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Maliuk A, Marghoub A, Williams CJA, Stanley E, Kéver L, Vickaryous M, Herrel A, Evans SE, Moazen M. Comparative analysis of osteoderms across the lizard body. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024. [PMID: 38396371 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Osteoderms (ODs) are mineralized tissue embedded within the skin and are particularly common in reptiles. They are generally thought to form a protective layer between the soft tissues of the animal and potential external threats, although other functions have been proposed. The aim of this study was to characterize OD variation across the lizard body. Adults of three lizard species were chosen for this study. After whole body CT scanning of each lizard, single ODs were extracted from 10 different anatomical regions, CT scanned, and characterized using sectioning and nanoindentation. Morphological analysis and material characterization revealed considerable diversity in OD structure across the species investigated. The scincid Tiliqua gigas was the only studied species in which ODs had a similar external morphology across the head and body. Greater osteoderm diversity was found in the gerrhosaurid Broadleysaurus major and the scincid Tribolonotus novaeguineae. Dense capping tissue, like that reported for Heloderma, was found in only one of the three species examined, B. major. Osteoderm structure can be surprisingly complex and variable, both among related taxa, and across the body of individual animals. This raises many questions about OD function but also about the genetic and developmental factors controlling OD shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Maliuk
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Arsalan Marghoub
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Catherine J A Williams
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Edward Stanley
- Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Loïc Kéver
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR7179 CNRS/MNHN, Paris, France
| | - Matthew Vickaryous
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR7179 CNRS/MNHN, Paris, France
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Naturhistorisches Museum Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Susan E Evans
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mehran Moazen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
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2
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Banfi F, Meiri S, Shine R, Van Damme R, Baeckens S. Foraging mode constrains the evolution of cephalic horns in lizards and snakes. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230395. [PMID: 37990563 PMCID: PMC10663784 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
A phylogenetically diverse minority of snake and lizard species exhibit rostral and ocular appendages that substantially modify the shape of their heads. These cephalic horns have evolved multiple times in diverse squamate lineages, enabling comparative tests of hypotheses on the benefits and costs of these distinctive traits. Here, we demonstrate correlated evolution between the occurrence of horns and foraging mode. We argue that although horns may be beneficial for various functions (e.g. camouflage, defence) in animals that move infrequently, they make active foragers more conspicuous to prey and predators, and hence are maladaptive. We therefore expected horns to be more common in species that ambush prey (entailing low movement rates) rather than in actively searching (frequently moving) species. Consistent with that hypothesis, our phylogenetic comparative analysis of published data on 1939 species reveals that cephalic horns occur almost exclusively in sit-and-wait predators. This finding underlines how foraging mode constrains the morphology of squamates and provides a compelling starting point for similar studies in other animal groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Banfi
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Shai Meiri
- School of Zoology & the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Balaclava Rd, Macquarie Park New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Raoul Van Damme
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Simon Baeckens
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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3
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Marghoub A, Kéver L, Williams CJA, Abzhanov A, Vickaryous M, Herrel A, Evans SE, Moazen M. The role of cranial osteoderms on the mechanics of the skull in scincid lizards. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023; 306:2415-2424. [PMID: 36748783 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Osteoderms (ODs) are calcified organs formed directly within the skin of most major extant tetrapod lineages. Lizards possibly show the greatest diversity in ODs morphology and distribution. ODs are commonly hypothesized to function as a defensive armor. Here we tested the hypothesis that cranial osteoderms also contribute to the mechanics of the skull during biting. A series of in vivo experiments were carried out on three specimens of Tiliqua gigas. Animals were induced to bite a force plate while a single cranial OD was strain gauged. A finite element (FE) model of a related species, Tiliqua scincoides, was developed and used to estimate the level of strain across the same OD as instrumented in the in vivo experiments. FE results were compared to the in vivo data and the FE model was modified to test two hypothetical scenarios in which all ODs were (i) removed from, and (ii) fused to, the skull. In vivo data demonstrated that the ODs were carrying load during biting. The hypothetical FE models showed that when cranial ODs were fused to the skull, the overall strain across the skull arising from biting was reduced. Removing the ODs showed an opposite effect. In summary, our findings suggest that cranial ODs contribute to the mechanics of the skull, even when they are loosely attached.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arsalan Marghoub
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Loïc Kéver
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, Bâtiment, UMR 7179 MECADEV C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N, d'Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France
| | - Catherine J A Williams
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arkhat Abzhanov
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, Silkwood Park Campus, Berkshire, UK
