scholarly journals A Salamander tale: Relative abundance, morphometrics and microhabitat of the critically endangered Mexican salamander Pseudoeurycea robertsi (Taylor, 1939)

Herpetozoa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 35-47
Author(s):  
Armando Sunny ◽  
Hublester Domínguez-Vega ◽  
Carmen Caballero-Viñas ◽  
Fabiola Ramírez-Corona ◽  
Marco Suárez-Atilano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Data ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Basic Information ◽  
Morphometric Measurements ◽  
Plethodontid Salamander ◽  
Nevado De Toluca ◽  
Abies Religiosa ◽  
Salamander Species ◽  
Dorsal Stripe

Roberts’ False Brook Salamander (Pseudoeurycea robertsi) is a critically endangered plethodontid salamander, endemic to the Nevado de Toluca Volcano (NTV), Mexico. Little is known about the biology and ecology of this species, including its microhabitats. Thus, this study aimed to collect basic information about P. robertsi. We sampled fourteen forested sites in the NTV; to corroborate the correct identification of the species we used genetic data, we assessed the variation in head morphometric measurements and dorsal colouration patterns amongst localities and the microhabitat features associated with P. robertsi presence. Of the four potential salamander species, P. robertsi was the most abundant (89.80%) and widely distributed (approximately within 130 km2) salamander in the NTV. We did not find significant variations in morphometry; however, we found significant differences in dorsal patterns between populations (in the number and size of segments of the dorsal stripe). The average total length for 185 adults was 89.15 mm (38.7–117.9 mm); we found seven patterns of dorsal stripe. We found 98% of P. robertsi individuals under the bark of fallen logs in Abies religiosa and A. religiosa-Pinus sp. forests, with a higher number of detected salamanders in naturally-fallen logs than in cut logs (34% vs. 10%). Thus, keeping well-preserved A. religiosa forests and retaining fallen logs is essential to P. robertsi conservation.

scholarly journals Natural history of the critically endangered salamander Pseudoeurycea robertsi

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Sunny ◽  
Carmen Caballero-Viñas ◽  
Luis Duarte-deJesus ◽  
Fabiola Ramírez-Corona ◽  
Javier Manjarrez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Morphometric Study ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Plethodontid Salamander ◽  
Nevado De Toluca ◽  
Salamander Species

Mexico is one of the most diverse countries that is losing a large amount of forest due to land use change, these data put Mexico in fourth place for global deforestation rate, therefore, Mexico occupies the first place in number of endangered species in the world with 665 endangered species. It is important to study amphibians because they are among the most threatened vertebrates on Earth and their populations are rapidly declining worldwide due primarily to the loss and degradation of their natural habitats. Pseudoeurycea robertsi is a micro-endemic and critically endangered Plethodontid salamander from the Nevado de Toluca Volcano and to date almost nothing is known about its natural history therefore, we survey fourteen sites of the Nevado de Toluca Volcano a mountain that is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Mexico. We carry out the most exhaustive sampling scheme of this species throughout the Nevado de Toluca Volcano to know the number of individuals and the microhabitat features associated with the presence of P. robertsi. Likewise, we carry out a morphometric study and coloration measurements of P. robertsi individuals and we determine the potential distribution of P. robertsi and the other 3 species of pletodontids present in the NTV using ecological niche modeling and to determine the most important habitat features associated with the presence of salamander species, as well as to know the niche overlap among salamander species. This information will help raise conservation strategies for this micro-endemic and critically endangered salamander.

scholarly journals Natural history of the critically endangered salamander Pseudoeurycea robertsi

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Sunny ◽  
Carmen Caballero-Viñas ◽  
Luis Duarte-deJesus ◽  
Fabiola Ramírez-Corona ◽  
Javier Manjarrez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Morphometric Study ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Plethodontid Salamander ◽  
Nevado De Toluca ◽  
Salamander Species

Mexico is one of the most diverse countries that is losing a large amount of forest due to land use change, these data put Mexico in fourth place for global deforestation rate, therefore, Mexico occupies the first place in number of endangered species in the world with 665 endangered species. It is important to study amphibians because they are among the most threatened vertebrates on Earth and their populations are rapidly declining worldwide due primarily to the loss and degradation of their natural habitats. Pseudoeurycea robertsi is a micro-endemic and critically endangered Plethodontid salamander from the Nevado de Toluca Volcano and to date almost nothing is known about its natural history therefore, we survey fourteen sites of the Nevado de Toluca Volcano a mountain that is part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Mexico. We carry out the most exhaustive sampling scheme of this species throughout the Nevado de Toluca Volcano to know the number of individuals and the microhabitat features associated with the presence of P. robertsi. Likewise, we carry out a morphometric study and coloration measurements of P. robertsi individuals and we determine the potential distribution of P. robertsi and the other 3 species of pletodontids present in the NTV using ecological niche modeling and to determine the most important habitat features associated with the presence of salamander species, as well as to know the niche overlap among salamander species. This information will help raise conservation strategies for this micro-endemic and critically endangered salamander.

