The evolution of cascade frogs with gastromyzophorus tadpoles: Do Sumatran species distribution patterns correlate with ancient river systems?

孙达兰是“生物多样性热点地区”，因为这个极其多样的地区被分成许多拥有独特动物群的岛屿。在地质时代，苏门答腊岛、爪哇岛、婆罗洲岛和该地区许多较小的岛屿相互连接，并在更新世低海平面时期通过陆路与亚洲大陆相连。在这个项目中，我们调查了苏门答腊族级联蛙的分布、系统发育关系、系统学和形态。将沿着苏门答腊岛的纵向山脉采集样本，调查是否存在与苏门答腊岛/爪哇地质史相关的物种分布模式和遗传和形态特征中可检测到的种内模式。具体地说，由于这些青蛙高度依赖水系繁殖，我们分析了在更新世形成苏门答腊岛和爪哇分水岭的三个古老的舜他河水系是否可能导致了种内或种间格局。预计会对苏门答腊岛上的其他蛙类群进行推断。在这项研究的过程中，极有可能在这一极其多样化的区域发现新物种。了解这些物种的分布情况，有助于在世界上这一高度受威胁的地区做出未来的保护决定。这些物种非常适合用它们专门的幼虫清除湍急的水。

Sundaland is a "hotspot of biodiversity hotspots" in the sense that the mega-diverse area is divided into many islands with unique fauna. During geologic times the islands Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and many smaller ones in the area have be connected to each other and to mainland Asia by land during Pleistocene periods of low sea levels. In this project we investigate the distribution, phylogenetic relationships, systematics, and morphology of the Sumatran members of the Cascade Frogs, genus Huia. Samples will be taken along Sumatra's longitudinal mountain range and investigate if there are patterns of the distribution of the species and intraspecific patterning detectable in genetic and morphometric traits that can be correlated with Sumatra/Java geologic history. Specifically, because these frogs are highly dependent on river systems for reproduction, we analyze whether the three ancient Sunda river systems that formed watersheds for Sumatra and Java during the Pleistocene may have led to intra- or interspecific patterns. Extrapolations to other frog groups on Sumatra are expected. The discovery of new species in this mega-diverse area is highly likely in the course of this research. Knowing the distribution of these species, that are highly adapted to clear fast-flowing water with their specialized larvae, can contribute to future conservation decisions in this highly threatened area of the world.