Ecology, Biogeography, and Conservation of Amphibians of the Caatinga

Garda, Adrian Antonio; Stein, Mariana Garcez; Machado, Ricardo B.; Lion, Marília Bruzzi; Juncá, Flora Acuña; Napoli, Marcelo Felgueiras

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-68339-3_5

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Despite its large size, exceptional biological and socio-cultural importance [5], ecological distinctiveness and high levels of threat, the Caatinga is one of the least studied ecological regions of the world [2, 6, 7], with knowledge shortfalls for nearly all major taxa, especially fish [8], amphibians [9] and mammals [10]. These general shortfalls are reflected in a very low biodiversity-survey effort and far fewer dedicated research teams than the adjacent and much better known humid forest ecosystems of Amazonia and the Atlantic Forest [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Known unknowns: Filling the gaps in scientific knowledge production in the Caatinga

et al. 2019

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The Caatinga is an ecologically unique semi-arid region of northeast Brazil characterized by high levels of endemism and severe anthropogenic threats from agricultural development and climate change. It is also one of the least known biomes in Brazil due to a combination of inadequate investment, low regional research capacity and difficult working conditions. However, while the lack of scientific knowledge of the Caatinga is well known, the spatial and temporal distribution of knowledge production has not been investigated. This is important because such biases undermine the development of effective conservation policy and practice and increase the uncertainty associated with conservation actions. Here, we map the geography of conservation knowledge production in the Caatinga and use an innovative hurdle model to identify the presumptive factors driving these patterns. Our analysis revealed strong geographic patterns, with research sites concentrated in the east of the region and in areas close to roads and research centres. There was also a positive association between conservation knowledge production and risk of desertification, indicating that conservation scientists are responding to conservation challenges faced by Caatinga’s fauna and flora arising from climate change. Our results also highlight the pivotal role of pioneer scientists (those who develop research sites in previously unstudied/understudied areas) in determining the future geographic patterns of knowledge production. We conclude our article with a brief discussion of potential policies for increasing the spatial representativeness of conservation research in this remarkable ecosystem.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Known unknowns: Filling the gaps in scientific knowledge production in the Caatinga

et al. 2019

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“…Further to the south‐west is the Chaco, a floristically distinct subtropical mosaic of xerophytic forests and savanna grasses and shrubs. Although these formations harbour high vertebrate species richness and endemism (Garda et al., ; Lima, Ramos, da Silva, & Rosa, ; Mesquita, Costa, Garda, & Delfim, ), the tempo and causes of diversification throughout this huge region are poorly known.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversification with gene flow and niche divergence in a lizard species along the South American “diagonal of open formations”

Fonseca

Gehara

Werneck

et al. 2018

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim: To assess the effects of historical events on the tempo and mode of diversification of the lizard Polychrus acutirostris along the South American diagonal of open formations (DOF).Location: Caatinga and Cerrado biomes in Brazil. Methods:We sequenced fragments of one mtDNA and three nuDNA genes of 68 individuals from 33 localities. We used population assignment methods to access genetic structure and estimate lineage boundaries. Next, we estimated lineage relationships, intraspecific diversity, environmental niche similarity and demographic history. Finally, we tested 12 diversification scenarios using an approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) approach. Results:We recovered three non-overlapping, geographically structured lineages corresponding to Caatinga, north-east Cerrado and south-west Cerrado, with the major divergence event dating to the Late Neogene. We also recovered a complex scenario of divergence associated with gene flow and niche divergence. Main conclusions:We show a complex history of diversification along the South American DOF. Our findings support the role of environmental features as the likely drivers of P. acutirostris intraspecific diversification during the Late Neogene. K E Y W O R D Sapproximate Bayesian computation, Caatinga, Cerrado, phylogeography, Polychrus acutirostris,

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“…Climatic oscillations or climatic gradients may also act at different latitudes, altitudes, and ecotone zones, directly affecting the genetic structure of some widely distributed species and species pairs (e.g., Boana albopunctata , Prado, Haddad, & Zamudio, 2012; Ameivula ocellifera , Oliveira et al, 2015; Polychrus acutirostris , Fonseca et al, 2018; Lygodactylus klugei , Lanna et al, 2018). For the Caatinga, the largest continuous block of Seasonally dry Tropical Forests (Werneck, Costa, Colli, Prado, & Sites, 2011), the São Francisco River has been shown to act as a soft barrier to gene flow for some species (Faria, Nascimento, de Oliveira, & Bonvicino, 2013; Nascimento et al, 2013; Oliveira, Martinez, et al, 2018; Werneck, Leite, Geurgas, & Rodrigues, 2015), while the Espinhaço Mountain Range (Garda et al, 2017) and the middle São Francisco Dunes region (Mesquita, Costa, Garda, & Delfim, 2017; Passoni, Benozzati, & Rodrigues, 2008; Siedchlag, Benozzati, Passoni, & Rodrigues, 2010) are known centers of endemism, harboring a large number of endemics of the Caatinga herpetofauna. However, none of these landscape features and processes seem to have affected the genetic structure of Proceratophrys from lowland areas of Caatinga.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revising the taxonomy ofProceratophrysMiranda‐Ribeiro, 1920 (Anura: Odontophrynidae) from the Brazilian semiarid Caatinga: Morphology, calls and molecules support a single widespread species

Mângia

Oliveira

Santana

et al. 2020

J. Zool. Syst. Evol. Res.

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Recently, Proceratophrys cristiceps was redescribed along with the description of two species from the Caatinga biome: P. aridus and P. caramaschii. However, only a small fraction of the populations related to such species in Northeastern Brazil was examined, and most populations of central Caatinga were not contemplated in this analysis. Comparisons were also based exclusively on external morphology, precluding a more accurate delimitation of such taxa in the light of multiple characters. Such geographic paucity and reliance in only one data source caused the species status of most central Caatinga populations to be uncertain. Thus, the revision of Proceratophrys populations from the Caatinga biome is of utmost importance to establish a solid taxonomic background and to test the validity of the described species. Based on morphologic, morphometric, acoustic, and multilocus genetic data, we define the range of inter‐ and intrapopulation variation in the parameters we analyzed, establishing which ones are useful as diagnostic characters for Proceratophrys in the Caatinga. We found no evidence supporting P. aridus and P. caramaschii as distinct species and thus place them as junior synonyms of P. cristiceps. Our results reinforce the importance of using multiple lines of evidence to avoid taxonomic instability.

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Ecology, Biogeography, and Conservation of Amphibians of the Caatinga

Cited by 15 publications

References 46 publications

Known unknowns: Filling the gaps in scientific knowledge production in the Caatinga

Known unknowns: Filling the gaps in scientific knowledge production in the Caatinga

Diversification with gene flow and niche divergence in a lizard species along the South American “diagonal of open formations”

Revising the taxonomy ofProceratophrysMiranda‐Ribeiro, 1920 (Anura: Odontophrynidae) from the Brazilian semiarid Caatinga: Morphology, calls and molecules support a single widespread species

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