An insight into molecular taxonomy of bufonids, microhylids, and dicroglossid frogs: First genetic records from Pakistan
Abstract The current study was focused on documentation of amphibian assemblage in North Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, by using mitochondrial gene sequences of 16S rRNA. Our study entailed 37% of the known amphibian species of the country. We provided a phylogenetic analysis base...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8134 |
| _version_ | 1819260486051430400 |
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| author | Ayesha Akram Muhammad Rais Karem Lopez‐Hervas Rebecca D. Tarvin Muhammad Saeed Daniel I. Bolnick David C. Cannatella |
| author_facet | Ayesha Akram Muhammad Rais Karem Lopez‐Hervas Rebecca D. Tarvin Muhammad Saeed Daniel I. Bolnick David C. Cannatella |
| author_sort | Ayesha Akram |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The current study was focused on documentation of amphibian assemblage in North Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, by using mitochondrial gene sequences of 16S rRNA. Our study entailed 37% of the known amphibian species of the country. We provided a phylogenetic analysis based on 74 newly generated mitochondrial 16S rRNAs from nine species of genus Microlyla, Duttaphrynus, Allopaa, Nanorana, Sphaerotheca, Minervarya, Hoplobatrachus, and Euphlyctis. We employed the maximum‐likelihood inference and Bayesian analysis to assess the taxonomic status of the samples obtained from Pakistan, with respect to other congeneric species from surrounding regions. Our findings confirmed the taxonomic status of South Asian anuran species Duttaphrynus stomaticus, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Microhyla nilphamariensis, Allopaa hazarensis, Nanorana vicina, Sphaerotheca maskeyi (synonym: S. pashchima), Minervarya pierrei, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, and Euphlyctis kalasgramensis in Pakistan. We have reported new country records of genus Minervarya (M. pierrei). Minervarya pierrei was previously misidentified as Fejervarya limnocharis, due to dearth of genetic information. We provided the first genetic records of our endemic species N. vicina. The results revealed the taxonomic placement of N. vicina with respect to its congeners and validated the taxonomic status of N. vicina from its type locality (Murree) for the first time. The findings of the present study also indicated the paraphyletic relationship of A.‐ hazarensis with Nanorana species. So, based on our phylogenetic inferences, morphological characters, and habitat preferences, validity of generic status of A. hazarensis is undecided. As our data were not enough to resolve this issue, we suggest sequencing of additional mitochondrial and nuclear genes in the future studies to get a better resolution. We recommend carrying out extensive surveys throughout the country for proper scientific documentation of amphibians of Pakistan. Many new species, some of them might be endemic to Pakistan, are expected to be discovered, and taxonomic status of other species would be resolved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:26:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-07747dfb33aa4d758ba5460b53900552 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:26:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-07747dfb33aa4d758ba5460b539005522022-12-21T17:34:01ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582021-10-011120141751421610.1002/ece3.8134An insight into molecular taxonomy of bufonids, microhylids, and dicroglossid frogs: First genetic records from PakistanAyesha Akram0Muhammad Rais1Karem Lopez‐Hervas2Rebecca D. Tarvin3Muhammad Saeed4Daniel I. Bolnick5David C. Cannatella6Herpetology Lab Department of Wildlife Management Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi Rawalpindi PakistanHerpetology Lab Department of Wildlife Management Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi Rawalpindi PakistanDepartment of Wetland Ecology Doñana Biological Station Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Seville SpainDepartment of Integrative Biology University of California Berkeley Berkeley California USAHerpetology Lab Department of Wildlife Management Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi Rawalpindi PakistanDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut USADepartment of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Center University of Texas Austin Texas USAAbstract The current study was focused on documentation of amphibian assemblage in North Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, by using mitochondrial gene sequences of 16S rRNA. Our study entailed 37% of the known amphibian species of the country. We provided a phylogenetic analysis based on 74 newly generated mitochondrial 16S rRNAs from nine species of genus Microlyla, Duttaphrynus, Allopaa, Nanorana, Sphaerotheca, Minervarya, Hoplobatrachus, and Euphlyctis. We employed the maximum‐likelihood inference and Bayesian analysis to assess the taxonomic status of the samples obtained from Pakistan, with respect to other congeneric species from surrounding regions. Our findings confirmed the taxonomic status of South Asian anuran species Duttaphrynus stomaticus, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Microhyla nilphamariensis, Allopaa hazarensis, Nanorana vicina, Sphaerotheca maskeyi (synonym: S. pashchima), Minervarya pierrei, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, and Euphlyctis kalasgramensis in Pakistan. We have reported new country records of genus Minervarya (M. pierrei). Minervarya pierrei was previously misidentified as Fejervarya limnocharis, due to dearth of genetic information. We provided the first genetic records of our endemic species N. vicina. The results revealed the taxonomic placement of N. vicina with respect to its congeners and validated the taxonomic status of N. vicina from its type locality (Murree) for the first time. The findings of the present study also indicated the paraphyletic relationship of A.‐ hazarensis with Nanorana species. So, based on our phylogenetic inferences, morphological characters, and habitat preferences, validity of generic status of A. hazarensis is undecided. As our data were not enough to resolve this issue, we suggest sequencing of additional mitochondrial and nuclear genes in the future studies to get a better resolution. We recommend carrying out extensive surveys throughout the country for proper scientific documentation of amphibians of Pakistan. Many new species, some of them might be endemic to Pakistan, are expected to be discovered, and taxonomic status of other species would be resolved.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8134endemismMinervaryaNanorananew recordsphylogeny |
| spellingShingle | Ayesha Akram Muhammad Rais Karem Lopez‐Hervas Rebecca D. Tarvin Muhammad Saeed Daniel I. Bolnick David C. Cannatella An insight into molecular taxonomy of bufonids, microhylids, and dicroglossid frogs: First genetic records from Pakistan Ecology and Evolution endemism Minervarya Nanorana new records phylogeny |
| title | An insight into molecular taxonomy of bufonids, microhylids, and dicroglossid frogs: First genetic records from Pakistan |
| title_full | An insight into molecular taxonomy of bufonids, microhylids, and dicroglossid frogs: First genetic records from Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | An insight into molecular taxonomy of bufonids, microhylids, and dicroglossid frogs: First genetic records from Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | An insight into molecular taxonomy of bufonids, microhylids, and dicroglossid frogs: First genetic records from Pakistan |
| title_short | An insight into molecular taxonomy of bufonids, microhylids, and dicroglossid frogs: First genetic records from Pakistan |
| title_sort | insight into molecular taxonomy of bufonids microhylids and dicroglossid frogs first genetic records from pakistan |
| topic | endemism Minervarya Nanorana new records phylogeny |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8134 |
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