to demonstrate in an amphibian species that responds to mammalian gonadotropins that an increase in the ovulation rate occurs after priming with a gonadotropin (PMSG) with FSH activity.
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species boundaries among barred river frogs mixophyes anura Myobatrachidae in north eastern australia with descriptions of two new species
Zootaxa, 2006Co-Authors: Michael Mahony, Stephen C Donnellan, Stephen Richards, Keith R McdonaldAbstract:Mixophyes are large ground-dwelling myobatrachid frogs from eastern Australia and New Guinea. We use analyses of allozyme frequencies, nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA and morphology to define species boundaries in Mixophyes from the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of northern Queensland. The molecular analyses identify a minimum of three species in the region. Morphometric and meristic analyses corroborate these distinctions. The existence of two of these species was not previously suspected, and they are formally described herein.
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the effect of water level reduction on larval duration in the red crowned toadlet pseudophryne australis anura Myobatrachidae bet hedging or predictive plasticity
Amphibia-reptilia, 2006Co-Authors: Karen Thumm, Michael MahonyAbstract:Field observations indicate that when faced with the desiccation of their ephemeral ponds, the tadpoles of Pseudophryne australis, a semi-endotrophic myobatrachid frog, do not accelerate metamorphosis, and total reproductive losses are a frequent event. In this experiment we tested whether tadpoles were able to accelerate developmental rates when subjected to a decline in the water level. Tadpoles were divided into three treatments: water was held either at a constant level, or was removed at a slow or a fast rate. There were no significant differences in the mean length of larval duration in the three groups, and the distribution of ages at metamorphosis was asynchronous in all treatments. Metamorphosis first started at day 39 and continued in similar proportions up to day 57 in all treatments, after which a higher proportion of tadpoles from the desiccation treatments metamorphosed than in the constant deep-water group. This trend was reflected in statistically significant, but minor differences in developmental stage between treatments. These results suggest a combination of diversified bet-hedging and predictive plasticity. There was a significant positive relationship between age and weight at metamorphosis.
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non breeding habitat requirements of the giant burrowing frog heleioporus australiacus anura Myobatrachidae in south eastern australia
The Australian zoologist, 2005Co-Authors: Trent D Penman, Francis Lemckert, Chris Slade, Michael MahonyAbstract:Non-breeding habitats are an important, yet poorly understood component of the habitat requirements of most frog species. As a result, non-breeding habitats may be poorly protected and their loss m...
Scott J Keogh - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a new species of australian frog Myobatrachidae uperoleia from the new south wales mid north coast sandplains
Zootaxa, 2016Co-Authors: Simon Clulow, Marion Anstis, Scott J Keogh, Renee A CatulloAbstract:The discovery of new vertebrate species in developed countries is still occurring at surprising rates for some taxonomic groups, especially the amphibians and reptiles. While this most often occurs in under-explored areas, it occasionally still happens in well-inhabited regions. We report such a case with the discovery and description of U. mahonyi sp. nov., a new species of frog from a highly populated region of New South Wales, Australia. We provide details of its morphology, calls, embryos and tadpoles, and phylogenetic relationships to other species of eastern Uperoleia. We also provide the results of targeted surveys to establish its distribution and provide observations of its habitat associations. As a consequence of these surveys, we comment on the likely restricted nature of the species’ distribution and habitat, and place this in the context of a preliminary assessment of its putative conservation status, which should be assessed for listing under the IUCN’s red list. We note this species, which is morphologically distinct, has gone unnoticed for many decades despite numerous ecological surveys for local development applications.
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aridification drove repeated episodes of diversification between australian biomes evidence from a multi locus phylogeny of australian toadlets uperoleia Myobatrachidae
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2014Co-Authors: Renee A Catullo, Scott J KeoghAbstract:Australia is a large and complex landmass that comprises diverse biomes ranging from tropical rainforests to harsh deserts. While Australian biotic diversity has evolved in response to landscape and climate changes, evidence of Miocene or later biome shifts are few. The Australo-Papuan endemic frog genus Uperoleia is widely distributed across mesic, monsoonal tropic and arid regions of Australia. Thus, it represents an ideal system to evaluate biome shifts as they relate to known landscape and climate history. We comprehensively sampled the distributional range of 25 described Uperoleia species and generated a detailed molecular phylogeny for the genus based on one mitochondrial and five nuclear loci. Our results support a single origin of monsoonal tropic taxa, followed by diversification within the region under the influence of the Australian monsoon. Molecular dating analyses suggest the major divergence between eastern mesic and monsoonal species occurred in the Miocene approximately 17 million years ago, with repeated evolution of species from monsoonal biomes to arid or mesic biomes in the later Miocene, early Pliocene and at the beginning of the Pleistocene. Our detailed sampling helps to clarify the true distributions of species and contributes to on-going work to improve the taxonomy of the genus. Topological differences between nuclear and mitochondrial phylogenies within major clades suggest a history of mitochondrial introgression and capture, and reduce the ability to resolve close interspecific relationships.
