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Lack of phylogenetic signal in the variation in anuran microhabitat use in southeastern Brazil

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Abstract

Microhabitat use is an important component of anuran behavior in both the tadpole and the adult stages. It is potentially influenced by phylogeny and extant ecological factors acting as selective pressures, such as predation, competition, or physical habitat properties. We aimed to test whether patterns of microhabitat use vary among species, habitats and sites, and how much of this variation can be explained by phylogenetic relatedness. We collected data on microhabitat use at five different sites, where we obtained a total of 4,230 records of individual tadpoles of 34 species in 15 genera and 7 families, and a total of 1,163 records of adult individuals of 39 species in 16 genera and 8 families. Mantel tests conducted to relate species dissimilarities in microhabitat use and phylogenetic relatedness indicated a weak but significant relationship for adult anurans, and no relationship for tadpoles. Our results suggest that microhabitat use is a plastic and variable trait, overcoming phylogenetic signal in tadpoles. In adult anurans, very little of the variation in microhabitat use can be explained by phylogenetic relatedness. Microhabitat use is not a good predictor of phylogeny, but it may be a very interesting subject to study natural selection and adaptation.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to A. S. Castro, C. A. N. Ventura, F. S. F. Leite, F. F. R. de Oliveira, and P. H. C. de Souza for help during field work, to G. Andrade, D. C. Rossa-Feres, M. D. Boone, D. C. Adams, L. K. Erdtmann, E. R. Wild and two anonymous reviewers for helpful suggestions in the manuscript, to E. R. Wild for English revision, to D. L. Viana for making the map, to C. Paganini for permit and logistics to work at the RPPN Santuário do Caraça, to the Instituto Nacional de Florestas (IEF) for permit and logistics to work at the PE Serra do Brigadeiro, to the Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (Ibama) for collecting permits (111/98, 128/2004, 046/05, 288/2005), and to the Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa (FIP) of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (PUC-Minas) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (Fapemig CRA 405/03) for financial support. We dedicate this work to Dr. Wolney Lobato for his support and incentive to research at PUC-Minas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós Graduação em Zoologia de Vertebrados, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, 30535-610, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Paula C. Eterovick

  2. Programa de Pós Graduação em Zoologia de Vertebrados, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, 30535-610, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Paula C. Eterovick, Camila R. Rievers, Katia Kopp, Milena Wachlevski, Bruna P. Franco, Camila J. Dias, Izabela M. Barata, Arquimedes D. M. Ferreira & Lilian G. Afonso

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  1. Paula C. Eterovick
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  2. Camila R. Rievers
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Correspondence to Paula C. Eterovick.

Appendices

Appendix 1

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Table 3 Description of microhabitats used by larvae of anuran species at four sites in southeastern Brazil
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Appendix 2

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Table 4 Description of microhabitats used by adult individuals of anuran species at five sites in southeastern Brazil
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Eterovick, P.C., Rievers, C.R., Kopp, K. et al. Lack of phylogenetic signal in the variation in anuran microhabitat use in southeastern Brazil. Evol Ecol 24, 1–24 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-008-9286-9

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