Faculty Publications

Species Limits And Phylogeography Of North American Cricket Frogs (Acris: Hylidae)

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Acris, Amphibian decline, Cryptic species, Mitochondrial gene, Nuclear gene, Phylogeography, Species delimitation

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

Volume

48

Issue

1

First Page

112

Last Page

125

Abstract

Cricket frogs are widely distributed across the eastern United States and two species, the northern cricket frog (Acris crepitans) and the southern cricket frog (A. gryllus) are currently recognized. We generated a phylogenetic hypothesis for Acris using fragments of nuclear and mitochondrial genes in separate and combined phylogenetic analyses. We also used distance methods and fixation indices to evaluate species limits within the genus and the validity of currently recognized subspecies of A. crepitans. The distributions of existing A. crepitans subspecies, defined by morphology and call types, do not match the distributions of evolutionary lineages recovered using our genetic data. We discuss a scenario of call evolution to explain this disparity. We also recovered distinct phylogeographic groups within A. crepitans and A. gryllus that are congruent with other codistributed taxa. Under a lineage-based species concept, we recognize Acris blanchardi as a distinct species. The importance of this revised taxonomy is discussed in light of the dramatic declines in A. blanchardi across the northern and western portions of its range. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Department

Department of Biology

Original Publication Date

7-1-2008

DOI of published version

10.1016/j.ympev.2008.03.015

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