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the biogeographical boundaries of northern australia evidence from ecological niche models and a multi locus phylogeny of uperoleia toadlets anura Myobatrachidae
Journal of Biogeography, 2014Co-Authors: Renee A Catullo, Paul Doughty, Robert Lanfear, Scott J KeoghAbstract:Aim Our aim was to test hypothesized biogeographical barriers using smallbodied terrestrial Uperoleia frogs, to identify Pleistocene refugia and to define biogeographical units. Location The Australian Monsoonal Tropics, defined as the open woodlands and savanna north of the inland arid and eastern winter-rainfall zones. Methods A multi-locus molecular phylogeny of the Uperoleia lithomoda, U. trachyderma and U. minima species complex, with supporting morphological and acoustic data, was generated to test species boundaries and clarify distributions. Ecological niche modelling with current climate and Last Glacial Maximum climate data was used to identify biogeographical units, barriers to dispersal, and regions of stability that may have served as Pleistocene refugia. Results Our combined data supported five clades that comprise four allopatric species. Ecological niche models of the resolved species suggest that the Kimberley Plateau represents a distinct bioregion, the Top End extends from the edge of the Kimberley Plateau to the Carpentarian Gap, and the transition from sandstone escarpments to flat, sandy soils represents a major barrier to dispersal between the Top End and the Northern Deserts. The Northern Deserts were found to comprise two distinct subregions. Population- and species-level divergences were evident in a north–south line in the Northern Territory, representing a newly identified biogeographical break. Putative Pleistocene refugia were predicted in the north-west Kimberley Plateau, the western half of the Top End, the Selwyn Range and western Cape York. Main conclusions By combining detailed genetic, morphological and acoustic data with newly developed statistical methods, we have delineated species boundaries, identified cryptic species and provided a region-wide assessment of the biogeography of northern Australia. We have identified previously unrecognized biogeographical barriers, better defined biogeographical regions, and proposed new hypotheses about the effects of Pleistocene climate cycles on the present-day diversity of northern Australia. Our work provides a solid foundation for the investigation of biogeographical patterns in other taxa.
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a new frog species Myobatrachidae uperoleia from the northern deserts region of australia with a redescription of u trachyderma
Zootaxa, 2014Co-Authors: Renee A Catullo, Paul Doughty, Scott J KeoghAbstract:The frog genus Uperoleia (Myobatrachidae) is species rich, with the greatest diversity in the northern monsoonal region of Australia. Due in part to their small body size, conservative morphology and distribution in diverse habitats, the genus is likely to harbor cryptic species. A recent study (Catullo et al. 2013) assessed region-wide genetic, acoustic and phenotypic variation within four species in northern Australia. Catullo et al. (2013) presented multiple lines of evidence that the widespread U. trachyderma comprises distinct allopatric western and eastern lineages within the Northern Deserts bioregion of Australia. Here we formally describe the western lineage as U. stridera sp. nov. and redescribe the eastern (type) clade as U. trachyderma. The new species can be distinguished from U. trachyderma by fewer pulses per call, a faster pulse rate, and the lack of scattered orange to red flecks on the dorsum. The description of U. stridera sp. nov. brings the number of Uperoleia species to 28, by far the largest genus in the Myobatrachidae, and further highlights the Australian monsoonal tropics as a region of high endemism.
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multi locus phylogeny and taxonomic revision of uperoleia toadlets anura Myobatrachidae from the western arid zone of australia with a description of a new species
Zootaxa, 2011Co-Authors: Renee A Catullo, Paul Doughty, Dale J Roberts, Scott J KeoghAbstract:We generated a multi-locus phylogeny to test monophyly and distributional limits in Australian toadlets of the genus Uperoleia from the western arid zone of Australia. The molecular data were used in combination with a detailed assessment of morphological variation and some data on call structure to complete a taxonomic revision of the species that occur in this region. Our work reveals the existence of not two but five species in the region. Uperoleia russelli is restricted to the Carnarvon and Gascoyne Regions south of the Pilbara. Uperoleia micromeles is distributed from the Tanami Desert through the Great Sandy Desert and along the northern edge of the Pilbara. Uperoleia talpa was previously believed to be a Fitzroyland region endemic but it is further distributed along Dampierland and into the Roebourne Plain. Uperoleia glandulosa is a larger species than previously described as well as a greater habitat generalist, inhabiting the rocky Pilbara region and the sandy region around Port Hedland. We also describe a new species, U. saxatilis sp. nov., endemic to the Pilbara craton.
