Article
Evolutionary Biology
Victor G. D. Orrico, Taran Grant, Julian Faivovich, Mauricio Rivera-Correa, Marco A. Rada, Mariana L. Lyra, Carla S. Cassini, Paula H. Valdujo, Walter E. Schargel, Denis J. Machado, Ward C. Wheeler, Cesar Barrio-Amoros, Daniel Loebmann, Jiri Moravec, Juliana Zina, Mirco Sole, Marcelo J. Sturaro, Pedro L. V. Peloso, Pablo Suarez, Celio F. B. Haddad
Summary: This study focused on the phylogeny of the hyline tribe Dendropsophini, confirming the monophyly of the tribe and the reciprocal monophyly of the genera Dendropsophus and Xenohyla. The research identified nine species groups within Dendropsophini, with some species groups showing paraphyletic relationships. The study also discussed the evolution of oviposition site selection, revealing multiple instances of independent evolution of terrestrial egg clutches in the evolutionary history of Dendropsophus.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julian Faivovich, Paulo D. P. Pinheiro, Mariana L. Lyra, Martin O. Pereyra, Diego Baldo, Arturo Munoz, Steffen Reichle, Reuber A. Brandao, Ariovaldo A. Giaretta, Maria Tereza C. Thome, Juan C. Chaparro, Delio Baeta, Ronaldo Libardi Widholzer, Jorge Baldo, Edgar Lehr, Ward C. Wheeler, Paulo C. A. Garcia, Celio F. B. Haddad
Summary: This paper presents a phylogenetic analysis of the Boana pulchella Group, revealing various clades and redefining relationships within the group. New synonyms are identified for several species, enhancing the understanding of the group's taxonomy and evolutionary history.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mariana Baraquet, Favio E. Pollo, Manuel A. Otero, Pablo R. Grenat, Nancy E. Salas, Adolfo L. Martino
Summary: Through skeletochronological method, the life-history traits of Boana pulchella from three populations in central Argentina were studied for the first time. The average snout-vent length of sexually mature males was 43.39 mm, with a maximum observed longevity of 5 years and minimum age at sexual maturity of 2 years. Body size and age were positively correlated, and growth rate decreased after sexual maturity.
ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Paulo D. P. Pinheiro, Boris L. Blotto, Santiago R. Ron, Edward L. Stanley, Paulo C. A. Garcia, Celio F. B. Haddad, Taran Grant, Julian Faivovich
Summary: This study investigated the morphology and evolution of the prepollex in different species of Cophomantini, and discussed its function, behavior, and sexual dimorphism. It found two distinct morphologies and identified various synapomorphies and their evolutionary origins.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Alexandra Arias-Cardenas, Lucas S. Barrientos, Carolina Pardo-Diaz, Andrea Paz, Andrew J. Crawford, Camilo Salazar
Summary: This study conducted morphometric and genetic analyses of populations of Dendropsophus molitor and Dendropsophus luddeckei to test the validity of the recent taxonomic split. The results suggest that D. luddeckei is not a valid species and D. molitor should be considered a single species. This study highlights the danger of taxonomic inflation in the face of limited geographic sampling and a lack of clear diagnostic characters.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Yue-Huan Hong, Hai-Ming Huang, Lian Wu, Kenneth B. Storey, Jia-Yong Zhang, Yong-Pu Zhang, Dan-Na Yu
Summary: The mitochondrial genome of the endemic Chinese frog Hyla sanchiangensis was analyzed, and it showed typical gene arrangement and structure. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between H. sanchiangensis and Hyla annectans and Hyla tsinlingensis. Positive selection in Hyla and Dryophytes is suggested to be a result of historical cold stress events, but further evidence is required to support this hypothesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isis C. Arantes, Mariana M. Vasconcellos, Megan L. Smith, Ryan C. Garrick, Guarino R. Colli, Brice P. Noonan
Summary: Understanding the drivers of biodiversity in a treefrog subgroup in the Neotropical savannas. This study identified nine recognized species in the subgroup and found genetic structure within one of the widespread species. The results also showed the importance of geological and climatic events in shaping the diversity at and below the species level in this subgroup.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Michael Mendez-Rivera, Freylan Mena, Margaret Pinnock-Branford, Clemens Ruepert, Marco D. Barquero, Randall R. Jimenez, Gilbert Alvarado
Summary: Conventional agriculture using pesticides has toxic effects on non-target organisms. This study evaluated the lethal and sublethal effects of beta-endosulfan on I. pseudopuma tadpoles, as well as changes in three biomarkers. Results showed that at sublethal concentrations, beta-endosulfan negatively affected tadpole development.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rogerio Ferreira de Oliveira, Felipe de Medeiros Magalhaes, Bernardo Franco da Veiga Teixeira, Geraldo Jorge Barbosa de Moura, Clara Ribeiro Porto, Francisco Pericles Branco Bahiense Guimaraes, Ariovaldo Antonio Giaretta, Moacir Santos Tinoco
Summary: A new species from the Dendropsophus decipiens Group is described, genetically closer to D. oliveirai but morphologically resembling D. haddadi. It emits simple calls with specific characteristics, and represents the sixth species in the group, indicating a likely underestimation of Neotropical species richness.
