Geographical variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism of introduced American bullfrogs in southwestern China |
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Authors: | Liu Xuan Li Yiming Monica McGarrity |
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Institution: | (1) Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Datun Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100101, China;(2) Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 Yuquan Road, Shijingshan, Beijing, 100039, China;(3) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS, 1200 North Park Road, Plant City, FL 33563, USA; |
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Abstract: | Invasive species often exhibit geographical variations in life history traits that may allow them to successfully invade different
environments. We investigated geographical variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism (SSD) of invasive bullfrogs in
southwestern China, by sampling two breeding populations (descendants of a single source population) inhabiting sites at low
(1,412 m, Shiping) and high (2,692 m, Luguhu) altitudes. Both populations exhibited significant SSD, with females larger than
males. At high altitude, mean body size of both sexes and the degree of SSD were significantly reduced; the reduction in mean
body size with increasing altitude was more pronounced in females, although not significantly so. Female bullfrogs also showed
a significant decrease in average age at high altitude that may be a major factor related to this pattern; average age of
male bullfrogs did not vary significantly with altitude. Growth rate of both sexes was also lower at high altitude. Our results
provide the first evidence that introduced bullfrog’s exhibit geographical variation in morphology in invaded areas in response
to different environments, likely due to changes in climate. Additional research is required to determine the mechanism of
this variation (i.e., physiological or developmental plasticity, mortality rate, selective pressure) and most importantly,
to evaluate the potential for variation in the impacts of introduced bullfrogs on native ecosystems in China. |
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