Paul Doughty - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the biogeographical boundaries of northern australia evidence from ecological niche models and a multi locus phylogeny of uperoleia toadlets anura Myobatrachidae
Journal of Biogeography, 2014Co-Authors: Renee A Catullo, Paul Doughty, Robert Lanfear, Scott J KeoghAbstract:Aim Our aim was to test hypothesized biogeographical barriers using smallbodied terrestrial Uperoleia frogs, to identify Pleistocene refugia and to define biogeographical units. Location The Australian Monsoonal Tropics, defined as the open woodlands and savanna north of the inland arid and eastern winter-rainfall zones. Methods A multi-locus molecular phylogeny of the Uperoleia lithomoda, U. trachyderma and U. minima species complex, with supporting morphological and acoustic data, was generated to test species boundaries and clarify distributions. Ecological niche modelling with current climate and Last Glacial Maximum climate data was used to identify biogeographical units, barriers to dispersal, and regions of stability that may have served as Pleistocene refugia. Results Our combined data supported five clades that comprise four allopatric species. Ecological niche models of the resolved species suggest that the Kimberley Plateau represents a distinct bioregion, the Top End extends from the edge of the Kimberley Plateau to the Carpentarian Gap, and the transition from sandstone escarpments to flat, sandy soils represents a major barrier to dispersal between the Top End and the Northern Deserts. The Northern Deserts were found to comprise two distinct subregions. Population- and species-level divergences were evident in a north–south line in the Northern Territory, representing a newly identified biogeographical break. Putative Pleistocene refugia were predicted in the north-west Kimberley Plateau, the western half of the Top End, the Selwyn Range and western Cape York. Main conclusions By combining detailed genetic, morphological and acoustic data with newly developed statistical methods, we have delineated species boundaries, identified cryptic species and provided a region-wide assessment of the biogeography of northern Australia. We have identified previously unrecognized biogeographical barriers, better defined biogeographical regions, and proposed new hypotheses about the effects of Pleistocene climate cycles on the present-day diversity of northern Australia. Our work provides a solid foundation for the investigation of biogeographical patterns in other taxa.
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a new frog species Myobatrachidae uperoleia from the northern deserts region of australia with a redescription of u trachyderma
Zootaxa, 2014Co-Authors: Renee A Catullo, Paul Doughty, Scott J KeoghAbstract:The frog genus Uperoleia (Myobatrachidae) is species rich, with the greatest diversity in the northern monsoonal region of Australia. Due in part to their small body size, conservative morphology and distribution in diverse habitats, the genus is likely to harbor cryptic species. A recent study (Catullo et al. 2013) assessed region-wide genetic, acoustic and phenotypic variation within four species in northern Australia. Catullo et al. (2013) presented multiple lines of evidence that the widespread U. trachyderma comprises distinct allopatric western and eastern lineages within the Northern Deserts bioregion of Australia. Here we formally describe the western lineage as U. stridera sp. nov. and redescribe the eastern (type) clade as U. trachyderma. The new species can be distinguished from U. trachyderma by fewer pulses per call, a faster pulse rate, and the lack of scattered orange to red flecks on the dorsum. The description of U. stridera sp. nov. brings the number of Uperoleia species to 28, by far the largest genus in the Myobatrachidae, and further highlights the Australian monsoonal tropics as a region of high endemism.
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multi locus phylogeny and taxonomic revision of uperoleia toadlets anura Myobatrachidae from the western arid zone of australia with a description of a new species
Zootaxa, 2011Co-Authors: Renee A Catullo, Paul Doughty, Dale J Roberts, Scott J KeoghAbstract:We generated a multi-locus phylogeny to test monophyly and distributional limits in Australian toadlets of the genus Uperoleia from the western arid zone of Australia. The molecular data were used in combination with a detailed assessment of morphological variation and some data on call structure to complete a taxonomic revision of the species that occur in this region. Our work reveals the existence of not two but five species in the region. Uperoleia russelli is restricted to the Carnarvon and Gascoyne Regions south of the Pilbara. Uperoleia micromeles is distributed from the Tanami Desert through the Great Sandy Desert and along the northern edge of the Pilbara. Uperoleia talpa was previously believed to be a Fitzroyland region endemic but it is further distributed along Dampierland and into the Roebourne Plain. Uperoleia glandulosa is a larger species than previously described as well as a greater habitat generalist, inhabiting the rocky Pilbara region and the sandy region around Port Hedland. We also describe a new species, U. saxatilis sp. nov., endemic to the Pilbara craton.