Article
Zoology
Fernanda C. Centeno, Aurelien Vivancos, Denis Andrade
Summary: Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in amphibians is usually characterized by females being larger than males, but a male-biased SSD may occur in certain groups. In the study of Bokermannohyla alvarengai, it was found that males were larger than females with features associated with male territorial defense and aggression. The species has a prolonged breeding season where adult males defend territories, but alternative explanations for the differences in body size and secondary sexual characters cannot be ruled out.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Guang-Bin Zhao, Lei Miao, Mengge Wang, Jia-Hui Yuan, Lan-Hai Wei, Yao-Sen Feng, Jie Zhao, Ke-Lai Kang, Chi Zhang, An-Quan Ji, Guanglin He, Le Wang
Summary: This article introduces a 639-plex panel including 633 Y-SNPs and 6 Y-Insertion/deletions for paternal studies and forensic applications in Chinese populations. The panel shows high concordance, accuracy, and reproducibility, and can represent the genetic diversity and complex population structures of the Chinese Y-chromosome.
Article
Zoology
Pablo Grenat, Maria Ferrero, Mariana Baraquet, Favio Pollo, Manuel Otero, Zulma Salinas, Nancy Salas, Adolfo Martino
Summary: The expansion of urban areas leads to new noisy environments that can affect animal communication. This study investigated the acoustic variation in the calls of the treefrog Boana pulchella under different noise conditions associated with urban and road areas. The results showed significant differences in call attributes among the noise conditions, with males exposed to urban and road areas exhibiting changes in call duration, dominant frequency, and frequency difference. Understanding how animals adapt to noisy environments is crucial in mitigating the adverse effects of urbanization on their communication systems.
Article
Zoology
S. I. Quinzio, J. Goldberg
Summary: The study evaluated the external morphological variation of larvae among three populations of the hylid Scinax fuscovarius located more than 270 km apart, revealing two distinct larval morphs, with one shared by the two closest populations. The most distant population exhibited a smaller and depressed form of the entire body plan, continuously reproducing throughout the rainy season and under more unpredictable conditions.
Article
Zoology
Kleber S. Martins, Zaida Ortega, Vanda L. Ferreira
Summary: Amphibian species have specific requirements for reproduction, with males showing a preference for habitats with high vegetation cover and located closer to water bodies during the breeding season. Other resource variables have minimal influence on male microhabitat selection for reproduction.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edyta Sienkiewicz-Szlapka, Ewa Fiedorowicz, Angelika Krol-Grzymala, Natalia Kordulewska, Dominika Rozmus, Anna Cieslinska, Andrzej Grzybowski
Summary: This article examines the etiology of diabetic retinopathy by screening chromosomes and genes, identifying specific genes and their polymorphisms that are closely related to the development of the disease. The collected data contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the disease and the selection of candidate genes as markers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Caio Vinicius de Mira-Mendes, Carolina Santos Silva de Almeida, Rubens Alves Junqueira, Kaoli Pereira Cavalcante, Sylvia Maria Moreira Susini Ribeiro, Rodolfo Mariano, Iuri Ribeiro Dias, Mirco Sole, Yvonnick Le Pendu
Summary: Understanding the diet of tadpoles is crucial in explaining their ecological roles and promoting effective amphibian conservation. This study investigates the diet of Macrogenioglottus alipioi tadpoles from southern Bahia, Brazil. The study reveals that algae are the main food source for these tadpoles, followed by mites and insect fragments. The analysis also highlights the importance of employing different microscopic techniques to fully capture the dietary preferences of tadpoles.
STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gabriela Alves-Ferreira, Gaston Andres Fernandez Gine, Danilo de Siqueira Fortunato, Mirco Sole, Neander Marcel Heming
Summary: Climate change has impacted the distribution and phenology of Cerrado anurans, with species in higher-altitude areas and the Western Cerrado being more vulnerable. Reductions in potential distribution areas are expected for most species, with more losses in the pessimistic scenario compared to the optimistic scenario. Sharing of climate niche attributes among species in the same region leads to similar responses to climate change.
PERSPECTIVES IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Lidiane Gomes, Mirco Sole, Renata S. Sousa-Lima, Julio Ernesto Baumgarten
Summary: Acoustic communication plays a crucial role in information exchange among animals. However, anthropogenic noise can cause signal masking and affect effective communication. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the changes in acoustic parameters of insects, anurans, and birds when exposed to anthropogenic noise. The results showed that insects did not change their acoustic parameters, while anurans increased call amplitude and birds changed multiple acoustic parameters.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
A. N. D. R. E. S. EGEA-SERRANO, M. A. I. A. R. A. C. ALVES, M. I. R. C. O. SOLE, M. I. G. U. E. L. TEJEDO
Summary: This study assessed the warming risk for a population of the fish species Astyanax bimaculatus in the Brazilian Caatinga ecoregion. The results showed that these fish populations have very limited warming tolerance, which may lead to their local extinction in the coming decades.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Amanda G. Anjos, Swanni T. Alvarado, Mirco Sole, Maira Benchimol
Summary: This study assessed the influence of local and landscape features on two parameters of the fire regime in a flammable protected area in the Brazilian savanna. The results showed a large variation in fire frequency and time since the last fire across the park, demonstrating the strong influence of landscape heterogeneity on these parameters.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Diego F. Padron, Konrad Mebert, Daniela Pareja-Mejia, Arthur Bauer, Laise D. Fernandes Vasconcelos, Diego Correia, Gaston A. Fernandez Gine, Mirco Sole
Summary: This is the first study to investigate the home range and habitat use of bushmasters in the Michelin Ecological Reserve in Bahia, Brazil. The study found that the snakes primarily inhabited disturbed primary and secondary forests, as well as rubber tree plantations with dense understory vegetation. The snakes' activity centers were closer to the forest edge and they mainly occupied wooded microhabitats with complex vegetation structures. The translocated snakes showed no negative effects and established home ranges similar to the native bushmasters.
ETHOLOGY ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Caio Vinicius De Mira-Mendes, Camila Souza Batista, Edvaldo Moreira Da Silva Neto, Victor Goyannes Dill Orrico, Mirco Sole, Yvonnick Le Pendu, Iuri Ribeiro Dias
Summary: Dendropsophus nekronastes is a species endemic to the Atlantic Forest in southern Bahia, Brazil. The external morphology of its tadpole is similar to other species in the D. leucophyllatus group, but it can be distinguished by a dark longitudinal stripe bordered by a yellow stripe on the dorsum.
JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Gabriela Alves-Ferreira, Marco Katzenberger, Fernanda Guimaraes Fava, Renan Nunes Costa, Leildo Machado Carilo Filho, Mirco Sole
Summary: Studies have shown that pollution and temperature changes have negative effects on the survival and development of amphibian larvae, especially the effects of herbicides on morphology, size, and thermal tolerance. Further investigation reveals an additive effect of herbicides and temperature increase on larval survival. These findings provide a promising direction for future research.
