Woodland salamanders of the genus Plethodon are characterized by strong ecological and morphological conservatism. One assemblage, Wehrle's salamander (Plethodon wehrlei Fowler Dunn) species group, is distributed from New York to Tennessee, USA, includes several variants, four which sufficiently distinct have been recognized as in past. For many years after two these were placed synonymy, only P. punctatus Highton recognized. A recent phylogeographic study using mitochondrial DNA nuclear...

Abstract Comparing niche divergence among closely related taxa can yield important insights into the ecological distinctiveness of genetically similar forms, and identify processes that are responsible for diversification in such organisms. Here, we apply newly developed techniques analysing to assess how ecologically distinct a group rattlesnakes ( Sistrurus sp.) explore role may have played their diversification. We find all even most recently evolved subspecies (approximately 100 000...

Lungless salamanders of the family Plethodontidae have historically been considered to be passive conformers their surrounding thermal environment because there is no evidence that they thermoregulate behaviourally in field. In contrast, plethodontids readily choose optimal temperatures when placed on experimental gradients. It has hypothesized restriction moist habitats prevents these from exploiting thermally diverse microhabitats nature. We tested this hypothesis, as well hypothesis...

Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used as an assessment tool to detect populations of threatened species and provide fine‐scale data required make management decisions. The objectives this project were use quantitative PCR (qPCR) to: (i) spiked salamander in soil, (ii) quantify eDNA degradation over time, (iii) determine detectability a terrestrial environment using faeces, skin swabs, (iv) mesocosm experiment. Salamander was positively detected 100% swabs 66% faecal samples...

Although knowledge of the existence cryptic species dates back hundreds years, true extent diversity was not discernible until development modern molecular techniques. Both homoplasy and morphological conservatism—patterns which result in taxa—are rampant within Plethodontidae, largest salamander family a taxon rich lineages. The first plethodontid, Plethodon websteri, described 1979, discovery new lineages has now become commonplace. Their taxonomic recognition, however, been controversial,...

Discriminating taxa with the nuclear marker, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) has been accomplished for various organisms in economic, ecological, and evolutionary studies. The protocol available AFLP generation does not require prior knowledge of genome; however, it is often extensively modified to fit needs researcher. Modification this new labs intimidating time-consuming, particularly which have previously developed. Furthermore, determining what constitutes quality output...

In most regions of the world human influences on distribution flora and fauna predate complete biotic surveys. some cases this challenges our ability to discriminate native from introduced species. This distinction is particularly critical for isolated populations, because relicts species may need be conserved, whereas require immediate eradication. Recently an population seal salamanders, Desmognathus monticola, was discovered Ozark Plateau, ~700 km west its broad continuous in Appalachian...

Abstract The flow of energy within an ecosystem can be considered either top‐down, where predators influence consumers, or bottom‐up, producers consumers. Plethodon cinereus (Red‐backed Salamander) is a terrestrial keystone predator who feeds on invertebrates the ecosystem. We investigated impact removal P. detritivore food web in upland deciduous forest northwest Ohio, U.S.A. A total eight aluminum enclosures, each containing single under small log, were constructed forest. On Day 1...

Despite being widely regarded as generalist predators, amphibians exhibit a diversity of tooth shapes and dentition patterns, which may indicate the influence dietary specialization on evolution morphology. Very few studies have analysed relationship between morphology diet (i.e., prey items) in amphibians, those existing are highly speculative. We investigated salamander teeth phylogenetically independent fashion. used phylogeny 23 species representing three families (Ambystomatidae,...

The Woodland Salamander genus Plethodon Tschudi, 1838, consists of terrestrial lungless salamanders, has been cited as an exemplar a lineage characterized by niche conservatism. This conclusion contributed to broader hypotheses dealing with the role conservatism in speciation and maintenance species diversity. We re-evaluated these salamanders using newly published techniques designed detect versus divergence computer-based modeling spatial analysis within phylogenetic framework....

