Phylogenetic Relationships of West Indian EleutherodactylineFrogs

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9615643 HEDGES The West Indies is unique among tropical archipelagos of the world in being composed of several, large islands of ancient origin, the Greater Antilles. Each island possesses a species-rich biota, and collectively, the islands provide a valuable "laboratory" where scientists can replicate tests of hypotheses regarding phylogenetic relationships and biologically-meaningful mechanisms. The islands of the Greater Antilles have been the focus of numerous, classical studies in ecology, animal morphology and behavior, and historical biogeography. Our understanding of phylogenetic relationships among most West Indian animal and plant groups, however, remains poor. A critical group of West Indian animals are leptodactylid frogs (genus Eleutherodactylus). Eleutherodactylus is the largest genus of vertebrate organisms, and comprise most of the amphibian fauna of the West Indies. Nearly every species of Eleutherodactylus is restricted to a single island and is found nowhere else. In this project, Blair Hedges will examine DNA sequences from two mitochondrially-encoded, ribosomal RNA genes and from one nuclear-encoded gene (serum albumin). Aligned sequences will be subjected to rigorous phylogenetic analysis, and the resulting relationships inferred will be subjected to rigorous statistical testing The resulting and well-supported hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships will then be used to determine significant patterns of divergence of chromosomal change, vocalization, life-history, and speciation in these frogs and in anurans in general. The phylogenetic hypotheses also will be used to test hypotheses of historical biogeography in the West Indian region.