Article
Zoology
Edvaldo Moreira da Silva Neto, Katyuscia Araujo-Vieira, Iuri Ribeiro Dias, Camila Souza Batista, Daniela Pareja-Mejia, Mirco Sole, Caio Vinicius De Mira-Mendes
Summary: This study redescribed the external larval morphology of two species in the Neotropical tribe Sphaenorhynchini and provided novel information on their lateral line system and reproductive behavior.
JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Victor M. Zucchetti, Omar Rojas-padilla, Iuri R. Dias, Mirco Sole, Victor G. D. Orrico, Santiago Castroviejo-Fisher
Summary: We describe a new species of Vitreorana from the Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia state, in north-eastern Brazil. The new species is morphologically most similar to V. franciscana from the Cerrado biome in Brazil. Besides its large size, the new species has other diagnostic characters, such as vomerine teeth and the occurrence of enameled iridophores in the pericardium, hepatic and urinary bladder peritonea. Furthermore, the variation of integumentary spicules in all species of the genus and their relevance to Vitreorana systematics are described and discussed.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Manuel Toledo-Hernandez, Teja Tscharntke, Tereza Cristina Giannini, Mirco Sole, Thomas C. Wanger
Summary: Agricultural diversification can have numerous benefits including enhancing climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and improving livelihoods. Agroforestry systems with cocoa have been shown to provide these benefits, but the lower yields compared to monocultures limit adoption by smallholder farmers. Hand pollination in cocoa can significantly increase fruit set and mature fruit development, especially in lower shaded areas. Further research is needed to explore the potential of hand pollination in different agroforestry systems and regions for sustainable cocoa production.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Ruth A. Regnet, Paul Lukas, Dennis Roedder, Benjamin Wipfler, Mirco Sole
Summary: In this study, we conducted a morphological examination of captive-bred larval specimens of Ranitomeya variabilis from the French Guiana population and provided detailed data on their external morphology, chondrocranium, cranial muscle systems, and internal organs. We also identified essential characteristics for recognizing tadpoles of different Ranitomeya species. The observed muscle configurations and morphological characters further support the taxonomic relationships within the Dendrobatidae family, particularly between Ranitomeya and Dendrobates.
Review
Ecology
Leildo M. Carilo Filho, Lidiane Gomes, Marco Katzenberger, Mirco Sole, Victor G. D. Orrico
Summary: Realistic predictions about the impacts of climate change on biodiversity require gathering ecophysiological data and using the critical thermal maxima (CTMax) index. This study investigates the effects of acclimation and altitude on CTMax estimates for amphibians and non-avian reptiles. The results show that acclimation temperature affects CTMax estimates for tadpoles, adult anurans, salamanders, and lizards, but not froglets. Higher acclimation temperature leads to higher CTMax values. Altitude has an inverse effect on CTMax estimates for lizards and anuran amphibians. Further studies are needed to investigate the thermal tolerance of subsampled groups such as Gymnophiona, Serpentes, Amphisbaena, and Testudines.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jorge Mario Herrera-Lopera, Eduardo Pineda, Mirco Sole, Carlos A. Cultid-Medina
Summary: This study evaluated the bias in the most frequently used measurements of niche breadth and niche overlap in anuran trophic ecology, and proposed using HILL's series for analysis to reduce bias. Results showed that HILL's series measurements were less biased and more informative than traditional measurements; a guideline for analysis based on HILL's series was provided.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lidia Nogueira, Luis Fernando da Silva Rodrigues Filho, Mirco Sole, Paulo Roberto Antunes de Mello Affonso, Sergio Siqueira, Iracilda Sampaio
Summary: Molecular species delimitation methods are important tools in species identification, especially for the discovery of new taxa and cryptic organisms. In this study, the richness of species in the genera Scinax and Ololygon was evaluated in a biodiversity hotspot in the Atlantic Forest. Through the use of 16S mitochondrial sequences and COI, new putative species were discovered and additional species were recognized. Further studies, including morphological and bioacoustic data, are suggested to validate these new potential species.
GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
