Morphological and molecular variation in populations of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae)

• Grant number: 11/10230-8
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal researcher: Sérgio Furtado dos Reis
• Grantee: Rute Beatriz Garcia Clemente Carvalho
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The genus Brachycephalus is endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and currently fourteen species are described. Most species occur in isolation in the Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira ranges, which suggests that the known diversity of Brachycephalus is underestimated. Currently, the species limits and the naming of new species is based on traits of external morphology and osteology. Although morphological traits are used in the description of new species, these traits may not be phylogenetic informative because morphological evolution has been conservative in anurans. This limitation suggests that molecular data, particularly nuclear and mitochondrial sequences, can contribute to the definition of limits of variation between populations and also to estimate phylogenetic relationships. The primary objective of this project is to apply principle of integrated taxonomy to contribute to a better understanding of the taxonomy, systematics and evolution of Brachycephalus. Specifically, the objectives are: (1) to define the taxonomic and evolutive status of the population of Brachycephalus from Morro do Prumirim, Ubatuba, State de São Paulo: (2) to define the taxonomic status of populations of Brachycephalus nodoterga; and (3) estimate the phylogenetic relationships of the new populations and rate of Brachycephalus nodoterga using the multispecies coalescent model. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CLEMENTE-CARVALHO, RUTE B. G.; PEREZ, SERGIO I.; TONHATTI, CARLOS H.; CONDEZ, THAIS H.; SAWAYA, RICARDO J.; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; DOS REIS, SERGIO F. Boundaries of Morphological and Molecular Variation and the Distribution of a Miniaturized Froglet, Brachycephalus nodoterga (Anura: Brachycephalidae). Journal of Herpetology, v. 50, n. 1, p. 169-178, MAR 2016. Web of Science Citations: 4.

CONDEZ, THAIS H.; CLEMENTE-CARVALHO, RUTE B. G.; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; DOS REIS, SERGIO F. A NEW SPECIES OF BRACHYCEPHALUS (ANURA: BRACHYCEPHALIDAE) FROM THE HIGHLANDS OF THE ATLANTIC FOREST, SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL. Herpetologica, v. 70, n. 1, p. 89-99, MAR 2014. Web of Science Citations: 19.

CLEMENTE-CARVALHO, RUTE B. G.; GIARETTA, ARIOVALDO A.; CONDEZ, THAIS H.; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; DOS REIS, SERGIO F. A NEW SPECIES OF MINIATURIZED TOADLET, GENUS BRACHYCEPHALUS (ANURA: BRACHYCEPHALIDAE), FROM THE ATLANTIC FOREST OF SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL. Herpetologica, v. 68, n. 3, p. 365-374, SEP 2012. Web of Science Citations: 11.