| | - Matthew Vickaryous
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, Bâtiment, UMR 7179 MECADEV C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N, d'Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France
| | - Susan E Evans
- Centre for Integrative Anatomy, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mehran Moazen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
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4
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Frýdlová P, Janovská V, Mrzílková J, Halašková M, Riegerová M, Dudák J, Tymlová V, Žemlička J, Zach P, Frynta D. The first description of dermal armour in snakes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6405. [PMID: 37076516 PMCID: PMC10115820 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33244-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteoderms, also called dermal armour, often play a role in predator defence. The presence of osteoderms is highly irregularly distributed across the squamate phylogeny and they have not been found in snakes. In this study, we searched for candidate snake species that would benefit from such armour to protect their body, focusing primarily on fossorial species with defensive tail displays. We examined the tail morphology of 27 snake species from different families using micro-computed tomography (µCT) and micro- radiography. We discovered dermal armour in four species of sand boas (Erycidae) that also feature enlarged and highly modified caudal vertebrae. This is the first description of dermal armour in snakes. Ancestral state reconstructions revealed that osteoderms likely evolved once or multiple times in Erycidae. We have not found osteoderms in any other examined snake species. Nevertheless, similar structures are known from unrelated squamate clades, such as gerrhosaurids and geckos. This supports the idea of underlying deep developmental homology. We propose the hypothesis that osteoderms protect sand boas like the "brigandine armour" of medieval warriors. We interpret it as another component of the sand boas' rich defence strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Frýdlová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 43, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Anatomy, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Janovská
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 43, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Mrzílková
- Department of Anatomy, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milada Halašková
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Riegerová
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Dudák
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 110 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Tymlová
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 110 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Žemlička
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 110 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Zach
- Department of Anatomy, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 43, Prague, Czech Republic.
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5
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Cabral H, Cacciali P, Santana DJ. Evolution of the rostral scale and mimicry in the genus Xenodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blac086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Snakes are a stimulating life form from an evolutionary perspective. Despite the basic morphological body shape (limbless, with a tubular body), these vertebrates are extremely diverse. The Neotropical region is one of the most diverse regions for snakes in the world, with >650 known species. Within this great diversity, the genus Xenodon includes 12 species with interesting adaptations to terrestrial and semi-fossorial habitats. Members of this genus are mostly diurnal and terrestrial, feed mainly on anurans and exhibit Batesian mimicry of venomous snakes of the genera Bothrops or Micrurus. Here, through phylogenetic analysis and ancestral state estimation, we explore the evolution of the rostral scale and mimicry within the genus Xenodon. Our results suggest that the ancestral lineage of Xenodon had a rounded rostral scale and exhibited Bothrops mimicry. The evolution of the rostral scale in Xenodon might be related to abiotic factors, as an adaptation for open and forested habitats, and mimicry is likely to be related to biotic factors, as a defensive strategy resembling those of venomous snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Cabral
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Estadual Paulista , São José do Rio Preto, SP , Brazil
- Instituto de Investigación Biológica del Paraguay , Del Escudo 1607, Asunción , Paraguay
- Asociación Guyra Paraguay , Avenida Coronel Carlos Bóveda, Parque Asunción Verde, Viñas Cué , Paraguay
| | - Pier Cacciali
- Instituto de Investigación Biológica del Paraguay , Del Escudo 1607, Asunción , Paraguay
- Asociación Guyra Paraguay , Avenida Coronel Carlos Bóveda, Parque Asunción Verde, Viñas Cué , Paraguay
| | - Diego José Santana
- Mapinguari Lab, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul , 79002-970, Campo Grande, MS , Brazil
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6
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Broeckhoven C. Intraspecific competition: A missing link in dermal armour evolution? J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:1562-1566. [PMID: 35633188 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Predation is widely regarded as an important selective force in the evolution and maintenance of dermal armour; yet, the basic premise that predation and armour are strongly linked to each other has proven to be difficult to assess. In this concept, I put forward the fighting-advantage hypothesis, the view that aggressive interactions with conspecifics, not predation, might have been a key selective pressure in the evolution of dermal armour. Considering intraspecific competition as a potential explanation could not only reveal previously overlooked aspects of the functional and evolutionary significance of dermal armour, but also advance the emerging field of biomimetics in which such knowledge forms the starting point of technological innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Broeckhoven
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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8
