The roles of allopatric fragmentation and niche divergence in intraspecific lineage diversification in the common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans )

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 2146-2158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Maia-Carvalho ◽  
Cândida Gomes Vale ◽  
Fernando Sequeira ◽  
Nuno Ferrand ◽  
Iñigo Martínez-Solano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Niche Divergence ◽  
The Common ◽  
Midwife Toad ◽  
Alytes Obstetricans ◽  
Lineage Diversification

scholarly journals Hybrid zone genomics supports candidate species in Iberian Alytes obstetricans

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
Christophe Dufresnes ◽  
Íñigo Martínez-Solano
Keyword(s):  
Hybrid Zone ◽  
Molecular Taxonomy ◽  
Grey Zone ◽  
Transect Sampling ◽  
Genomic Approach ◽  
Candidate Species ◽  
The Common ◽  
Decisive Evidence ◽  
Midwife Toad ◽  
Alytes Obstetricans

Abstract While estimates of genetic divergence are increasingly used in molecular taxonomy, hybrid zone analyses can provide decisive evidence for evaluating candidate species. Applying a population genomic approach (RAD-sequencing) to a fine-scale transect sampling, we analyzed the transition between two Iberian subspecies of the common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans almogavarii and A. o. pertinax) in Catalonia (northeastern Spain), which putatively diverged since the Plio-Pleistocene. Their hybrid zone was remarkably narrow, with extensive admixture restricted to a single locality (close to Tarragona), and congruent allele frequency clines for the mitochondrial (13 km wide) and the average nuclear genomes (16 km wide). We also fitted clines independently for 89 taxon-diagnostic SNPs: most of them behave like the nuclear background, but a subset (13%) is completely impermeable to gene flow and might be linked to barrier loci involved in hybrid incompatibilities. Assuming that midwife toads are able to disperse in the area of contact, we conclude that these taxa experience partial reproductive isolation and represent incipient species, i.e. Alytes almogavarii and Alytes obstetricans. Interestingly, their evolutionary age and mitochondrial divergence fall below the thresholds proposed in molecular systematics studies, emphasizing the difficulty of predicting the outcome of secondary contacts between young lineages entering the grey zone of speciation.

Intraspecific genetic variation in the common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans): subspecies assignment using mitochondrial and microsatellite markers

2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Maia-Carvalho ◽  
Helena Gonçalves ◽  
Iñigo Martínez-Solano ◽  
Jorge Gutiérrez-Rodríguez ◽  
Susana Lopes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Microsatellite Markers ◽  
The Common ◽  
Intraspecific Genetic Variation ◽  
Midwife Toad ◽  
Alytes Obstetricans

scholarly journals In-situ severe breeding habitat intervention only achieves temporary success in reducing Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Fernández-Loras ◽  
Luz Boyero ◽  
Jaime Bosch
Keyword(s):  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Habitat Manipulation ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Breeding Habitats ◽  
The Common ◽  
Natural Breeding ◽  
Midwife Toad

Abstract Chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is causing sharp declines in amphibian populations around the globe. A substantial research effort has been made to study the disease, including treatments against Bd, but most treatments have been applied to captive amphibians only. We report a study aimed at clearing wild populations of the Common Midwife toad Alytes obstetricans. We removed all larvae from natural breeding sites (cattle troughs) and conducted two types of severe breeding habitat manipulation (complete drying and fencing for the whole breeding season). While larval removal followed by drying was a successful method of Bd elimination, the effect was only temporary. Since terrestrial habits of adult A. obstetricans prevent them from infection, our findings suggest that, even in simple breeding habitats where all aquatic amphibian stages can be handled and extreme habitat intervention is possible, Bd cannot be eliminated without controlling other potential Bd reservoirs in the surroundings of breeding sites.

Influence of advertisement calls on reproductive success in the male midwife toad Alytes obstetricans

Behaviour ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 140 (7) ◽  
pp. 885-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Le Jacques ◽  
Thierry Lodé
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Female Choice ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Advertisement Call ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Evolutionary Trend ◽  
Male Size ◽  
Midwife Toad ◽  
Alytes Obstetricans

AbstractConsidering the advertisement call in anuran as a sexually selected trait, we investigated the effects of male call parameters on reproductive success in midwife toad Alytes obstetricans. The pattern of advertisement call was studied in 81 males. The mean fundamental frequency varied among males. Fundamental frequency, call duration and male size correlated with the male mating success. From the stepwise regression analysis, the low call frequency was found to influence significantly the number of carried eggs and the hatching success. The fact that a single male may fertilise the eggs of several females and a single female may mate with several males constitutes an original sexual system. Large males obtained more matings and showed a higher hatching success. Female choice for dominant frequency may be regarded as a related-fitness trait being correlated with male size. Anyway, the male size and the female choice for low calls result in a same evolutionary trend favouring a best fitness.

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