Phylogenetic Analysis of the Ramsey Canyon Leopard Frog (Rana subaquavocalis)
Loading...
Authors
Morgan, John
Issue Date
1995
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Recent research has shown that there are several large divisions in
the North American frog populations, splitting the population into
an eastern lineage and a western lineage. A new species of frog
(Rana subaquavocalis) has been discovered in the Huachuca
Mountains in Arizona. Rana subaquavocalis is morphologically
similar to the group Rana pipiens which is an eastern lineage frog,
yet it displays a complex underwater vocalization pattern which is
found only in West coast frogs. This research will use tissue
homogenates of several species of frogs for an allozymic
electrophoresis in order obtain genetic markers which will show
whether the species Rana subaquayocalis has developed from the
pipiens group and simultaneously developed the underwater
vocalization trait, or if Rana subaquavocalis developed from a
western lineage of frogs and has independently developed the
pipiens morphology. Genetic markers during this experiment have
shown that Rana subaquavocalis is genetically similar to the frogs
from the eastern lineage, especially Rana chiricahuensitta member
of the pipiens group. This demonstrates that Rana subaquavocalis
has probably evolved from the pipiens group, members of the
eastern lineage of frogs, and has evolved the technique of
underwater vocalization independently of the western lineage of
frogs. This demonstrates an example of convergent evolution
towards a trait which allows for better survival of the species.
Description
34 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.