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Guidi RDS, São-Pedro VDA, da Silva HR, Costa GC, Pessoa DMA. The trade-off between color and size in lizards' conspicuous tails. Behav Processes 2021; 192:104496. [PMID: 34492324 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A tail of conspicuous coloration is hypothesized to be an advantageous trait for many species of lizards. Predator attacks would be directed to a non-vital, and autotomizable, body part, increasing the chance of survival. However, as body size increases it also increases the signaling area that could attract predators from greater distances, increasing the overall chance of predation. Here, we test the hypothesis that there is a trade-off between tail color and size, affecting predation probabilities. We used plasticine replicas of lizards to study the predation patterns of small and large lizards with red and blue tails. In a natural environment, we exposed six hundred replicas to the attacks of free-ranging predators. Large red-tailed replicas were more attacked by birds. Mammals and unidentified predators showed no preference for any size or colors. The attacks were not primarily directed to conspicuous tails when compared to the bodies/heads of our replicas. Our study suggests that red color signals in large lizards could enhance their detection by visually oriented predators (i.e., birds). The efficacy of conspicuous tails as a decoy may rely on associated behavioral displays, which are hard to test with static replicas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raiane Dos Santos Guidi
- Laboratory of Sensory Ecology, Department of Physiology & Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Vinicius de Avelar São-Pedro
- Laboratory of Sensory Ecology, Department of Physiology & Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; Center of Natural Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos -Campus Lagoa do Sino, Buri, SP, Brazil
| | - Holda Ramos da Silva
- Laboratory of Sensory Ecology, Department of Physiology & Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Correa Costa
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL, USA
| | - Daniel Marques Almeida Pessoa
- Laboratory of Sensory Ecology, Department of Physiology & Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
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9
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Williams C, Kirby A, Marghoub A, Kéver L, Ostashevskaya-Gohstand S, Bertazzo S, Moazen M, Abzhanov A, Herrel A, Evans SE, Vickaryous M. A review of the osteoderms of lizards (Reptilia: Squamata). Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:1-19. [PMID: 34397141 PMCID: PMC9292694 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Osteoderms are mineralised structures consisting mainly of calcium phosphate and collagen. They form directly within the skin, with or without physical contact with the skeleton. Osteoderms, in some form, may be primitive for tetrapods as a whole, and are found in representatives of most major living lineages including turtles, crocodilians, lizards, armadillos, and some frogs, as well as extinct taxa ranging from early tetrapods to dinosaurs. However, their distribution in time and space raises questions about their evolution and homology in individual groups. Among lizards and their relatives, osteoderms may be completely absent; present only on the head or dorsum; or present all over the body in one of several arrangements, including non-overlapping mineralised clusters, a continuous covering of overlapping plates, or as spicular mineralisations that thicken with age. This diversity makes lizards an excellent focal group in which to study osteoderm structure, function, development and evolution. In the past, the focus of researchers was primarily on the histological structure and/or the gross anatomy of individual osteoderms in a limited sample of taxa. Those studies demonstrated that lizard osteoderms are sometimes two-layered structures, with a vitreous, avascular layer just below the epidermis and a deeper internal layer with abundant collagen within the deep dermis. However, there is considerable variation on this model, in terms of the arrangement of collagen fibres, presence of extra tissues, and/or a cancellous bone core bordered by cortices. Moreover, there is a lack of consensus on the contribution, if any, of osteoblasts in osteoderm development, despite research describing patterns of resorption and replacement that would suggest both osteoclast and osteoblast involvement. Key to this is information on development, but our understanding of the genetic and skeletogenic processes involved in osteoderm development and patterning remains minimal. The most common proposition for the presence of osteoderms is that they provide a protective armour. However, the large morphological and distributional diversity in lizard osteoderms raises the possibility that they may have other roles such as biomechanical reinforcement in response to ecological or functional constraints. If lizard osteoderms are primarily for defence, whether against predators or conspecifics, then this 'bony armour' might be predicted to have different structural and/or mechanical properties compared to other hard tissues (generally intended for support and locomotion). The cellular and biomineralisation mechanisms by which osteoderms are formed could also be different from those of other hard tissues, as reflected in their material composition and nanostructure. Material properties, especially the combination of malleability and resistance to impact, are of interest to the biomimetics and bioinspired material communities in the development of protective clothing and body armour. Currently, the literature on osteoderms is patchy and is distributed across a wide range of journals. Herein we present a synthesis of current knowledge on lizard osteoderm evolution and distribution, micro- and macrostructure, development, and function, with a view to stimulating further work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Williams
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.,Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114-116, Aarhus C, DK-8000, Denmark
| | - Alexander Kirby
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, U.K.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Arsalan Marghoub
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 7JE, U.K
| | - Loïc Kéver
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179 MECADEV C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., Bâtiment d'Anatomie Comparée, 55 rue Buffon, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Sonya Ostashevskaya-Gohstand
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, U.K
| | - Sergio Bertazzo
