科研之友
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摘要
Hybridization, facilitated by habitat modification, poses a significant conservation risk to many amphibian species. The construction of water impoundments, which alter stream conditions, has facilitated the spread of Woodhouse's Toads (Anaxyrus woodhousii) and resulted in hybridization with Arizona Toads (A. microscaphus) in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, USA. To date, there has been no evaluation or reported occurrence of hybridization between A. microscaphus and A. woodhousii in New Mexico. In New Mexico, the range of A. microscaphus encompasses an area of approximately 9,585 km(2), and extends primarily in the upper Gila River and upper Mimbres River basins. We conducted a morphological comparison using hybrid index scores of specimens collected over a 107-y period to determine whether hybridization has occurred and if it represents a threat to A. microscaphus in New Mexico. We found no evidence of hybridization between A. microscaphus and A. woodhousii in New Mexico; however, we uncovered numerous misidentified specimens. This finding resulted in a significant revision of the distribution of A. woodhousii, reducing the number of previously recognized areas of syntopy of the two species from 20 to two. We speculate that the construction of a proposed water diversion project along the Gila River in the Gila-Cliff Valley, one area where the two species occur within 2 km of each other, may facilitate the spread of A. woodhousii, increasing the likelihood of contact and hybridization with A. microscaphus. This research highlights the importance of museum specimens in assessment of conservation risks and validation of identifications to assess species distributions accurately.
- 出版日期2017-8