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A new species of Crinia (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from the high rainfall zone of the northwest Kimberley, Western Australia
Records of the western Australian Museum, 2009Co-Authors: Paul Doughty, Marion Anstis, Luke C. PriceAbstract:Crinia is a large genus of small-bodied myobatrachid frogs that occur throughout most of Australia. They are less diverse in arid regions and northern Australia, and in the Kimberley are currently only represented by C. bilingua. Recent exploration of the northwest Kimberley has revealed another species of Crinia, here named Crinia fimbriata sp. nov. Molecular genetic analyses of mitochondrial nucleotide sequence data indicate the new species is a highly divergent lineage within Crinia. Compared to C. bilingua, the new species is smaller but with longer legs, has a dorsal ground colour of bluish greybrown, yellow-brown or red, with distinctive dark brown variegations and the entire dorsal surface is stippled with fine, pale bluish-white tubercles. Males of the new species have wide flanges on the fingers which are not typical of other Crinia species. The tadpole is also unlike any other known species of Crinia in that it has large jaw sheaths, which may be an adaptation for scraping algae from the rock pools in which it has been found. The male advertisement call has not been recorded. Within the Kimberley region, many species of frogs, reptiles and mammals only occur in the northwest along a narrow high rainfall zone from the Mitchell Plateau to the Prince Regent River Nature Reserve, making this region of especially high conservation value.
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a new species of uperoleia anura Myobatrachidae from the northwest kimberley western australia
Zootaxa, 2008Co-Authors: Paul Doughty, Dale J RobertsAbstract:Uperoleia is a large genus of small-bodied terrestrial frogs that occur in Australia and southern New Guinea. With nine species, the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia is the most diverse. Recent surveys of the northwest coast of the Kimberley have revealed a tenth species of Uperoleia. The new species is characterized by a combination of small body size, dark and slightly tubercular dorsal skin, basal webbing between the toes, outer metatarsal tubercle spatulate and oriented perpendicular to the foot, possession of maxillary teeth, a broadly exposed frontoparietal fontanelle and the advertisement call is a high-pitched rasp. All specimens collected have been associated with sandstone boulders or escarpments with flowing water or rock pools. The northwest Kimberley is an isolated region of high rainfall and rugged terrain that possesses high biodiversity for many plant and animal groups and is therefore worthy of special conservation attention.
Julian Faivovich - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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indolizidine 239q and quinolizidine 275i major alkaloids in two argentinian bufonid toads melanophryniscus
Toxicon, 2008Co-Authors: John W Daly, Thomas F Spande, Herman J C Yeh, Paola M Peltzer, Pedro M Cacivio, Diego J Baldo, Julian FaivovichAbstract:Alkaloid profiles in skin of poison frogs/toads (Dendrobatidae, Mantellidae, Bufonidae, and Myobatrachidae) are highly dependent on diet and hence on the nature of habitat. Extracts of the two species of toads (Melanophryniscus klappenbachi and Melanophryniscus cupreuscapularis) from similar habitats in the Corrientes/Chaco Provinces of Argentina have similar profiles of alkaloids, which differ considerably in profiles from other Melanophryniscus species from Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Structures of two major alkaloids 239Q (1) and 275I (2) were determined by mass, FTIR, and NMR spectral analysis as 5Z,9Z-3-(1-hydroxybutyl)-5-propylindolizidine and 6Z,10E-4,6-di(pent-4-enyl) quinolizidine, respectively. A third alkaloid, 249F (3), is postulated to be a homopumiliotoxin with an unprecedented conjugated exocyclic diene moiety.
