Genetic evidence for species boundaries in frogs of the Litoria citropa species-group (Anura:Hylidae)

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 275 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Donnellan ◽  
K. McGuigan ◽  
R. Knowles ◽  
M. Mahony ◽  
C. Moritz
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Tree Frog ◽  
Linear Sequence ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Frog Species ◽  
The Status

The Litoria citropa species-group comprises several small to medium-sized tree-frog species found from mid-eastern Queensland to eastern Victoria in a variety of habitats along streams associated with the Great Dividing Range. The smaller members of the Litoria citropa species-group, Litoria phyllochroa and L. pearsoniana, have a confused taxonomic history with the taxonomic status of several populations, some regarded as endangered, still in doubt. Multi-locus allozyme electrophoretic profiles and nucleotide sequences of a portion of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene were used to examine the evolutionary relationships of populations that are a geographically comprehensive and morphologically representative sample of the species-group. These data demonstrate the presence of a minimum of three species: L. nudidigitus, L. phyllochroa and a third species whose taxonomic name is yet to be resolved. This third taxon encompasses a wide range of allozyme and mitochondrial nucleotide diversity and can be divided into at least four evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) that replace each other in a linear sequence from north of the Hunter Valley in New South Wales to the Kroombit Tops in central Queensland. A possible zone of hybridisation between the southernmost pair of these ESUs was identified in northern New South Wales. The fourth ESU, a northern outlier of the range of the species-group, is confined to Kroombit Tops, central Queensland.While its phylogenetic relationship with the other three ESUs was not resolved precisely by the present analysis, it nevertheless comprises a distinct and very divergent mitochondrial lineage of considerable antiquity.Resolution of the status of a further name applied to the species-group, L. piperata, awaits a morphological analysis that includes the relevant type material.

scholarly journals Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5071 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-41
Author(s):  
J. J. L. ROWLEY ◽  
M. J. MAHONY ◽  
H. B. HINES ◽  
S. MYERS ◽  
L.C. PRICE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Species Group ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Advertisement Call ◽  
Tree Frog ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Phylogeographic Break ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern

The bleating tree frog (Litoria dentata) is one of the more prominent pelodryadid frogs of eastern Australia by virtue of its extremely loud, piercing, male advertisement call. A member of the Litoria rubella species group, L. dentata has a broad latitudinal distribution and is widespread from coastal and subcoastal lowlands through to montane areas. A recent mitochondrial DNA analysis showed a deep phylogeographic break between populations of L. dentata on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Here we extended the mitochondrial survey with more geographically comprehensive sampling and tested the systematic implications of our findings with nuclear genome wide single-nucleotide polymorphism, morphological and male advertisement call datasets. While similar in appearance and in male advertisement call, our integrative analysis demonstrates the presence of three species which replace each other in a north-south series. We redescribe Litoria dentata, which is restricted to coastal north-eastern New South Wales, and formally describe Litoria balatus sp. nov., from south-eastern Queensland, and Litoria quiritatus sp. nov., from the mid-coast of New South Wales to north-eastern Victoria.  

Priorities for management of chytridiomycosis in Australia: saving frogs from extinction

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee F. Skerratt ◽  
Lee Berger ◽  
Nick Clemann ◽  
Dave A. Hunter ◽  
Gerry Marantelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Ecology ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Tree Frog ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Risk Of Extinction ◽  
Frog Species ◽  
In The Wild

To protect Australian amphibian biodiversity, we have identified and prioritised frog species at an imminent risk of extinction from chytridiomycosis, and devised national management and research priorities for disease mitigation. Six Australian frogs have not been observed in the wild since the initial emergence of chytridiomycosis and may be extinct. Seven extant frog species were assessed as needing urgent conservation interventions because of (1) their small populations and/or ongoing declines throughout their ranges (southern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree, New South Wales), northern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales), Baw Baw frog (Philoria frosti, Victoria), Litoria spenceri (spotted tree frog, Victoria, New South Wales), Kroombit tinkerfrog (Taudactylus pleione, Queensland), armoured mist frog (Litoria lorica, Queensland)) or (2) predicted severe decline associated with the spread of chytridiomycosis in the case of Tasmanian tree frog (Litoria burrowsae, Tasmania). For these species, the risk of extinction is high, but can be mitigated. They require increased survey effort to define their distributional limits and to monitor and detect further population changes, as well as well-resourced management strategies that include captive assurance populations. A further 22 frog species were considered at a moderate to lower risk of extinction from chytridiomycosis. Management actions that identify and create or maintain habitat refugia from chytridiomycosis and target other threatening processes such as habitat loss and degradation may be effective in promoting their recovery. Our assessments for some of these species remain uncertain and further taxonomical clarification is needed to determine their conservation importance. Management actions are currently being developed and trialled to mitigate the threat posed by chytridiomycosis. However, proven solutions to facilitate population recovery in the wild are lacking; hence, we prioritise research topics to achieve this aim. Importantly, the effectiveness of novel management solutions will likely differ among species due to variation in disease ecology, highlighting the need for species-specific research. We call for an independent management and research fund of AU$15 million over 5 years to be allocated to recovery actions as determined by a National Chytridiomycosis Working Group of amphibian managers and scientists. Procrastination on this issue will likely result in additional extinction of Australia’s amphibians in the near future.