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Mehran Moazen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 7JE, U.K
| | - Arkhat Abzhanov
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, U.K
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179 MECADEV C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., Bâtiment d'Anatomie Comparée, 55 rue Buffon, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Susan E Evans
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Matt Vickaryous
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
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10
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Hounslow JL, Jewell OJD, Fossette S, Whiting S, Tucker AD, Richardson A, Edwards D, Gleiss AC. Animal-borne video from a sea turtle reveals novel anti-predator behaviors. Ecology 2021; 102:e03251. [PMID: 33220062 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna L Hounslow
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.,College of Science, Health, Engineering & Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Oliver J D Jewell
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.,College of Science, Health, Engineering & Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Sabrina Fossette
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, Western Australia, 6151, Australia
| | - Scott Whiting
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, Western Australia, 6151, Australia
| | - Anton D Tucker
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, Western Australia, 6151, Australia
| | - Anthony Richardson
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Parks and Wildlife Service, 111 Herbert Street, Broome, Western Australia, 6725, Australia
| | - David Edwards
- Technical Services, Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DE, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian C Gleiss
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.,College of Science, Health, Engineering & Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
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11
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Kosmala GK, Brown GP, Shine R. Thin-skinned invaders: geographic variation in the structure of the skin among populations of cane toads (Rhinella marina). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
The structure of the skin may evolve rapidly during a biological invasion, for two reasons. First, novel abiotic challenges such as hydric conditions may modify selection of traits (such as skin thickness) that determine rates of evaporative water loss. Second, invaders might benefit from enhanced rates of dispersal, with locomotion possibly facilitated by thinner (and hence more flexible) skin. We quantified thickness of layers of the skin in cane toads (Rhinella marina) from the native range (Brazil), a stepping-stone population (Hawaii), and the invaded range in Australia. Overall, the skin is thinner in cane toads in Australia than in the native range, consistent with selection on mobility. However, layers that regulate water exchange (epidermal stratum corneum and dermal ground substance layer) are thicker in Australia, retarding water loss in hot dry conditions. Within Australia, epidermal thickness increased as the toads colonized more arid regions, but then decreased in the arid Kimberley region. That curvilinearity might reflect spatial sorting, whereby mobile (thin-skinned) individuals dominate the invasion front; or the toads’ restriction to moist sites in this arid landscape may reduce the importance of water-conservation. Further work is needed to clarify the roles of adaptation versus phenotypic plasticity in generating the strong geographic variation in skin structure among populations of cane toads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia K Kosmala
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gregory P Brown
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia
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12
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Ramm T, Roycroft EJ, Müller J. Convergent evolution of tail spines in squamate reptiles driven by microhabitat use. Biol Lett 2020; 16:20190848. [PMCID: PMC7058953 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The repeated evolution of convergent or analogous traits is often used as evidence for adaptive evolution. Squamate reptiles show a high degree of convergence in a variety of morphological traits; however, the evolutionary mechanisms driving these patterns are not fully understood. Here, we investigate the evolution of tail spines, a trait that evolved multiple times in evolutionarily independent clades of lizards. Taking a comparative phylogenetic approach, we use 2877 squamate species to demonstrate that the evolution of spiny tails is correlated with microhabitat use, with species that live in rocky habitats significantly more likely to have evolved spiny tails. In the light of previous behavioural observations, our results suggest that spiny-tailed lizards have an advantage in rocky habitats through predation avoidance, where tail spines are used to prevent extraction from rocky crevices. In concordance with previous research on lizard body armour, our results suggest that the evolution of tail spines is coupled to both a rock-dwelling lifestyle and predator avoidance strategies, and highlight a complex interplay between different selective pressures on the evolution of defensive morphologies in reptiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Ramm
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, Berlin 10115, Germany
| | - Emily J. Roycroft
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Johannes Müller
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, Berlin 10115, Germany
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13
