Phylogeny and Morphology Determine Vulnerability to Global Warming in <i>Pristimantis</i> Frogs
Global warming is a great threat to biodiversity with negative impacts spanning the entire biological hierarchy. One of the main species’ traits determining survival at higher temperature is the thermal point at which an animal loses its ability to escape from deadly conditions (critical thermal max...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | Land |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/1/130 |
| _version_ | 1797439933266264064 |
|---|---|
| author | Pamela González-del-Pliego Robert P. Freckleton Brett R. Scheffers Edmund W. Basham Andrés R. Acosta-Galvis Claudia A. Medina Uribe Torbjørn Haugaasen David P. Edwards |
| author_facet | Pamela González-del-Pliego Robert P. Freckleton Brett R. Scheffers Edmund W. Basham Andrés R. Acosta-Galvis Claudia A. Medina Uribe Torbjørn Haugaasen David P. Edwards |
| author_sort | Pamela González-del-Pliego |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Global warming is a great threat to biodiversity with negative impacts spanning the entire biological hierarchy. One of the main species’ traits determining survival at higher temperature is the thermal point at which an animal loses its ability to escape from deadly conditions (critical thermal maximum—CT<sub>max</sub>). Variation in CT<sub>max</sub> across species is the outcome of environmental and evolutionary factors, but studies do not typically measure the degree to which environment or phylogeny influences the variation in trait values. Here, we aim to elucidate whether local environmental variables or phylogeny influence CT<sub>max</sub> in highly climate change-threatened amphibians in the Tropical Andes. We measured CT<sub>max</sub> from 204 individuals belonging to seven <i>Pristimantis</i> frog species encountered in primary and secondary forests, and cattle pastures. We recorded their habitat, elevation, and the range of environmental temperatures they experienced over one year. Using phylogenetic analyses, we demonstrate that physiological thermal tolerance is related to phylogeny, positively related to body length, but not affected by environmental factors. We suggest that both phylogeny and morphology determine vulnerability to global warming. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:59:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b201bed0e16640979a7ade8f656f78a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:59:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-b201bed0e16640979a7ade8f656f78a22023-11-30T23:04:42ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-12-0112113010.3390/land12010130Phylogeny and Morphology Determine Vulnerability to Global Warming in <i>Pristimantis</i> FrogsPamela González-del-Pliego0Robert P. Freckleton1Brett R. Scheffers2Edmund W. Basham3Andrés R. Acosta-Galvis4Claudia A. Medina Uribe5Torbjørn Haugaasen6David P. Edwards7Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UKEcology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UKDepartment of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Newins-Ziegler Hall, University of Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, FL 32611, USADepartment of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Newins-Ziegler Hall, University of Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, FL 32611, USABatrachia Foundation, Carrera 58, 125B-29, Bogotá 111121, ColombiaInstituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Calle 28A # 15-09, Bogotá 111311, ColombiaFaculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 Ås, NorwayEcology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UKGlobal warming is a great threat to biodiversity with negative impacts spanning the entire biological hierarchy. One of the main species’ traits determining survival at higher temperature is the thermal point at which an animal loses its ability to escape from deadly conditions (critical thermal maximum—CT<sub>max</sub>). Variation in CT<sub>max</sub> across species is the outcome of environmental and evolutionary factors, but studies do not typically measure the degree to which environment or phylogeny influences the variation in trait values. Here, we aim to elucidate whether local environmental variables or phylogeny influence CT<sub>max</sub> in highly climate change-threatened amphibians in the Tropical Andes. We measured CT<sub>max</sub> from 204 individuals belonging to seven <i>Pristimantis</i> frog species encountered in primary and secondary forests, and cattle pastures. We recorded their habitat, elevation, and the range of environmental temperatures they experienced over one year. Using phylogenetic analyses, we demonstrate that physiological thermal tolerance is related to phylogeny, positively related to body length, but not affected by environmental factors. We suggest that both phylogeny and morphology determine vulnerability to global warming.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/1/130amphibianscritical thermal maximumglobal warmingphylogenetic signalTropical Andes |
| spellingShingle | Pamela González-del-Pliego Robert P. Freckleton Brett R. Scheffers Edmund W. Basham Andrés R. Acosta-Galvis Claudia A. Medina Uribe Torbjørn Haugaasen David P. Edwards Phylogeny and Morphology Determine Vulnerability to Global Warming in <i>Pristimantis</i> Frogs Land amphibians critical thermal maximum global warming phylogenetic signal Tropical Andes |
| title | Phylogeny and Morphology Determine Vulnerability to Global Warming in <i>Pristimantis</i> Frogs |
| title_full | Phylogeny and Morphology Determine Vulnerability to Global Warming in <i>Pristimantis</i> Frogs |
| title_fullStr | Phylogeny and Morphology Determine Vulnerability to Global Warming in <i>Pristimantis</i> Frogs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phylogeny and Morphology Determine Vulnerability to Global Warming in <i>Pristimantis</i> Frogs |
| title_short | Phylogeny and Morphology Determine Vulnerability to Global Warming in <i>Pristimantis</i> Frogs |
| title_sort | phylogeny and morphology determine vulnerability to global warming in i pristimantis i frogs |
| topic | amphibians critical thermal maximum global warming phylogenetic signal Tropical Andes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/1/130 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pamelagonzalezdelpliego phylogenyandmorphologydeterminevulnerabilitytoglobalwarminginipristimantisifrogs AT robertpfreckleton phylogenyandmorphologydeterminevulnerabilitytoglobalwarminginipristimantisifrogs AT brettrscheffers phylogenyandmorphologydeterminevulnerabilitytoglobalwarminginipristimantisifrogs AT edmundwbasham phylogenyandmorphologydeterminevulnerabilitytoglobalwarminginipristimantisifrogs AT andresracostagalvis phylogenyandmorphologydeterminevulnerabilitytoglobalwarminginipristimantisifrogs AT claudiaamedinauribe phylogenyandmorphologydeterminevulnerabilitytoglobalwarminginipristimantisifrogs AT torbjørnhaugaasen phylogenyandmorphologydeterminevulnerabilitytoglobalwarminginipristimantisifrogs AT davidpedwards phylogenyandmorphologydeterminevulnerabilitytoglobalwarminginipristimantisifrogs |