Revision of the Australian species of Agrotera Schrank (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae: Spilomelinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4362 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
KAI CHEN ◽  
MARIANNE HORAK ◽  
XICUI DU ◽  
DANDAN ZHANG
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Male Genitalia ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Australian Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Two New Species

The genus Agrotera Schrank, 1802 is revised for Australia and the generic definition is refined based on the male genitalia. The genera Leucinodella Strand, 1918 stat. rev. with L. leucostola (Hampson, 1896) comb. nov., Nistra Walker, 1859 stat. rev. with N. coelatalis Walker, 1859 comb. rev., Sagariphora Meyrick, 1894 stat. rev. with S. magnificalis (Hampson, 1893) comb. nov., and Tetracona Meyrick, 1884 stat. rev. with T. amathealis (Walker, 1859) comb. rev. and T. pictalis Warren, 1896 comb. rev. are removed from synonymy with Agrotera, as they lack the synapomorphies of Agrotera. Two new species, Agrotera genuflexa sp. nov. from Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales, and A. longitabulata sp. nov. from Queensland, are described. The taxonomic status of the Australian species of Agrotera is discussed, and a key to all species, based on males, is provided. The adults and genitalia of the new species and some related species are figured. 

Molecular systematics, morphological analysis, and hybrid crossing identify a third taxon, Aedes (Halaedes) wardangensis sp.nov., of the Aedes (Halaedes) australis species-group (Diptera: Culicidae)

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 1236-1246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinhart A Brust ◽  
J William O. Ballard ◽  
Felice Driver ◽  
Diana M Hartley ◽  
Nora J Galway ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Species Group ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Male Morphology ◽  
Cytochrome Oxidase Ii

Phylogenetic and morphological analyses, male morphology, and hybrid crossing indicate that a population from Wardang Island, South Australia, is distinct from the monophyletic series of populations of Aedes (Halaedes) australis (Erichson) 1842 from Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and New Zealand. The name Aedes (Halaedes) wardangensis has been assigned to the new species. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the cytochrome oxidase II and internal transcribed spacer loci support the resurrection of Aedes (Halaedes) ashworthi Edwards, 1921 (Brust and Mahon, 1997). Aedes ashworthi is known only from Western Australia and was found to be infertile when crossed with Ae. wardangensis from South Australia and Ae. australis from New Zealand. The hybrid of Ae. australis from New South Wales × Ae. australis from New Zealand was fertile for three generations, documenting these as conspecific.

The effect of sowing rate on the yield and composition of wheat grown on soils of high fertility in southern New South Wales

1963 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 114 ◽  
Author(s):  
JD Colwell
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
Fertilizer Response ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Wide Range

The effects of the different sowing rates of 20, 40, and 60 lb of seed an acre on the yield, bushel weight, composition, and response to fertilizers, of wheat grown on soils of high fertility has been studied in seven field experiments in the wheat-belt of southern New South Wales. Seasonal conditions ranged from drought to lush growing conditions and in addition one experiment was irrigated to reduce the effects of moisture stress on plant growth. Yields ranged from 10 to 70 bushels of wheat an acre and fertilizer treatments gave both positive and negative effects. For the wide range of growth conditions, variation in seeding rate had only small and non-significant effects on grain yields, with the exception of the irrigated experiment where a consistent trend indicated the need for higher seeding rates for maximum yield. Effects of the seeding rates on grain size and composition and fertilizer response, were negligible. Losses in potential grain yield, caused by the exhaustion of soil moisture reserves by excessive vegetative growth of high fertility soils before grain development has been completed, does not seem to be reduced appreciably by the use of low seeding rates.

