Evolutionary Ecology - Developments in the study of poison frog evolutionary ecology
Guest Editors
Bibiana Rojas, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
Fernando Vargas-Salinas, Evolution, Ecology and Conservation Group, University of Quindío, Colombia
Theme & Objective
‘Poison frogs’ is the common name traditionally given to a group of Neotropical frogs in the superfamily Dendrobatoidea, which occur from the south of Nicaragua to the north of Bolivia. Broadly speaking, however, poison frogs comprise several groups of frogs distributed across the world, with representatives in Central and South America, Madagascar, and Australia. These frogs are characterised by a great diversity in reproductive strategies and the possession of skin toxins that render them unprofitable as prey. In most cases, such toxins are accompanied by a bright conspicuous colouration. Poison frogs, particularly those in the superfamily Dendrobatoidea, have been gradually positioning themselves as models for the study of predator selection on coloration and the evolution of complex social behaviours such as territoriality and parental care. In the last decade, however, after a special issue published in 2013 in this journal on the evolutionary ecology of dendrobatid poison frogs, research on the different groups of poison frogs has blossomed on a much wider range of topics and species, and on a deeper level of detail.
This special issue collates articles investigating different evolutionary and ecological processes underlying poison frogs’ geographic distribution, phenotypic and genetic diversity, space use, antipredator strategies, mate choice, parental care, communication, larval behaviour, etc..
We sought Research, Review, Perspectives articles and Natural History Notes (this opens in a new tab) that highlighted recent developments on poison frog (sensu lato) research. We considered submissions on topics including, but not limited to, sexual selection, predator-prey interactions, behaviour, adaptation, life history, disease ecology, genetic and phenotypic diversity, ecophysiology, response to anthropogenic factors, etc., and on taxa such as dendrobatids, Mantella, Brachycephalus, certain bufonids (i.e., Atelopus, Melanophryniscus, Rhinella), and Pseudophryne. Submissions were open to researchers worldwide.
We particularly encouraged Students and Early Career Researchers (this opens in a new tab), as well as research groups from the regions where these species occur (Central and South America, Madagascar, etc.), to submit their work in any of the proposed areas.
EXPECTED PUBLICATION: 2024
(Accepted articles will be made available Online First (this opens in a new tab) on an ongoing basis.)
About the Guest Editors
Dr. Bibiana Rojas (@biobiiana (this opens in a new tab)) is an evolutionary ecologist and Assistant Professor of Global Change Biology at the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, interested in topics ranging from bioacoustics and coloration, to parental care, aggression and, more recently, disease ecology. Her research thus far has largely focused on the evolution of warning signals and chemical defenses in poison frogs and tiger moths. Currently, she is studying the effects of habitat disturbance, pollution and disease on the dynamics of amphibian populations and communities.
Dr. Fernando Vargas-Salinas (@fvargas_salinas (this opens in a new tab)), a biologist and a full professor of the Evolution, Ecology and Conservation Group at the University of Quindío, is interested in documenting ecological and natural history aspects of vertebrates and their relationship with conservation biology and evolution. He studies acoustic communication and reproduction in anurans, and changes in the diversity of species in response to disturbances generated by agricultural activities or the presence of roads and urban complexes. You can read more about Dr. Vargas-Salinas’s research activities here (this opens in a new tab).
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