scholarly journals Evaluación de los bosques templados en México: una aplicación en el Parque Nacional Nevado de Toluca

1998 ◽  
Vol 1 (36) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourdes Villers Ruíz ◽  
Laura García del Valle ◽  
Jorge López Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Nevado De Toluca ◽  
Abies Religiosa

Con base en un análisis de fotointerpretación y de evaluación botánica de sitios, se propone una metodología expedita que permita conocer las características generales de los bosques templados en México. La metodología fue aplicada en el parque nacional Nevado de Toluca. Se determinaron tres comunidades de bosque: a) de Pinus hartwegu. b) de Abies religiosa y c) mixto Abies religiosa. Alnas jorullensis, P pseudostrobus y P hartwegii Para cada comunidad se definieron por fotointerpretación tres tipos de densidad de cobertura relativa. Con la corroboración en campo de H sitios, previamente determinados mediante el análisis de fotografías aéreas, según tipo de bosque y densidad de cobertura, se encontraron marcadas diferencias en cuanto a altura, cobertura y número de árboles, en los sitios seleccionados Del análisis de especies dominantes, subdominantes y porcentajes de cobertura de los sitios trabajados en campo, se concluye que existe una mayor riqueza en los bosques de Abies y mixtos, que en los bosques de Pinus. Existen diferentes grados de perturbación provocada por la acción humana como son: la tala de árboles principalmente en bosques de Abies, e indicios de quemas asociadas a pastoreo en los bosques de Pinit: Se constato la presencia de Lupinus montanus y Penstemon gentianoides como indicadoras de perturbación.

scholarly journals Understanding “Alexandrian” extinctions using genomic DNA from fluid-preserved museum specimens of Desmognathus salamanders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Pyron ◽  
David A. Beamer ◽  
Chace R. Holzheuser ◽  
Emily Moriarty Lemmon ◽  
Alan R. Lemmon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Extraction Procedure ◽  
Genetic Data ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Sandy Bottom ◽  
Sequencing Errors ◽  
Plethodontid Salamander ◽  
Anchored Hybrid Enrichment

Abstract Species that went extinct prior to the genomic era are typically out-of-reach for modern phylogenetic studies. We refer to these as “Alexandrian” extinctions, after the lost library of the ancient world. This is particularly limiting for conservation studies, as genetic data for such taxa may be key to understand extinction threats and risks, the causes of declines, and inform management of related, extant populations. Fortunately, continual advances in biochemistry and DNA sequencing offer increasing ability to recover DNA from historical museum specimens, including fluid-preserved natural history collections. Here, we report on success in recovering nuclear and mitochondrial data from the apparently-extinct subspecies Desmognathus fuscus carri (Neill 1951), a plethodontid salamander from spring runs in central Florida. The two specimens are 50 years old and were likely preserved in unbuffered formalin, but application of a recently derived extraction procedure yielded usable DNA and partially successful Anchored Hybrid Enrichment sequencing. These data suggest that the populations of D. f. carri from peninsular Florida are conspecific with the D. auriculatus A lineage as suggested by previous authors, but likely represented an ecogeographically distinct genetic segment that has now been lost. Genetic data from this Alexandrian extinction thus confirm the geographic extent of population declines and extirpations as well as their ecological context, suggesting a possibly disproportionate loss from sandy-bottom clearwater streams compared to blackwater swamps. Success of these methods bodes well for large-scale application to fluid-preserved natural history specimens from relevant historical populations, but the possibility of significant DNA damage and related sequencing errors in additional hurdle to overcome.

scholarly journals Índices de anillos de crecimiento en dos coníferas del Centro de México

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-148
Author(s):  
Armando Gómez-Guerrero ◽  
Martínez Molina ◽  
Tomás Martínez-Trinidad ◽  
Alejandro Velázquez-Martínez ◽  
Oreste Sardiñas Gómez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Hartwegii ◽  
La Malinche ◽  
Nevado De Toluca ◽  
Abies Religiosa

Se determinaron índices de anillo de crecimiento (IAC) en Abies religiosa (Kunth Schltdl. et Cham) (oyamel) y Pinus hartwegii (Lindl.) (pino) en un transecto sobre el Eje Neo-volcánico Transversal, en México. La toma de muestras de anillos se realizó en seis montañas que presenan condiciones climáticas, geología, edafología suelo y vegetación similares. Las montañas son: Nevado de Colima, Pico de Tancítaro, Nevado de Toluca, Cerro Tláloc, La Malinche y Pico de Orizaba. Se colectaron virutas de incremento de al menos 20 árboles longevos de cada especie en cada sitio; sin embargo, para fines de este estudio se seleccionaron los árboles más representativos quedando entre 6 y 17 árboles de cada especie en cada montaña (144 árboles en total). Los resultados mostraron tendencias diferentes entre especies y montañas. Sin embargo, estimando valores promedio de IAC para el transecto, se observa que en el año 1935 hubo una reducción de crecimiento para ambas especies. El Oyamel mostró mayor variación en los IAC. De las dos especies, sólo en Oyamel se observó relación significativa entre los índices de anillo y la precipitación.Rev. iberoam. bioecon. cambio clim. Vol.1(1) 2015; 134-148

scholarly journals Caracterización del sotobosque en bosques densos de pino y oyamel en el Nevado de Toluca, México

