Data from: The evolution of reproductive diversity in Afrobatrachia: A phylogenetic comparative analysis of an extensive radiation of African frogs

The reproductive modes of anurans (frogs and toads) are the most diverse of terrestrial vertebrates, and a major challenge is identifying selective factors that promote the evolution or retention of reproductive modes across clades. Terrestrialized anuran breeding strategies have evolved repeatedly from the plesiomorphic fully aquatic reproductive mode, a process thought to occur through intermediate reproductive stages. Several selective forces have been proposed for the evolution of terrestrialized reproductive traits, but factors such as water systems and co-evolution with ecomorphologies have not been investigated. We examined these topics in a comparative phylogenetic framework using Afrobatrachian frogs, an ecologically and reproductively diverse clade representing more than half of the total frog diversity found in Africa (~400 species). We infer direct development has evolved twice independently from terrestrialized reproductive modes involving subterranean or terrestrial oviposition, supporting evolution through intermediate stages. We also detect associations between specific ecomorphologies and oviposition sites, and demonstrate arboreal species exhibit an overall shift towards using lentic water systems for breeding. These results indicate that changes in microhabitat use associated with ecomorphology, which allow access to novel sites for reproductive behavior, oviposition, or larval development, may also promote reproductive mode diversity in anurans.无尾两栖类（Anurans，即蛙类与蟾蜍类）的繁殖模式是陆生脊椎动物中最为多样的，当前学界面临的一项核心挑战是，厘清驱动各系统发育支系（clades）繁殖模式演化或保留的选择因子。从祖征的完全水生繁殖模式（plesiomorphic fully aquatic reproductive mode）出发，陆生化的无尾类繁殖策略已多次独立演化，学界普遍认为该过程通过中间繁殖阶段完成。目前已提出多种选择压力（selective forces）以解释陆生化繁殖性状的演化，但诸如水生生境系统与生态形态学（ecomorphologies）协同演化等因素尚未得到研究。本研究以非洲无尾蛙类（Afrobatrachian frogs）为研究对象，在比较系统发育框架（comparative phylogenetic framework）下开展相关分析——该类群是兼具生态与繁殖多样性的支系，涵盖了非洲已知蛙类总多样性的一半以上（约400个物种）。我们推断，直接发育（direct development）曾两次独立起源自涉及地下产卵（subterranean oviposition）或陆生产卵（terrestrial oviposition）的陆生化繁殖模式，这一结果支持了通过中间阶段完成演化的假说。此外，我们还检测到特定生态形态类型与产卵位点之间存在显著关联，并证实树栖物种整体上倾向于利用静水环境系统（lentic water systems）进行繁殖。上述结果表明，与生态形态相关的微生境利用（microhabitat use）变化，可为繁殖行为、产卵或幼体发育开拓全新的生境，这或许也是推动无尾两栖类繁殖模式多样性形成的关键驱动因素。