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Broeckhoven C, El Adak Y, Hui C, Van Damme R, Stankowich T. On dangerous ground: the evolution of body armour in cordyline lizards. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2018.0513. [PMID: 29899068 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal body armour is often considered an adaptation that protects prey against predatory attacks, yet comparative studies that link the diversification of these allegedly protective coverings to differential predation risk or pressure are scarce. Here, we examine the evolution of body armour, including spines and osteoderms, in Cordylinae, a radiation of southern African lizards. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we attempt to identify the ecological and environmental correlates of body armour that may hint at the selective pressures responsible for defensive trait diversification. Our results show that species inhabiting arid environments are more likely to possess elaborated body armour, specifically osteoderms. We did not find any effect of estimated predation pressure or risk on the degree of body armour. These findings suggest that body armour might not necessarily evolve in response to direct interactions with predators, but rather as a result of increased habitat-mediated predation risk. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility that osteoderms might have been shaped by factors unrelated to predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Broeckhoven
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Functional Morphology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium .,Department of Mathematical Sciences, Theoretical Ecology Group, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Yousri El Adak
- Department of Biology, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cang Hui
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Theoretical Ecology Group, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa.,Theoretical and Physical Biosciences, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, 6 Melrose Road, Muizenberg 7945, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Raoul Van Damme
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Functional Morphology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Theodore Stankowich
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, USA
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14
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Arbour VM, Zanno LE. The evolution of tail weaponization in amniotes. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.2299. [PMID: 29343599 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Weaponry, for the purpose of intraspecific combat or predator defence, is one of the most widespread animal adaptations, yet the selective pressures and constraints governing its phenotypic diversity and skeletal regionalization are not well understood. Here, we investigate the evolution of tail weaponry in amniotes, a rare form of weaponry that nonetheless evolved independently among a broad spectrum of life including mammals, turtles and dinosaurs. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we test for links between morphology, ecology and behaviour in extant amniotes known to use the tail as a weapon, and in extinct taxa bearing osseous tail armaments. We find robust ecological and morphological correlates of both tail lashing behaviour and bony tail weaponry, including large body size, body armour and herbivory, suggesting these life-history parameters factor into the evolution of antipredator behaviours and tail armaments. We suggest that the evolution of tail weaponry is rare because large, armoured herbivores are uncommon in extant terrestrial faunas, as they have been throughout evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria M Arbour
- Paleontology Research Lab, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA .,Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 3510 Thomas Hall, Campus Box 7614, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3B2.,Department of Natural History-Palaeobiology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2C6
| | - Lindsay E Zanno
- Paleontology Research Lab, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 3510 Thomas Hall, Campus Box 7614, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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15
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Broeckhoven C, de Kock C, Hui C. Sexual dimorphism in the dermal armour of cordyline lizards (Squamata: Cordylinae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Broeckhoven
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Theoretical Ecology Group, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - C de Kock
- Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - C Hui
- Theoretical Ecology Group, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Theoretical and Physical Biosciences, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa
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16
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Broeckhoven C, Mouton PLLFN, Hui C. Proximate causes of variation in dermal armour: insights from armadillo lizards. OIKOS 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.05401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Broeckhoven
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Dept of Biology; Univ. of Antwerp; Universiteitsplein 1 BE-2610 Wilrijk Belgium
- Dept of Mathematical Sciences; Stellenbosch Univ.; Stellenbosch South Africa
| | | | - Cang Hui
- Dept of Mathematical Sciences; Stellenbosch Univ.; Stellenbosch South Africa
- Theoretical and Physical Biosciences; African Inst. for Mathematical Sciences; Cape Town South Africa
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17
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Hodge JR, Alim C, Bertrand NG, Lee W, Price SA, Tran B, Wainwright PC. Ecology shapes the evolutionary trade-off between predator avoidance and defence in coral reef butterflyfishes. Ecol Lett 2018; 21:1033-1042. [PMID: 29744987 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Antipredator defensive traits are thought to trade-off evolutionarily with traits that facilitate predator avoidance. However, complexity and scale have precluded tests of this prediction in many groups, including fishes. Using a macroevolutionary approach, we test this prediction in butterflyfishes, an iconic group of coral reef inhabitants with diverse social behaviours, foraging strategies and antipredator adaptations. We find that several antipredator traits have evolved adaptively, dependent primarily on foraging strategy. We identify a previously unrecognised axis of diversity in butterflyfishes where species with robust morphological defences have riskier foraging strategies and lack sociality, while species with reduced morphological defences feed in familiar territories, have adaptations for quick escapes and benefit from the vigilance provided by sociality. Furthermore, we find evidence for the constrained evolution of fin spines among species that graze solely on corals, highlighting the importance of corals, as both prey and structural refuge, in shaping fish morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Hodge
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Chidera Alim
