Bolitoglossa subpalmata (Plethodontidae) Phylogeny and modeling of present-future ecological niche.

Abstract

Costa Rica is placed in the first position of diversity of salamanders worldwide. There are 49 known species of salamanders that belong to three different genera. In the tropics of America, salamanders have diversified and an adaptive radiation that occurred in the past, originated a single clade: the supergenus Bolitoglossa (Plethodontidae). On the other hand, a large number of species have been developed in different habitats and the diversification of species occurs in restricted geographical areas, and includes the form, elevation and zoning. One theory of the colonization of the Bolitoglossas is that the ancestor was arboreal that inhabited the lowlands, and this was dispersed to higher lands of the geographical landscape. The Bolitoglossa subpalmata is a nocturnal species, which can be found on bromeliads, and during the day can be found under rocks, trunks and debris. They inhabit cloud forests, mainly in the Cordillera de Talamanca and is a species very sensitive to habitat fragmentation and alteration. The objective of this project is to determine the phylogeny and make a model of the current niche and future niche prediction and what possible changes the niche of the Bolitoglossa subpalmata can have.