The Litoria ewingi Complex (Anura:Hylidae) in South-Eastern Australia VIII.* Hybridization between L. ewingi and L. verreauxi alpina in the Mount Baw Baw Area, South Central Victoria

Abstract

Contacts between the geographic ranges of the widely distributed species, Litoria ewingi, and the montane-adapted taxon, L. verreauxi alpina, occur at about 1200 m on the Great Dividing Range in south central Victoria. Data for adult morphology, genetic compatibility, blood proteins (haemoglobins and transferrins), and structure of male advertisement calls, were obtained from seven populations at altitudes between 640 m and 1450 m in the region of the Mount Baw Baw Plateau. The results indicate that hybrids are present at intermediate altitudes (1140-1270 m), but that the nature of the interaction differs between overlap of parental taxa together with recombination products on the south-westem slope (the Baw Baw transect), and a hybrid swarm on the northern slope of the Mount Baw Baw plateau. Results of in vitro crosses (female L, ewingi by male L. v. alpina) indicate that there is a high level of genetic compatibility between the taxa. Estimates of the width of the hybrid zone on the Baw Baw transect vary from less than 4 km for morphology and calls, to between 10 and 24 km for blood proteins.