Phylogeny and Morphology Determine Vulnerability to Global Warming in Pristimantis Frogs

Pamela González-del-Pliego (), Robert P. Freckleton, Brett R. Scheffers, Edmund W. Basham, Andrés R. Acosta-Galvis, Claudia A. Medina Uribe, Torbjørn Haugaasen and David P. Edwards
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Pamela González-del-Pliego: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
Robert P. Freckleton: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
Brett R. Scheffers: Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Newins-Ziegler Hall, University of Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Edmund W. Basham: Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Newins-Ziegler Hall, University of Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Andrés R. Acosta-Galvis: Batrachia Foundation, Carrera 58, 125B-29, Bogotá 111121, Colombia
Claudia A. Medina Uribe: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Calle 28A # 15-09, Bogotá 111311, Colombia
Torbjørn Haugaasen: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 Ås, Norway
David P. Edwards: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK

Land, 2022, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: 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 max ). Variation in CT max 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 max in highly climate change-threatened amphibians in the Tropical Andes. We measured CT max from 204 individuals belonging to seven Pristimantis 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.

Keywords: amphibians; critical thermal maximum; global warming; phylogenetic signal; Tropical Andes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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