Ecological attributes of the threatened fauna of New South Wales

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lunney ◽  
A. L. Curtin ◽  
D. Fisher ◽  
D. Ayers ◽  
C. R. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
New South ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Northeastern Region ◽  
Ecological Attributes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Threatened Fauna

The aims of this study were to identify common ecological patterns among threatened fauna in New South Wales, and to identify priority areas for research and management by determining which regions and habitats contain high numbers of threatened fauna. Threatened and non-threatened fauna were taken from the listings of Lunney et al. (1996, 1997). Species were categorized into weight classes, diet groups, habitats and regions and by level of knowledge available about them. All regions and habitats of the State contain threatened species. The northeastern region of New South Wales contains the greatest number of threatened species but the western region has suffered the most extinctions, especially of mammals. Species that historically inhabited a greater number of regions are less likely to be currently threatened or to be extinct than those with restricted distributions, and large species are more likely to be threatened than smaller species. The best predictors of a threatened mammals species were seeds and vegetation in the diet, heavier body weight, and ground-dwelling, burrowing, and rock pile/cave-dwelling habits. The Critical Weight Range (35?5 500g), although strongly associated with extinction of non-volant mammals, was not the most important predictor. Lord Howe Island held the highest proportion of threatened and extinct birds. Factors showing the strongest associations for threatened birds were carnivory, large size, and distribution in the southeastern region. The most poorly-known region for birds was the north-east, and the least known habitat was shrubland (including mallee, heath and chenopod shrubland). The status of reptiles was poorly known in all regions, especially the western region. Frogs were also poorly known in all regions. Frogs were most at risk if they were large, inhabited closed forest or occurred in the central or northeastern region. The study further revealed little association between particular ecological attributes and conservation status. This indicates that there are complex and pervasive threats affecting the status of New South Wales fauna. Research and management priority status could be argued for all regions and most habitats in the State, but the western or northeastern regions may face the most problems depending on the criteria used (e.g., past extinctions, number vs proportion of threatened species). Further, the conservation status of birds, reptiles and frogs is in particular need of attention from researchers.

The status of Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera, on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 601 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Priddel ◽  
N Carlile ◽  
C Davey ◽  
P Fullagar
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Tree Island ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Marginal Improvement ◽  
Main Population ◽  
Cabbage Tree

Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera, breeds only on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales. Annual surveys to estimate the size of the breeding population and the reproductive output were conducted between 1989 and 1992. Annual estimates of the total number of pairs breeding in the two gullies containing the main population were between 122 +/- 20 (s.e.) and 202 +/- 26. Breeding success was less than 20% between 1989 and 1991, but rose to 24.7% in 1992. This marginal improvement may be the result of management action undertaken to reduce mortality of breeding adults and fledglings. The total population is estimated to have declined from 2004 (95% confidence limits: 1464,3185) in 1970 to 1479 (1250,1815) in 1992, a decline of 26% in 22 years. The reasons for this decline are unclear.

The status of myxomatosis at Urana, New South Wales, from 1968 until 1971

1972 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Williams ◽  
I Parer
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Latent Virus ◽  
Rabbit Population ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status

Epizootics of myxomatosis which occurred each year from 1968 until 1971 in a rabbit population inhabiting a 700-acre study site at Urana, N.S.W., were studied. Transmission was rapid in 1968 and 1969, Anopheles annulipes being the vector, and the peak of these epizootics occurred in early November. Transmission in 1970 was primarily by the flea Spilopsyllus cuniculi, and was slower, but the midpoint of the epizootic still occurred in early November. In 1971 the epizootic peaked in late December, transmission was rapid, and the vector was unknown. Each year, about 75% of the susceptible animals older than 3 months of age at the time of the epizootic contracted myxomatosis; of these, 60% recovered, and of the recoveries, 20% died between the time of recovery (early December) and 1 January. Fewer animals (16-55 %) under 3 months of age were seen with myxomatosis; of these, about 50% were seen to recover, and a large proportion (from 25 to 45%) of animals seen to recover died before 1 January each year. The great majority of animals not seen to contract myxomatosis probably died from other causes without being exposed to the disease. These data indicate that myxomatosis killed very few animals directly during these epizootics, and that other factors were responsible for the majority of deaths which occurred during the epizootic period. In 1968, 1969, and 1970, reactivation of latent virus in animals which had previously recovered from myxomatosis was probably the source of the virus which initiated the epizootics.

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