Microhabitat partitioning of closely related Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo) frog species previously assigned to the genus Hylarana (Amphibia: Anura)

Authors : RAMLAH ZAINUDIN, BADRUL MUNIR MD ZAIN, NORHAYATI AHMAD, SHUKOR MOHD NOR

Pages : 876-891

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Microhabitats play an important role as resources that are partitioned between phylogenetically related or ecologically similar species insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(i.e., a guild);. This hypothesis was tested by first elucidating phylogenetically closed Sarawak frog species via DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial DNA gene, and later determining their microhabitat guild and partitioning via nonmetric dimensional scale. Mitochondrial 16S gene revealed 5 monophyletic groups consisting of Hylarana erythraea + Amnirana nicobariensis, Chalcorana raniceps, Abavorana luctuosa, Pulchrana signata + P. picturata, and P. baramica + P. glandulosa + P. laterimaculata. On the other hand, microhabitat utilization grouped the frogs into 5 ecological guilds consisting of semiarboreal species at the forest edge insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(C. raniceps);, ground dwellers in an unforested region insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(H. erythraea);, ground dwellers insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(rock); at the forest edge insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P. picturata);, ground dwellers on the forest floor and forest edge species insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P. signata, P. glandulosa, A. luctuosa, O. hosii);, and semiarboreal forest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(riverine); species insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P. baramica);. Thus, the microhabitats used were not influenced by the proposed phylogenetic relationships. Partitioning of microhabitat utilization, on the other hand, was clearly seen in 2 closely related species in both vertical and substrate utilization. The study supports resource partitioning by closely related species reflected by their ecological guilds, and will be useful for conservation management of the Bornean fauna.
Keywords : Ecological guilds, molecular phylogeny, 16S mtDNA, Sarawak frogs, monophyletic frog