Pond characteristics influence the intraspecific variation in the morphometry of the tadpoles of two species of Dendropsophus (Anura: Hylidae) from the Cerrado savanna of northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Spatial variation in the environment may be an important source of morphological variation in many organisms. Tadpoles are valuable model organisms for studies of morphological variation, and in particular, the evaluation of the relationship between environmental and morphological variables. In heterogeneous environments, such as the temporary ponds found in the Cerrado savanna of central Brazil, understanding how environmental variables infl uence the morphological variation found in tadpole populations can provide important insights into this phenomenon.The present study thus aimed to (i) describe the morphometric variation in tadpoles found in different populations of Dendropsophus nanus and Dendropsophus minutus in the Cerrado of southern Maranhão state (Brazil), and (ii) relate this variation in tadpole morphology to the characteristics of the local ponds. Tadpoles were collected from 11 pounds in southern Maranhão, and the morphological space among the different populations was compared using NPMANOVA, separately for each species. The degree of association between the environmental and morphological matrices was then tested using a Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression. The morphological (tadpole morphometry) and environmental (pond characteristics) data matrices were obtained by ordination techniques. Considerable morphometric differences were found among populations in both species. In D. nanus, the morphometric variation was correlated with that of the substrate, whereas in D. minutus, morphometry was associated with the vegetation found in the pond. Overall, then, the study demonstrated that distinct environmental variables infl uenced signifi cantly the morphometry of the tadpoles of each frog species.

Trait-environment relationship in tadpoles of the southern Atlantic Forest

“…However, associating morphology with specific environmental factors is a complex and risky task (Lopes, Serra, Piorski, & De Andrade, 2020). Nevertheless, some generalizations can be made.…”

Discovering the diversity of tadpoles in the mid-north Brazil: morphological and molecular identification, and characterization of the habitat

“…Development of tadpoles from eggs or early stages in captivity are a common practice in tadpoles’ studies ( e.g ., Alves, Gomes & Silva, 2004 ; Dubeux et al, 2020a ). Although it is known some phenotypic plasticity of tadpoles influenced by the pond characteristics ( e.g ., Relyea & Werner, 2000 ; Lopes et al, 2020 ), to date no changes were reported in the oral morphology or general shape of captivity reared tadpoles ( Alves, Gomes & Silva, 2004 ).…”

Geographic Variation in Organ Size in a Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)

“…Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of organisms to modify their morphological and physiological characteristics in response to diverse environmental conditions, which is important for the adaptation of species to different environmental conditions, is widely recognized across animal taxa [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. For example, the same genotype may exhibit distinct phenotypic traits as an adaptive mechanism in response to environmental fluctuations [ 20 , 21 ].…”