Does advertisement call variation coincide with genetic variation in the genetically diverse frog taxon currently known as Leptodactylus fuscus (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)?

Abstract

The frog Leptodactylus fuscus is found throughout much of South America in open and disturbed habitats. Previous study of genetic differentiation in L. fuscus demonstrated that there was lack of genetic exchange among population units consistent with multiple species, rather than a single species. We examine advertisement vocalizations of L. fuscus to determine whether call variation coincides with genetic differentiation. Calls were analyzed for 32 individual frogs from 25 localities throughout the distributional range of L. fuscus. Although there is variation in calls among geographic samples, call variation is not concordant with genetic variation or geographic distance and the call variation observed is less than that typically found among other closely related species of Leptodactylus. This study is an example of the rare pattern of strong genetic differentiation unaccompanied by salient differences in advertisement calls. The relative infrequency of this pattern as currently understood may only reflect the lack of detailed analyses of genetic and acoustic differentiation within population systems currently understood as single species with substantial geographic distributions.

The use of bioacoustics in anuran taxonomy: theory, terminology, methods and recommendations for best practice

“…This means that considerable variation can occur within a species, among individuals of different size, and differences encountered between populations might be a side effect of different body sizes of individuals in these populations, rather than indicative of different species. Percent change in dominant frequency between populations averaged 21.0% (minimum -maximum: 3.0-44.6%) with ranges of variation between populations reaching up to 1320 Hz in Leptodactylus fuscus (Heyer & Reid 2003) and 1500 Hz in Oophaga pumilio (Pröhl et al 2007) (Table 7). Another caveat is the capacity of males of some species to change the dominant frequency during social interactions (e.g., Bee et al 2000).…”

Phylogeny and biogeography of paradoxical frogs (Anura, Hylidae, Pseudae) inferred from 12S and 16S mitochondrial DNA

“…Other openarea frog species (such as Bufo granulosus, Hyla multifasciata, Leptodactylus fuscus, and Elachistocleis ovalis) are widespread along the Amazon, Paraná, and other Brazilian Shield river systems (Heyer, 1987). If these frogs follow the same pattern as L. limellum, it is likely that floodplains and associated open area fragments are facilitating gene flow to such an extent that the implausible hypothesis that several widespread species of frogs occur throughout South America (Heyer and Reid, 2003;Wynn and Heyer, 2001) cannot be dismissed. …”

Reproductive biology of Leptodactylus fuscus (Anura, Leptodactylidae) in the subtropical climate, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

“…In his revision of the fuscus group, HEYER (1978) considered L. fuscus a unique species according to morphologic issues. After that, strong genetic differentiation was observed within L. fuscus populations along its distribution (HEYER & REID, 2003;CAMARGO et al, 2006).…”