10.5061/DRYAD.1VB63
Vidal-García, M.
Australian National University
Byrne, P. G.
University of Wollongong
Roberts, J. D.
University of Western Australia
Keogh, J. S.
Australian National University
Data from: The role of phylogeny and ecology in shaping morphology in 21
genera and 127 species of Australo-Papuan myobatrachid frogs
Dryad
dataset
2014
limbs
phylogenetic constraint
amphibian
Phylogenetic inertia
Myobatrachidae
2014-01-21T15:58:41Z
2014-01-21T15:58:41Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12292
208530 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Body shape is predicted to differ among species for functional reasons and
in relation to environmental niche and phylogenetic history. We quantified
morphological differences in shape and size among 98.5% of the 129 species
and all 21 genera of the Australo-Papuan endemic myobatrachid frogs to
test the hypothesis that habitat type predicts body shape in this
radiation. We tested this hypothesis in a phylogenetic context at two
taxonomic levels: across the entire radiation and within the four largest
genera. Thirty-four external measurements were taken on 623 museum
specimens representing 127 species. Data for seven key environmental
variables relevant to anurans were assembled for all
Australian-distributed species based on species' distributions and
131,306 locality records. The Australo-Papuan myobatrachid radiation
showed high diversity in adult body size, ranging from minute (15 mm
snout–vent length) to very large species (92 mm), and shape, particularly
sin relative limb length. Five main morphological and environmental
summary variables displayed strong phylogenetic signal. There was no clear
relationship between body size and environmental niche, and this result
persisted following phylogenetic correction. For most species, there was a
better match between environment/habitat and body shape, but this
relationship did not persist following phylogenetic correction. At a broad
level, species fell into three broad groups based on environmental niche
and body shape: 1) species in wet habitats with relatively long limbs, 2)
species in arid environments with relatively short limbs (many of which
are forward or backward burrowers) and 3) habitat generalist species with
a conservative body shape. However, these patterns were not repeated
within the four largest genera − Crinia, Limnodynastes, Pseudophryne and
Uperoleia. Each of these genera displayed a highly conservative anuran
body shape, yet individual species were distributed across the full
spectrum of Australian environments. Our results suggest that phylogenetic
legacy is important in the evolution of body size and shape in Australian
anurans, but also that the conservative body plan of many frogs works well
in a wide variety of habitats.
Morphological & environmental datasetMyobatrachidae
phylogenyMyobatMartaTreeTRUE.txt
Australia