Intraspecific Variations in Ecomorphological Functional Traits of Montane Stream-Dwelling Frogs Were Driven by Their Microhabitat Conditions
Simple Summary
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area
2.2. Data Collection
2.3. Statistical Analyses
3. Results
3.1. Intra-Species Functional Morphology Difference vs. Elevation
3.2. The Relationships Between Amphibians’ Functional Traits and Microhabitat Variables
3.3. Different Microhabitat Variables Affect Different Functional Traits
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Functional Traits | Code | Measure | Ecological Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
Mass (F/L) | M | Log (M + 1) | Volume, muscle mass |
Relative head length (F) | RHL | HL/SVL | Predatory and feeding capabilities |
Relative head width (F) | RHW | HW/SVL | Predatory and feeding capabilities |
Relative snout length (F) | RSL | SL/SVL | Predatory and feeding capabilities |
Relative diameter of eye (F) | RED | ED/SVL | Prey detection and discovery of natural predators |
Relative interorbital space (F) | RIOS | IOS/SVL | Prey detection and discovery of natural predators |
Relative length of lower arm (L) | RLAL | LAL/SVL | Jumping, locomotion performance |
Relative length of hand (L) | RLH | LH/SVL | Jumping, locomotion performance |
Relative hindlimb length (L) | RHLL | HLL/SVL | Swimming style, digging nests, and jumping |
Relative tibia length (L) | RTL | TL/SVL | Swimming style, digging nests, and jumping |
Relative width of tibia (L) | RTW | WT/SVL | Swimming style, digging nests, and jumping |
Functional Traits | Q. boulengeri | A. sinensis | O. margaratae | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PC1 (28.58%) | PC2 (16.74%) | PC1 (41.52%) | PC2 (12.66%) | PC1 (32.55%) | PC2 (18.50%) | |
M | −0.53 | −0.16 | 0.84 | −0.84 | 0.92 | −0.24 |
RHL | 0.31 | 1.02 | −0.94 | −0.16 | −0.92 | −0.40 |
RHW | 1.17 | 0.35 | −1.41 | 0.05 | −1.31 | 0.02 |
RSL | 0.88 | 0.37 | −1.14 | 0.35 | −1.22 | −0.46 |
RED | 0.93 | −0.10 | −0.91 | −0.40 | −0.73 | −0.57 |
RIOS | 0.24 | 0.95 | −0.81 | 0.10 | −0.73 | −0.36 |
RLAL | −0.27 | 0.92 | −0.40 | 0.40 | −0.87 | 0.46 |
RLH | 1.10 | 0.22 | −1.27 | 0.25 | −1.22 | −0.11 |
RHLL | 1.01 | −0.89 | −1.20 | −0.56 | −0.56 | 1.41 |
RTL | 1.04 | −0.38 | −1.23 | −0.09 | −0.88 | 1.09 |
RTW | −0.38 | −0.09 | −0.31 | −1.36 | 0.60 | 1.10 |
Microhabitat Variables | PC1 (49.85%) | PC2 (17.95%) |
---|---|---|
AT | −1.67 | −0.76 |
AH | 0.59 | 0.60 |
Wt | −1.89 | 0.03 |
pH_w | 0.68 | 0.75 |
Wd | −1.81 | −0.57 |
Ww | −1.51 | 1.36 |
Cd | 1.78 | 0.61 |
Rc | 0.36 | −1.78 |
Fr | −1.49 | 0.90 |
Ele | 2.03 | −0.08 |
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Peng, X.; Kang, D.; Chen, G.; Hu, S.; Sun, Z.; Zhao, T. Intraspecific Variations in Ecomorphological Functional Traits of Montane Stream-Dwelling Frogs Were Driven by Their Microhabitat Conditions. Animals 2025, 15, 2243. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152243
Peng X, Kang D, Chen G, Hu S, Sun Z, Zhao T. Intraspecific Variations in Ecomorphological Functional Traits of Montane Stream-Dwelling Frogs Were Driven by Their Microhabitat Conditions. Animals. 2025; 15(15):2243. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152243
Chicago/Turabian StylePeng, Xiwen, Da Kang, Guangfeng Chen, Suwen Hu, Zijian Sun, and Tian Zhao. 2025. "Intraspecific Variations in Ecomorphological Functional Traits of Montane Stream-Dwelling Frogs Were Driven by Their Microhabitat Conditions" Animals 15, no. 15: 2243. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152243
APA StylePeng, X., Kang, D., Chen, G., Hu, S., Sun, Z., & Zhao, T. (2025). Intraspecific Variations in Ecomorphological Functional Traits of Montane Stream-Dwelling Frogs Were Driven by Their Microhabitat Conditions. Animals, 15(15), 2243. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152243