The competition–predation hypothesis has been widely used for many years to explain the segregation along moisture gradients by species of dusky salamanders (genus Desmognathus) Appalachian streams. According this idea, all originally favored aquatic sites, and large, aggressive displaced smaller ones more terrestrial habitats, both ecologically evolutionarily. We tested investigating role a recently described, previously unsuspected member (D. folkertsi) assemblage. This coexists in...

Plethodontid salamanders in general and the genus Desmognathus particular exhibit extreme morphological conservatism rampant homoplasy so that cryptic lineages are common. In spite of this, multivariate morphometric analysis has proven a useful tool detecting subtle differences among forms. We used this technique to investigate morphology populations quadramaculatus (Black-bellied Salamander) its congener, folkertsi (Dwarf Black-bellied Salamander). found significant variation five D. but...

A primary goal of landscape genetics is to elucidate factors associated with genetic structure among populations. Among the important patterns identified have been isolation by distance (IBD), barrier (IBB), and environment (IBE). We tested hypotheses relating each these possible divergence in Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus (Green, 1818)) species complex across lower Piedmont Coastal Plain Georgia, USA, adjacent areas South Carolina, USA. sequenced 2148 total bp, including three...

th October. Abstract. The discovery and subsequent description of cryptic biodiversity is often chal- lenging, especially for groups that have undergone rapid lineage accumulation in the relatively recent past. Even without formal descriptions, understanding genetic diversity patterns as they relate to underlying ecological or historical processes can be important conservation. dusky salamanders genus Desmognathus, with 20 described species, comprise second largest plethodontid eastern...

The Arizona Toad (Bufo [ = Anaxyrus] microscaphus) occupied the entire Agua Fria River drainage in central until relatively recently. By 1980s, a close relative, Woodhouse's woodhousii), colonized lower reaches of and replaced B. microscaphus at some sites. We tested hypothesis that habitat disturbance drives replacement by woodhousii, via hybridization, examining shifts distribution these toads following expansion Waddell Dam on early 1990s. As 2010, high elevation headwaters were still...

The ecological consequences of impoundment construction on riparian systems throughout the U.S. Southwest has profoundly affected a variety organisms, including many amphibians. To better understand current extent hybridization and changes in genetic composition over time Bufo (Anaxyrus) woodhousii microscaphus, we used microsatellite loci to evaluate 260 individuals representing 10 total populations constituting B. woodhousii, putative hybrids along Agua Fria River Arizona during two...

Desmognathus quadramaculatus and D. folkertsi are cryptic salamander species that occur sympatrically across the entire range of latter species. However, larval form has never been formally described, studies communities within its require ability to distinguish it from relative. We conducted morphometric analyses in order compare forms these two living allopatry searched for characters may be useful distinguishing them field. Larvae had a larger average body size than , specimens former...

Species richness commonly varies with elevation, but in many montane regions, the greatest number of species occurs at mid-elevations. A recent regional analysis showed this pattern Appalachian salamanders genus Desmognathus Baird, 1850. The authors proposed that phylogenetic niche conservatism these causes to accumulate intermediate elevations, which are characterized by ancestral climate for genus. They further suggested physiological tolerances limit dispersal into higher or lower...

In the southern Appalachian Mountains, U.S.A., trematode Metagonimoides oregonensis, a parasite of raccoons and possibly mink, utilizes larvae lungless salamanders as second intermediate hosts, most frequently using salamander Desmognathus quadramaculatus. We tested whether there was difference in infection between this its sympatric, cryptic congener, folkertsi, northern Georgia. Whereas larval D. quadramaculatus had prevalence 100% with intensities ranging from 18 to over 1,000, none...

Abstract Evolutionary biologists have long focused on the patterns and causes of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). While female-biased SSD is common among ectotherms, a few lineages predominately exhibit male-biased SSD. One example clade desmognathans, monophyletic group two genera within Plethodontinae lungless salamander family Plethodontidae. Members these unique pattern SSD: males mature earlier at smaller sizes than females but reach greater maximum sizes. We used comparative phylogenetic...