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Mejía Canales ◽  
Sergio Franco-Maass ◽  
Angel Rolando Endara Agramont ◽  
Víctor Ávila Akerberg
Keyword(s):  
M 10 ◽  
Pinus Hartwegii ◽  
Nevado De Toluca ◽  
Abies Religiosa

La mayor diversidad florística de los bosques templados se encuentra en el componente herbáceo y arbustivo del sotobosque, en estos, la flora adquiere gran importancia ecológica y funcional. Los procesos esenciales del ciclo de nutrientes y la trayectoria sucesional, dependen directamente de la vegetación del sotobosque. Por ello, es necesario realizar la caracterización florística de estas comunidades y conocer su diversidad. En este estudio se determinó la composición y estructura de las especies herbáceas y arbustivas en bosques densos de Pinus hartwegii (Lindl) y Abies religiosa (Kunth Schltdl. et Cham.) del Nevado de Toluca y se cuantificó la abundancia de regeneración arbórea en 10 cuadrantes continuos de 10 m × 10 m. En las especies menores a 50 cm de altura se estimó la cobertura y abundancia con base en la escala Braun-Blanquet. En las especies mayores a 50 cm se obtuvo el valor relativo en cobertura, frecuencia y densidad, además del valor de importancia. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos, la flora del sotobosque de Abies religiosa posee una mayor riqueza y está compuesta por 33 especies, 25 géneros y 14 familias, donde Asteraceae es la familia dominante. El sotobosque de Pinus hartwegii registró un total de 18 especies, 16 géneros y 10 familias, con dominancia en cobertura y abundancia de la familia Poaceae. En ambas comunidades vegetales la abundancia de la regeneración es mayor en plántulas y menor en brinzales y latizales. 

Guiding Species Recovery through Assessment of Spatial and Temporal Population Genetic Structure of Two Critically Endangered Freshwater Mussel Species (Bivalvia: Unionidae)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jess Walter Jones ◽  
Timothy W. Lane ◽  
Nathan Johnson ◽  
Eric M. Hallerman
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Freshwater Mussel ◽  
Genetic Data ◽  
Temporal Scale ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Frequency Change ◽  
Mussel Species ◽  
Clinch River

Abstract The Cumberlandian Combshell (Epioblasma brevidens) and Oyster Mussel (E. capsaeformis) are critically endangered freshwater mussel species native to the Tennessee and Cumberland River drainages, major tributaries of the Ohio River in the eastern United States. The Clinch River in northeastern Tennessee (TN) and southwestern Virginia (VA) harbors the only remaining stronghold population for either species, containing tens of thousands of individuals per species; however, a few smaller populations are still extant in other rivers. We collected and analyzed genetic data to assist with population restoration and recovery planning for both species. We used an 888 base-pair sequence of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1) gene and ten nuclear DNA microsatellite loci to assess patterns of genetic differentiation and diversity in populations at small and large spatial scales, and at a 9-year (2004 to 2013) temporal scale, which showed how quickly these populations can diverge from each other in a short time period. Intraspecific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite DNA variation was higher in E. capsaeformis than in E. brevidens. These two species have maintained quite different levels of genetic diversity within their Clinch River stronghold and in their smaller peripheral populations in the Big South Fork Cumberland and Nolichucky rivers, TN. For instance, with only three mtDNA haplotypes detected overall across populations, E. brevidens’ capacity for maintaining genetic diversity appears to be less than that of E. capsaeformis, which had 18 haplotypes. At the relatively small spatial scales (15-30 kilometers) investigated in the Clinch River, demes of both species exhibited minimal genetic differentiation in either the 2004 or 2013 sampling periods, typically <0.02 based on FST and <0.1 based on Jost’s D. Our genetic data suggest that mussels at the numerous shoals in a 32-kilometer section of the Clinch River comprise a single, large population of each respective species with very high gene-flow among individual demes. However, we also observed a high level of genetic differentiation among demes at the 9-year temporal scale, with differentiation metrics for E. brevidens (D = 0.47 and FST = 0.12) and E. capsaeformis (D = 0.31 and FST = 0.05) proving higher than the within-year values. This result strongly suggests that genetic drift is playing an important role in allele frequency change over time in these populations. At the spatial and temporal scales investigated in this study, various demographic, life history, and environmental factors are influencing maintenance of genetic variation and need to be considered during conservation planning for each species.

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