Small-bodied vertebrates as tools for fine-scale diversification studies: the case of Euparkerella in Brazilian Atlantic Forest

• Grant number: 13/21174-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: February 01, 2014
• End date: May 24, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: João Miguel de Barros Alexandrino
• Grantee: Luciana Ardenghi Fusinatto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 15/11556-5 - Evolutionary implications of reduced body size in the tiny frog Euparkerella (Craugastoride, Holoadeninae)., BE.EP.PD 15/11557-1 - Evolutionary implications of reduced body size in the tiny frog Euparkerella (Craugastoride, Holoadeninae), BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms that promote diversification of lineages in multiple species is one of the main issues in evolutionary biology. An interesting model for studies of speciation are miniaturized vertebrates, for which high levels of microendemism have been observed. The genus Euparkerella, composed by microendemic small-bodied forms of the Brazilian Atlantic forest, is a good example of diversification in small geographic scale. Our preliminary results have shown very deep diverged lineages and high genetic structure in a relatively small area. Our main goal is to deepen the knowledge on the evolutionary history of this organismic model. Our next steps should include: i) an exhaustive and homogeneously distributed sampling across all known potential distribution of the genus; ii) description of fine scale patterns of population structure and dynamics throughout the whole range of Euparkerella; iii) search for associations between gene flow and environmental gradients throughout the range of Euparkerella; iv) estimating historical demographic parameters to test the role of historical factors as diversification drivers; v) examining phenotypic traits within Euparkerella, especially at the level of internal anatomy/morphology and advertisement calls, to evaluate if morphological and bioacoustics traits can be used as diagnosable characters to describe new species. Finally, we will propose, in view of new discoveries, conservation strategies that consider genetic and phenotypic diversity, and the underlying evolutionary history, for the definition of priority areas for conservation. (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)

NEVES, FABIANA; ABRANTES, JOANA; LOPES, ANA M.; FUSINATTO, LUCIANA A.; MAGALHAES, MARIA J.; VAN DER LOO, WESSEL; ESTEVES, PEDRO J.. Evolution of CCL16 in Glires (Rodentia and Lagomorpha) shows an unusual random pseudogenization pattern. BMC Evolutionary Biology, v. 19, FEB 20 2019. (13/21174-7, 15/11557-1)

GONCALVES CRUZ, CARLOS ALBERTO; CARAMASCHI, ULISSES; FUSINATTO, LUCIANA ARDENGHI; BRASILEIRO, CINTHIA AGUIRRE. Taxonomic review of Dendrophryniscus brevipollicatus Jimenez de la Espada, 1870, with revalidation of D. imitator (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) and D. lauroi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926, and description of four new related species (Anura, Bufonidae). Zootaxa, v. 4648, n. 1, p. 27-62, JUL 29 2019. (13/50741-7, 13/21174-7, 08/50928-1)

FUSINATTO, LUCIANA ARDENGHI; DINIZ, BRUNO LAMY T.; DE SIQUEIRA, ANDREZA SOARES; VAN SLUYS, MONIQUE; SEQUEIRA, FERNANDO; DUARTE ROCHA, CARLOS F.. Living in a tiny world: reproductive biology and population ecology of the Neotropical miniature frog Euparkerella aff. brasiliensis (Terraranae, Strabomantidae). Amphibia-Reptilia, v. 41, n. 2, p. 201-213, MAY 2020. (15/11557-1, 15/11556-5, 13/21174-7)