Phylogenetic Systematics of the Water Toad (Bufo stejnegeri) Elucidates the Evolution of Semi-aquatic Toad Ecology and Pleistocene Glacial Refugia
The water toad (Bufo stejnegeri) is endemic to Northeastern Asia (South Korea, North Korea, and China) and has unique ecology for a toad by being semi-aquatic and breeding in lotic environments. We use a suite of phylogenetic analyses to understand the evolution of B. stejnegeri's distinctive e...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2019.00523/full |
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| author | Jonathan J. Fong Bao-Tian Yang Pi-Peng Li Bruce Waldman Bruce Waldman Mi-Sook Min |
| author_facet | Jonathan J. Fong Bao-Tian Yang Pi-Peng Li Bruce Waldman Bruce Waldman Mi-Sook Min |
| author_sort | Jonathan J. Fong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The water toad (Bufo stejnegeri) is endemic to Northeastern Asia (South Korea, North Korea, and China) and has unique ecology for a toad by being semi-aquatic and breeding in lotic environments. We use a suite of phylogenetic analyses to understand the evolution of B. stejnegeri's distinctive ecology and the impact of Pleistocene glacial cycles on the biodiversity of Northeast Asia. For the evolution of a semi-aquatic lifestyle, although B. stejnegeri is relatively closely related to two other semi-aquatic Bufo species (B. torrenticola and B. andrewsi), ancestral state reconstruction analysis infers an independent evolution in all three species. Upon closer inspection, B. stejnegeri exhibits major differences in amplexus and egg-laying behavior compared to the other two species, supporting independent evolution. Divergence dating analyses infer B. stejnegeri to have originated during the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene (4.3 Ma, 2.7–6.2 Ma). This species does not exhibit population differentiation with respect to mountain range, but shows a preliminary genetic pattern of southern richness and northern purity supporting a single refugium in Korea during Pleistocene glacial cycles. The Bayesian skyline plot supports this inference, suggesting a population decline followed by expansion during the Pleistocene. Although not as species rich as the tropics, we hope this study helps spark interest in Northeast Asian biodiversity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:11:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ea8ff3412d384ac8a126fb247ff866c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:11:15Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-ea8ff3412d384ac8a126fb247ff866c62022-12-22T01:07:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2020-01-01710.3389/fevo.2019.00523474625Phylogenetic Systematics of the Water Toad (Bufo stejnegeri) Elucidates the Evolution of Semi-aquatic Toad Ecology and Pleistocene Glacial RefugiaJonathan J. Fong0Bao-Tian Yang1Pi-Peng Li2Bruce Waldman3Bruce Waldman4Mi-Sook Min5Science Unit, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong KongCenter for Chinese Endemic Herp-Breeding and Conservation Research and Liaoning Key Laboratory of Evolution and Biodiversity, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, ChinaCenter for Chinese Endemic Herp-Breeding and Conservation Research and Liaoning Key Laboratory of Evolution and Biodiversity, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, ChinaSchool of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South KoreaDepartment of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United StatesConservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife (CGRB), Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South KoreaThe water toad (Bufo stejnegeri) is endemic to Northeastern Asia (South Korea, North Korea, and China) and has unique ecology for a toad by being semi-aquatic and breeding in lotic environments. We use a suite of phylogenetic analyses to understand the evolution of B. stejnegeri's distinctive ecology and the impact of Pleistocene glacial cycles on the biodiversity of Northeast Asia. For the evolution of a semi-aquatic lifestyle, although B. stejnegeri is relatively closely related to two other semi-aquatic Bufo species (B. torrenticola and B. andrewsi), ancestral state reconstruction analysis infers an independent evolution in all three species. Upon closer inspection, B. stejnegeri exhibits major differences in amplexus and egg-laying behavior compared to the other two species, supporting independent evolution. Divergence dating analyses infer B. stejnegeri to have originated during the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene (4.3 Ma, 2.7–6.2 Ma). This species does not exhibit population differentiation with respect to mountain range, but shows a preliminary genetic pattern of southern richness and northern purity supporting a single refugium in Korea during Pleistocene glacial cycles. The Bayesian skyline plot supports this inference, suggesting a population decline followed by expansion during the Pleistocene. Although not as species rich as the tropics, we hope this study helps spark interest in Northeast Asian biodiversity.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2019.00523/fullancestral state reconstructionBayesian skylineBaekdudaegan Mountain Rangedivergence datingKoreaNortheast Asia |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan J. Fong Bao-Tian Yang Pi-Peng Li Bruce Waldman Bruce Waldman Mi-Sook Min Phylogenetic Systematics of the Water Toad (Bufo stejnegeri) Elucidates the Evolution of Semi-aquatic Toad Ecology and Pleistocene Glacial Refugia Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ancestral state reconstruction Bayesian skyline Baekdudaegan Mountain Range divergence dating Korea Northeast Asia |
| title | Phylogenetic Systematics of the Water Toad (Bufo stejnegeri) Elucidates the Evolution of Semi-aquatic Toad Ecology and Pleistocene Glacial Refugia |
| title_full | Phylogenetic Systematics of the Water Toad (Bufo stejnegeri) Elucidates the Evolution of Semi-aquatic Toad Ecology and Pleistocene Glacial Refugia |
| title_fullStr | Phylogenetic Systematics of the Water Toad (Bufo stejnegeri) Elucidates the Evolution of Semi-aquatic Toad Ecology and Pleistocene Glacial Refugia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phylogenetic Systematics of the Water Toad (Bufo stejnegeri) Elucidates the Evolution of Semi-aquatic Toad Ecology and Pleistocene Glacial Refugia |
| title_short | Phylogenetic Systematics of the Water Toad (Bufo stejnegeri) Elucidates the Evolution of Semi-aquatic Toad Ecology and Pleistocene Glacial Refugia |
| title_sort | phylogenetic systematics of the water toad bufo stejnegeri elucidates the evolution of semi aquatic toad ecology and pleistocene glacial refugia |
| topic | ancestral state reconstruction Bayesian skyline Baekdudaegan Mountain Range divergence dating Korea Northeast Asia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2019.00523/full |
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