J.d. Roberts - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Myobatrachidae phylogeny
2016Co-Authors: M. Vidal-garcía, J.d. Roberts, P. G. Byrne, J. S. KeoghAbstract:Myobatrachidae phylogen
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Investigating patterns in the spermiation response of eight Australian frogs administered human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRHa)
General and comparative endocrinology, 2012Co-Authors: Aimee J. Silla, J.d. RobertsAbstract:Exogenous LHRHa and hCG are routinely employed to induce spermiation in vivo in anurans. To date, however, few studies have directly compared the efficacy of these two hormones. The aim of this study was threefold. First to quantify the spermiation response of eight Australian anuran species (Crinia glauerti, Crinia georgiana, Crinia pseudinsignifera, Geocrinia rosea, Heleioporus albopunctatus, Heleioporuseyrei, Neobatrachus pelobatoides and Pseudophryne guentheri) administered LHRHa and hCG. Second, to determine whether variance in spermiation responses is related to a species' reproductive mode (aquatic vs. terrestrial) or family (Limnodynastidae vs. Myobatrachidae). Third, to compare the quantity and quality of spermatozoa obtained via hormone administration (LHRHa and hCG) to spermatozoa obtained via testis removal and maceration. There was no significant difference in the viability of spermatozoa obtained from hCG or LHRHa administration in any of the eight study species. The sperm viability of samples ranged from 28-84% in C. georgiana and G. rosea, respectively. The hormone that induced the release of the highest number of spermatozoa differed among species, with all five species belonging to the family Myobatrachidae responding better to LHRHa, and the three species from the family Lymnodynastidae releasing a greater number of spermatozoa in response to hCG. Importantly, these results provide the first preliminary evidence that hCG and LHRHa efficacy in anurans may be predicted by phylogeny. Understanding such broad-scale patterns in the response of anurans to exogenous hormones will expedite the application of assisted reproductive technologies to novel species.
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intraspecific variation in the advertisement call of the sunset frog spicospina flammocaerulea anura Myobatrachidae a frog with a limited geographic distribution
Journal of Herpetology, 2003Co-Authors: Michael J. Smith, J.d. Roberts, T J Hammond, Robert A DavisAbstract:Intraspecific variation in acoustic signals may reflect local variation in the intensity of natural and sexual selection and random drift. We examined intraspecific variation in the advertisement call of Spicospina flammocaerulea, a southwestern Australian frog species with a limited distribution, fragmented range, small population sizes, and specific breeding habitat requirements. Of the six populations examined, one in particular differed significantly in dominant frequency and body size. There was no relationship between among-population geographic distance and among-population divergence in call structure suggesting that the divergence is not caused by random drift. A correlation analysis detected a positive relationship between the size of males and females found in amplexus. However, there was no evidence of mated males differing in size from unmated males indicating that the differences in dominant frequency are unrelated sexual selection. Call structure variation may reflect differences in recruitment and resultant age structure of local populations.
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No Sexual Size Dimorphism in the Frog Crinia georgiana (Anura: Myobatrachidae): An Examination of Pre- and Postmaturational Growth
Journal of Herpetology, 2003Co-Authors: Michael J. Smith, J.d. RobertsAbstract:Sexual differences in maximum adult size occur commonly in frogs. We examined pre- and postmaturational growth of male and female Crinia georgiana and showed that sexual size dimorphism (SSD) of adults does not occur in this species. An experimental investigation of prematurational growth demonstrated that males averaged larger at maturation than females but that the sexes did not differ in the range of sizes at maturity. All individuals reached maturity by 14 months of age regardless of body size or sex, suggesting an age threshold to maturity of approximately one year in this species. In addition, C. georgiana have an unusually wide range of adult body sizes compared to other species and sexual differences in adult body size distributions. Thus, the lack of SSD in this species occurs in spite of sexual differences in growth rates. We hypothesize that sexual selection may be one of several mechanisms behind the lack of SSD and unusual body size variation in this species.
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geographic variation in calls of males and determination of species boundaries in tetraploid frogs of the australian genus neobatrachus Myobatrachidae
Australian Journal of Zoology, 1997Co-Authors: J.d. RobertsAbstract:I analysed geographic variation in advertisement call of tetraploid forms of Neobatrachus. Comparing five regional samples spanning the range of N. kunapalari, there was significant geographic variation in pulses per call but not in dominant frequency, pulse rate, pulse duration or percentage rise time. The call of N. kunapalari was significantly different from four other samples covering the geographic range of tetraploid forms across Australia in all but percentage rise time. Calls of frogs from Mt Magnet in Western Australia (WA) differed from calls from Port Hedland (WA) in pulse duration and in multivariate descriptions but were similar in pulse rate. Pulse rates of calls from N. centralis on Eyre Peninsula in South Australia (SA) were distinct from all other populations sampled but in multivariate space these calls were similar to calls of N. sudellifrom eastern Australia. There may be an eastwest cline in call from N. sudelli to calls of N. aquilonius and N. centralis in WA. Call data support the recognition of two tetraploid species: N. kunapalari and N. sudelli. N. sudelli exhibits geographic variation in call, but the status of N. aquilonius and N. centralis as possible synonyms of N. sudelli was not resolved.
