Patterns and processes of diversification in genus Brachycephalus Fitzinger, 1826 (Anura: Brachycephalidae)

Abstract

The montane areas of the Atlantic Forest domain harbor high diversity and endemism of anurans. These areas are considered optimal to studies in biogeography, phylogeography and evolution. The genus Brachycephalus is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and currently comprises 21 species. Most of them are restricted to high elevation areas along the main mountain ranges of the biome. The disjunct geographic distribution and the recent discovery of new species suggest that Brachycephalus diversity is still underestimated. The variation of morphological, ecological and genetic traits of Brachycephalus populations along their distribution have been used in recent studies to amplify the species knowledge and identify environmental factors involved in these species diversification. However, distribution gaps, taxonomic uncertainties and evolutionary history of the genus still must be elucidated. This project aims to contribute to the understanding of the historical processes involved in these species diversification along the altitudinal gradient of the Atlantic Forest. The specific goals of this project are: (1) identify and sample distribution gaps for the genus Brachycephalus; (2) investigate the relationships among populations and sister species to improve the phylogenetic hypothesis; (3) characterize the genetic diversity of the genus and identify the evolutionary processes involved in these species diversification. (AU)