INTEGRATING GENETICS, ECOLOGY, AND BEHAVIOR: UNDERSTANDING ADAPTIVE EVOLUTION IN AMPHIBIANS

Abstract

Amphibians provide a critical model for studying adaptive evolution because of their dual reliance on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, high ecological sensitivity, and diverse behavioral strategies. This study applied an integrative framework combining genetics, ecology, and behavior to examine the mechanisms underlying amphibian adaptation to environmental stressors. Genetic analyses revealed significant allelic diversity in immune and thermal tolerance loci, demonstrating the role of genetic variation in shaping resilience to disease and climate variability. Ecological assessments highlighted the importance of habitat connectivity, temperature gradients, and hydric conditions as key selective forces structuring amphibian populations. Behavioral observations showed that reproductive, foraging, and anti-predator strategies vary significantly across ecological contexts, with behavioral plasticity serving as a buffer that allows populations to persist under rapid environmental change. The integration of these datasets through statistical and eco-genetic modeling demonstrated that behavior frequently mediates the link between ecological pressures and genetic expression, creating eco-evolutionary feedback loops that accelerate or constrain adaptation. Collectively, these findings illustrate that amphibian adaptive evolution is a dynamic process driven by the interplay of genetic diversity, ecological context, and behavioral strategies. Beyond advancing basic evolutionary biology, this research provides practical implications for conservation, emphasizing that maintaining genetic variability, ecological integrity, and behavioral flexibility is essential for sustaining amphibian biodiversity in the face of global change.