Genealogy and Demographic History of a Widespread Amphibian throughout Indochina.

Relatively little is known about spatial patterns of cryptic diversity in tropical species and the processes that generate them. Few studies examine the geographic distribution of genetic lineages in Southeast Asia, an area hypothesized to harbor substantial cryptic diversity. We investigated the evolutionary history of Asian tree frogs of the Polypedates leucomystax complex (n = 172) based on 1800 bp of the mtDNA genes ND1 and cytochrome b and tested hypotheses pertaining to climate, geology, and dispersal patterns. Analyses revealed substantial genetic diversity and lineage divergence throughout the region with evidence for widespread sympatric lineages and a general north versus south clustering. Relaxed molecular clock analysis and tests for demographic expansion identified an initial cladogenesis during the Miocene with subsequent Plio-Pleistocene diversification, with the former corresponding to periods of increased aridity and the onset of monsoonal weather systems. Rates of diversification were relatively constant until the Early Pleistocene when rates increased exponentially. We found equivocal evidence for isolation-by-distance and a potential role of some landscape features as partial barriers to dispersal. Finally, our analyses showed that divergence between insular and mainland populations occurred before Homo sapiens colonized Southeast Asia, suggesting that historical human-mediated dispersal did not drive insular diversification. Our results suggested that demographic expansion in the Late Pleistocene resulted in widespread sympatric lineages in the P. leucomystax complex throughout southern China and Indochina and further clarified the evolutionary history of lineages within P. leucomystax.

Diversity and conservation of amphibians and reptiles of a protected and heavily disturbed forest of central Mexico.

The high loss rate of forest ecosystem by deforestation in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt is one of the principal ecological problems of central Mexico, even in natural protected areas. We compiled a checklist and determined ß-diversity indexes of amphibians and reptiles of the highly disturbed protected area, La Malinche National Park (LMNP) in Mexico, to determine the principal habitats for herpetofaunal conservation. After our extensive eight-year field sampling, we documented 28 species (nine amphibians and 19 reptiles), representing 11 families and 18 genera; four of these species are new records for LMNP. Of the species, 89% are endemic to Mexico. The IUCN Red List considers 22 species as Least Concern, one as Near Threatened, and four as Vulnerable. Meanwhile, the Environmental Viability Scores categorize three species as low vulnerability, 15 as medium, and 10 as high. According to the Mexican list of protected species, eight species are under Special Protection and nine are considered Vulnerable. The dissimilarity index between habitat types (ßsør) in both groups is high, principally due to the environmental gradient generated by the altitudinal range. Abies and Pine forest are high diversity areas for amphibians and reptiles, respectively, and must be considered for special protection. LMNP hosts more than 60% of the herpetofauna of Tlaxcala and is the principal "conservation island" for this state. Therefore, based on the percentage of state species represented, endemism and the current social and ecological problems, additional efforts that involve the local communities to protect the biodiversity of this National Park are necessary.