Ecomorphological convergence in Eleutherodactylus frogs: a case of replicate radiations in the Caribbean

Replicate radiations, the repeated multiplication of species associated with ecological divergence, have attracted much attention and generated as much debate. Due to the few well‐studied cases, it remains unclear whether replicate radiations are an exceptional result of evolution or a relatively common example of the power of adaptation by natural selection. We examined the case of Eleutherodactylus frogs, which radiated in the Caribbean islands resulting in more than 160 species that occupy very diverse habitats. A time‐calibrated phylogeny revealed that these frogs independently diversified on all larger islands producing species that occupy a broad range of microhabitats in different islands. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we found an association between morphological traits and particular microhabitats, and for most microhabitats detected significant morphological convergence. Our results indicate Caribbean Eleutherodactylus are a novel example of replicate radiations, and...重复辐射演化（replicate radiations）指与生态分化相关的物种反复增殖现象，长期以来备受学界关注，同时也引发了广泛学术争论。由于目前被充分研究的案例寥寥无几，学界仍未明确：重复辐射演化究竟是演化过程中的罕见特例，还是自然选择适应性作用力量的一种较为普遍的体现形式。本研究以离趾蟾属（Eleutherodactylus）蛙类为研究对象，该类群在加勒比群岛经历辐射演化，现已形成160余种占据多样生境的物种。通过构建时间校准系统发育树，研究发现这些蛙类在所有较大的加勒比群岛上独立发生物种分化，形成了在不同岛屿占据广泛微生境的类群。运用系统发育比较分析方法，本研究发现形态性状与特定微生境之间存在关联，且在多数微生境类群中检测到了显著的形态趋同现象。本研究结果表明，加勒比群岛的离趾蟾属蛙类是重复辐射演化的又一全新案例，且...