Integrative species delimitation helps to find the hidden diversity of the leaf-litter frog Ischnocnema manezinho (Garcia, 1996) (Anura, Brachycephalidae), endemic to the southern Atlantic Forest

PeerJ

article

Caroline Batistim Oswald¹  Rafael Félix de Magalhães¹  Paulo C.A. Garcia¹  Fabrício R. Santos¹  Selvino Neckel-Oliveira¹ 

[1]Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

[2]Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei

[3]Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

[4]Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

关键词: Conservation genetics;    Bioacoustics;    Morphometry;    Phylogeography;    Species delimitation;    Red Lists;    Endangered;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.15393

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe delimitation of cryptic species is a challenge for biodiversity conservation. Anurans show high cryptic diversity levels, and molecular species delimitation methods could help identify putative new species. Additionally, species delimitation approaches can provide important results for cryptic species conservation, with integrative methods adding robustness to results. Ischnocnema manezinho was described from Santa Catarina Island (SCI), southern Brazil. More recently, some inventories indicated continental populations supposedly similar in morphology to it. If these records are confirmed as I. manezinho, it would likely change its endangered status on National Red List, removing the species from conservation agendas. We investigated the threatened frog Ischnocnema manezinho, to evaluate if the continental populations belong to this species or if they form an undescribed species complex.MethodsWe used coalescent, distance, and allele-sharing-based species delimitation methods and integrative analyses of morphometric and bioacoustics traits to test evolutionary independence between I. manezinho from SCI, Arvoredo Island, and continental populations.ResultsIschnocnema manezinho is restricted to Santa Catarina Island, while the five remaining lineages should be further investigated through a taxonomic review. Our results point to a small geographic range of Ischnocnema manezinho. Additionally, the species occurs in isolated fragments of forest in SCI surrounded by expanding urban areas, confirming its status as Endangered. Thus, the protection and monitoring of I. manezinho and the taxonomic description of the continental and Arvoredo Island candidate species should be priorities.

【 授权许可】

CC BY