Genetic, morphological and acoustic diversification in populations of an anuran endemic to the Serra da Canastra, Brazil

• Grant number: 12/06228-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): October 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Cynthia Peralta de Almeida Prado
• Grantee: Renato Christensen Nali
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/12013-4 - Reproductive ecology of anuran amphibians: an evolutionary perspective, AP.JP
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/04394-6 - Genetic diversification in Bokermannohyla ibitiguara populations (Anura, Hylidae) from preserved and fragmented areas of the Brazilian Cerrado, BE.EP.DR 13/04023-5 - Characterization of microsatellite markers for Bokermannohyla ibitiguara (Anura, Hylidae), BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The Brazilian Cerrado is the second largest South American morphoclimatic domain and the largest savanna of the world. However, less than 10% of its area is legally protected. This formation houses about 204 species of anuran amphibians, which is currently one of the most threatened groups among vertebrates. Studies with landscape genetics - the combination of population genetics and landscape ecology - have increased in the past years. Such studies, combined with morphological and behavioral differences, are important to understand the genetic structure of anurans' subpopulations and the processes leading to population differentiation throughout their geographical distribution. This research aims to study the genetic and phenotypic variability in populations of Bokermannohyla ibitiguara, a stream-dweller hylid endemic to the Serra da Canastra, in the Brazilian Cerrado. We intend to test the hypotheses that (i) the species is structured in subpopulations according to the stream occupied; (ii) greater genetic differentiation is correlated to the geographic distance among subpopulations; (iii) such genetic differentiation is also correlated with the absence of areas that favor individual dispersion (e.g. gallery forests); (iv) the subpopulations with barriers to gene flow are more differentiated in morphology from each other; (v) such subpopulations show differences in acoustic parameters of males' calls, and (vi) due to increased gallery forest fragmentation, subpopulations of anthropic areas present lower genetic variability. Thus, we aim to understand the population structure of the species in a broader context, considering genetic, morphological and behavioral traits. Moreover, our sampling covers fragments of gallery forests located in disturbed and protected areas, i.e., respectively in private farms and the Serra da Canastra National Park, state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Therefore, our results might provide important data not only for the species' conservation but also for the Cerrado management and conservation.

Scientific publications

(12)

(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)

NALI, RENATO C.; BORGES, MARILIA M.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Advertisement and release calls of Phyllomedusa ayeaye (Anura: Hylidae) with comments on the social context of emission. Zoologia, v. 32, n. 4, p. 263-269, AUG 2015. (09/12013-4, 12/06228-0, 10/03656-6)

TURIN, RUBENS A. F.; NALI, RENATO C.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Intraspecific call variation in a Neotropical gladiator frog with a complex advertisement call. Amphibia-Reptilia, v. 39, n. 1, p. 31-39, 2018. (12/06228-0, 09/12013-4)

NALI, RENATO C.; ZAMUDIO, KELLY R.; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Size-Dependent Selective Mechanisms on Males and Females and the Evolution of Sexual Size Dimorphism in Frogs. American Naturalist, v. 184, n. 6, p. 727-740, DEC 2014. (13/04023-5, 08/50928-1, 12/06228-0, 10/03656-6, 09/12013-4, 13/50741-7)

NALI, RENATO C.; ZAMUDIO, KELLY R.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Hybridization despite elaborate courtship behavior and female choice in Neotropical tree frogs. Integrative Zoology, v. N/A, p. 17-pg., 2022-02-19. (13/04023-5, 12/06228-0, 09/12013-4, 14/04394-6)

NALI, RENATO C.; BECKER, CARLOS GUILHERME; ZAMUDIO, KELLY R.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Topography, more than land cover, explains genetic diversity in a Neotropical savanna tree frog. DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, v. 26, n. 12, AUG 2020. (09/12013-4, 12/06228-0, 13/04023-5, 14/04394-6)

NALI, RENATO C.; BORGES, MARILIA M.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Advertisement and release calls of Phyllomedusa ayeaye (Anura: Hylidae) with comments on the social context of emission. ZOOLOGIA, v. 32, n. 4, p. 7-pg., 2015-08-01. (10/03656-6, 09/12013-4, 12/06228-0)

ZAMUDIO, KELLY R.; BELL, RAYNA C.; NALI, RENATO C.; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Polyandry, Predation, and the Evolution of Frog Reproductive Modes. American Naturalist, v. 188, n. 1, p. S41-S61, SEP 2016. (09/12013-4, 13/50741-7, 12/06228-0)

BORGES, MARILIA M.; NALI, RENATO C.; FIORILLO, BRUNO F.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Site fidelity, reproductive behavior and investment in the Brazilian Reticulate Leaf Frog, Pithecopus ayeaye LUTZ, 1966 (Anura: Phyllomedusidae). HERPETOZOA, v. 31, n. 1-2, p. 61-68, AUG 30 2018. (11/00507-2, 12/06228-0, 10/03656-6, 17/20299-1, 09/12013-4)

NALI, RENATO C.; ZAMUDIO, KELLY R.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Microsatellite markers for Bokermannohyla species (Anura, Hylidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest domains. Amphibia-Reptilia, v. 35, n. 3, p. 355-360, 2014. (09/12013-4, 10/03656-6, 12/06228-0, 13/04023-5)

NALI, RENATO C.; ZAMUDIO, KELLY R.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Phenotypic differentiation in populations of a gladiator tree frog: environment, genetic drift and sexual selection. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 139, n. 3, p. 14-pg., 2023-06-09. (10/03656-6, 09/12013-4, 12/06228-0, 14/04394-6, 13/04023-5)

NALI, RENATO C.; TURIN, RUBENS A. F.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. The courtship call of Bokermannohyla ibitiguara (Anura: Hylidae) and details of its mating behavior. CALDASIA, v. 44, n. 2, p. 8-pg., 2022-05-01. (12/06228-0, 09/12013-4)

ZAMUDIO, KELLY R.; BELL, RAYNA C.; NALI, RENATO C.; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; PRADO, CYNTHIA P. A.. Polyandry, Predation, and the Evolution of Frog Reproductive Modes. American Naturalist, v. 188, p. 21-pg., 2016-09-01. (09/12013-4, 12/06228-0, 13/50741-7)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

NALI, Renato Christensen. Diversification and hybridization in a treefrog endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado: genetics, morphology and behavior. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Rio Claro Rio Claro.