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Nick G Bertrand
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Wesley Lee
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Samantha A Price
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Binh Tran
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Peter C Wainwright
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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18
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Mouton LF, Flemming A, Bates M, Broeckhoven C. The relationship between generation gland morphology and armour in Dragon Lizards (Smaug): a reassessment of ancestral states for the Cordylidae. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2018. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-20181032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
To substantiate the claim of a relationship between generation gland morphology and degree of body armour in cordylid lizards, we studied the nine species in the genus Smaug. We predicted that well armoured species in this clade will have multi-layer generation glands, and lightly armoured species two-layer glands. Gland type was determined using standard histological techniques after sectioning a glandular patch of one adult male per species. A total of 133 specimens were examined for data on tail and occipital spine lengths (which were used as indicators of armour). We found that species with multi-layer generation glands (S. giganteus, S. breyeri, and S. vandami) have relatively long tail and occipital spines, while species with two-layer glands (S. mossambicus, S. regius, S. barbertonensis, S. warreni, and an undescribed species) have relatively short spines. Smaug depressus possesses both multi-layer and two-layer glands, and this variation was linked to regional variation in spine length. An ancestral state reconstruction for the Cordylidae showed that the two-layer state always results from the reduction of layers from a multi-layer precursor, and that reduction always culminates in two-layer glands and not in one-layer glands. This finding suggests that the one-layer state in the Ninurta-Chamaesaura-Pseudocordylus clade is most probably plesiomorphic, and therefore the ancestral state at the Cordylidae and Cordylinae nodes. Given the observed relationship between type of generation gland and body armour, this finding would suggest that the most recent common ancestor of the Cordylidae was lightly armoured.
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Affiliation(s)
- le Fras Mouton
- 1Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Alexander Flemming
- 1Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Michael Bates
- 2Department of Herpetology, National Museum, P.O. Box 266, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - Chris Broeckhoven
- 1Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
- 3Theoretical Ecology Group, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Private bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
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19
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Sarnat EM, Friedman NR, Fischer G, Lecroq-Bennet B, Economo EP. Rise of the spiny ants: diversification, ecology and function of extreme traits in the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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20
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Broeckhoven C, de Kock C, Mouton PLFN. Sexual dimorphism in osteoderm expression and the role of male intrasexual aggression. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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21
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Book Reviews. COPEIA 2017. [DOI: 10.1643/ot-16-536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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22
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Broeckhoven C, Plessis A, Roux SG, Mouton PLFN, Hui C. Beauty is more than skin deep: a non‐invasive protocol for
in vivo
anatomical study using micro‐CT. Methods Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Broeckhoven
- Department of Botany & Zoology Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
- Theoretical Ecology Group Department of Mathematical Sciences Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Anton Plessis
- CT Scanner Facility Central Analytical Facilities Stellenbosch University Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Stephan Gerhard Roux
- CT Scanner Facility Central Analytical Facilities Stellenbosch University Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| | | | - Cang Hui
- Theoretical Ecology Group Department of Mathematical Sciences Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
- Theoretical and Physical Biosciences African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Cape Town 7945 South Africa
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23
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Broeckhoven C, Diedericks G, Hui C, Makhubo BG, Mouton PLFN. Enemy at the gates: Rapid defensive trait diversification in an adaptive radiation of lizards. Evolution 2016; 70:2647-2656. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Broeckhoven
- Department of Botany & Zoology Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
- Theoretical Ecology Group, Department of Mathematical Sciences Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Genevieve Diedericks
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Cang Hui
- Theoretical Ecology Group, Department of Mathematical Sciences Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
- Theoretical and Physical Biosciences African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Cape Town 7945 South Africa
| | | | - P. le Fras N. Mouton
- Department of Botany & Zoology Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
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24
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Mikolajewski DJ, Scharnweber K, Jiang B, Leicht S, Mauersberger R, Johansson F. Changing the habitat: the evolution of intercorrelated traits to escape from predators. J Evol Biol 2016; 29:1394-405. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Revised: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - K. Scharnweber
- Department of Ecology and Genetics; Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
| | - B. Jiang
- Institut für Biologie; Freie Universität Berlin; Berlin Germany
| | - S. Leicht
- Institut für Biologie; Freie Universität Berlin; Berlin Germany
| | - R. Mauersberger
