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No ecological opportunity signal on a continental scale? Diversification and life-history evolution of African true toads (Anura: Bufonidae)

Liedtke, Hans Christoph and Müller, Hendrik and Rödel, Mark-Oliver and Menegon, Michele and Gonwouo Nono, Legrand and Barej, Michael F. and Gvoždík, Václav and Schmitz, Andreas and Channing, Alan and Nagel, Peter and Loader, Simon Paul. (2016) No ecological opportunity signal on a continental scale? Diversification and life-history evolution of African true toads (Anura: Bufonidae). Evolution : international journal of organic evolution, 70 (8). pp. 1717-1733.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/43808/

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Abstract

The niche-filling process predicted by the “ecological opportunity” (EO) model is an often-invoked mechanism for generating exceptional diversity in island colonizers. Whether the same process governs lineage accumulation and trait disparity during continental colonization events is less clear. Here, we test this prediction by investigating the rate dynamics and trait evolution of one of Africa's most widespread amphibian colonizers, the true toads (Bufonidae). By reconstructing the most complete molecular phylogeny of African Bufonidae to date, we find that the diversification of lineages in Africa best conforms to a constant rate model throughout time and across subclades, with little support for EO. Evolutionary rates of life-history traits have similarly been constant over time. However, an analysis of generalists and specialists showed a shift toward higher speciation rates associated with habitat specialization. The overall lack of EO signal can be interpreted in a number of ways and we propose several explanations. Firstly, methodological issues might preclude the detection of EO. Secondly, colonizers might not experience true EO conditions and due to the size, ecological heterogeneity and age of landmasses, the diversification processes might be more complex. Thirdly, lower speciation rates of habitat generalists may have affected overall proliferation of lineages.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Umweltwissenschaften > Ehemalige Einheiten Umweltwissenschaften > Biogeographie (Nagel)
UniBasel Contributors:Liedtke, Hans Christoph and Loader, Simon Paul and Nagel, Peter
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1558-5646
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:03 Jan 2017 10:13
Deposited On:03 Jan 2017 10:13

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