- Förderverein Feldberg-Uckermärkische Seenlandschaft e.V.; Templin Germany
| | - F. Johansson
- Department of Ecology and Genetics; Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
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25
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Pokallus JW, Pauli JN. Predation shapes the movement of a well-defended species, the North American porcupine, even when nutritionally stressed. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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26
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Broeckhoven C, Mouton PLFN. Some Like It Hot: Camera Traps Unravel the Effects of Weather Conditions and Predator Presence on the Activity Levels of Two Lizards. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137428. [PMID: 26397831 PMCID: PMC4580596 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
It is generally assumed that favourable weather conditions determine the activity levels of lizards, because of their temperature-dependent behavioural performance. Inactivity, however, might have a selective advantage over activity, as it could increase survival by reducing exposure to predators. Consequently, the effects of weather conditions on the activity patterns of lizards should be strongly influenced by the presence of predators. Using remote camera traps, we test the hypothesis that predator presence and weather conditions interact to modulate daily activity levels in two sedentary cordylid lizards, Karusasaurus polyzonus and Ouroborus cataphractus. While both species are closely related and have a fully overlapping distribution, the former is a fast-moving lightly armoured lizard, whereas the latter is a slow-moving heavily armoured lizard. The significant interspecific difference in antipredator morphology and consequently differential vulnerability to aerial and terrestrial predators, allowed us to unravel the effects of predation risk and weather conditions on activity levels. Our results demonstrate that K. polyzonus is predominantly active during summer, when ambient temperatures are favourable enough to permit activity. In contrast, a peak in activity during spring was observed in O. cataphractus, with individuals being inactive during most of summer. While favourable weather conditions had a strong effect on the activity levels of K. polyzonus, no such relationship was present in O. cataphractus. Contrary to our hypothesis, the presence of terrestrial predators does not seem to affect daily activity levels or alter the influence of weather conditions on activity levels. We conclude that inactivity in O. cataphractus appears to be related to seasonal differences in vulnerability to predators, rather than the presence of predators, and highlight the importance of additional selective pressures, such as food abundance, in determining the species' activity levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Broeckhoven
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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27
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Broeckhoven C, Diedericks G, Mouton PLFN. What doesn't kill you might make you stronger: functional basis for variation in body armour. J Anim Ecol 2015; 84:1213-21. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Broeckhoven
- Department of Botany & Zoology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland Stellenbosch 7602 South Africa
| | - Genevieve Diedericks
- Department of Botany & Zoology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland Stellenbosch 7602 South Africa
| | - P. le Fras N. Mouton
- Department of Botany & Zoology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland Stellenbosch 7602 South Africa
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28
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29
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Samia DSM, Blumstein DT, Stankowich T, Cooper WE. Fifty years of chasing lizards: new insights advance optimal escape theory. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2015; 91:349-66. [PMID: 25620002 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses often examine data from diverse taxa to identify general patterns of effect sizes. Meta-analyses that focus on identifying generalisations in a single taxon are also valuable because species in a taxon are more likely to share similar unique constraints. We conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic meta-analysis of flight initiation distance in lizards. Flight initiation distance (FID) is a common metric used to quantify risk-taking and has previously been shown to reflect adaptive decision-making. The past decade has seen an explosion of studies focused on quantifying FID in lizards, and, because lizards occur in a wide range of habitats, are ecologically diverse, and are typically smaller and differ physiologically from the better studied mammals and birds, they are worthy of detailed examination. We found that variables that reflect the costs or benefits of flight (being engaged in social interactions, having food available) as well as certain predator effects (predator size and approach speed) had large effects on FID in the directions predicted by optimal escape theory. Variables that were associated with morphology (with the exception of crypsis) and physiology had relatively small effects, whereas habitat selection factors typically had moderate to large effect sizes. Lizards, like other taxa, are very sensitive to the costs of flight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo S M Samia
- Laboratory of Theoretical Ecology and Synthesis, Federal University of Goiás, CP. 131, 74001-970 Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Daniel T Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 621 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, U.S.A
| | - Theodore Stankowich
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, U.S.A
| | - William E Cooper
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN 46835, U.S.A
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30
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Bergmann PJ, McElroy EJ. Many-to-Many Mapping of Phenotype to Performance: An Extension of the F-Matrix for Studying Functional Complexity. Evol Biol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-014-9288-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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31
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Collar DC, Reece JS, Alfaro ME, Wainwright PC, Mehta RS. Imperfect Morphological Convergence: Variable Changes in Cranial Structures Underlie Transitions to Durophagy in Moray Eels. Am Nat 2014; 183:E168-84. [DOI: 10.1086/675810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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32
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Broeckhoven C, Mouton PLFN. Under pressure: morphological and ecological correlates of bite force in the rock-dwelling lizardsOuroborus cataphractusandKarusasaurus polyzonus(Squamata: Cordylidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Broeckhoven
- Department of Botany & Zoology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - P. le Fras N. Mouton
- Department of Botany & Zoology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
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33
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Des Roches S, Torresdal J, Morgan TW, Harmon LJ, Rosenblum EB. Beyond black and white: divergent behaviour and performance in three rapidly evolving lizard species at White Sands. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Des Roches
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Idaho; Moscow ID USA
| | - Jack Torresdal
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Idaho; Moscow ID USA
| | - Travis W. Morgan
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Idaho; Moscow ID USA
| | - Luke J. Harmon
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Idaho; Moscow ID USA
| | - Erica B. Rosenblum
- Environmental Science, Policy, and Management; University of California; Berkeley CA USA
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34
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McElroy EJ, Bergmann PJ. Tail Autotomy, Tail Size, and Locomotor Performance in Lizards. Physiol Biochem Zool 2013; 86:669-79. [DOI: 10.1086/673890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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35
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Fowler-Finn KD, Rosenthal MF, Hebets EA. Locomotor Performance Varies With Adult Phenotype in Ornamented/Non-Ornamented Wolf Spiders. Ethology 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eileen A. Hebets
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Nebraska; Lincoln; NE; USA
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36
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Edwards S, Vanhooydonck B, Herrel A, Measey GJ, Tolley KA. Convergent evolution associated with habitat decouples phenotype from phylogeny in a clade of lizards. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51636. [PMID: 23251601 PMCID: PMC3520956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Convergent evolution can explain similarity in morphology between species, due to selection on a fitness-enhancing phenotype in response to local environmental conditions. As selective pressures on body morphology may be strong, these have confounded our understanding of the evolutionary relationships between species. Within the speciose African radiation of lacertid lizards (Eremiadini), some species occupy a narrow habitat range (e.g. open habitat, cluttered habitat, strictly rupicolous, or strictly psammophilic), which may exert strong selective pressures on lizard body morphology. Here we show that the overall body plan is unrelated to shared ancestry in the African radiation of Eremiadini, but is instead coupled to habitat use. Comprehensive Bayesian and likelihood phylogenies using multiple representatives from all genera (2 nuclear, 2 mitochondrial markers) show that morphologically convergent species thought to represent sister taxa within the same genus are distantly related evolutionary lineages (Ichnotropis squamulosa and Ichnotropis spp.; Australolacerta rupicola and A. australis). Hierarchical clustering and multivariate analysis of morphological characters suggest that body, and head, width and height (stockiness), all of which are ecologically relevant with respect to movement through habitat, are similar between the genetically distant species. Our data show that convergence in morphology, due to adaptation to similar environments, has confounded the assignment of species leading to misidentification of the taxonomic position of I. squamulosa and the Australolacerta species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley Edwards
- Applied Biodiversity Research Division, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa.
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37
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Spatial Distribution and Habitat Utilization of the Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides). J HERPETOL 2012. [DOI: 10.1670/10-267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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39
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40
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Abstract
Convergent evolution of similar phenotypic features in similar environmental contexts has long been taken as evidence of adaptation. Nonetheless, recent conceptual and empirical developments in many fields have led to a proliferation of ideas about the relationship between convergence and adaptation. Despite criticism from some systematically minded biologists, I reaffirm that convergence in taxa occupying similar selective environments often is the result of natural selection. However, convergent evolution of a trait in a particular environment can occur for reasons other than selection on that trait in that environment, and species can respond to similar selective pressures by evolving nonconvergent adaptations. For these reasons, studies of convergence should be coupled with other methods-such as direct measurements of selection or investigations of the functional correlates of trait evolution-to test hypotheses of adaptation. The independent acquisition of similar phenotypes by the same genetic or developmental pathway has been suggested as evidence of constraints on adaptation, a view widely repeated as genomic studies have documented phenotypic convergence resulting from change in the same genes, sometimes even by the same mutation. Contrary to some claims, convergence by changes in the same genes is not necessarily evidence of constraint, but rather suggests hypotheses that can test the relative roles of constraint and selection in directing phenotypic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Losos
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
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Meyer A, Mouton PLFN, Mucina L. The biogeographical influence of the Tankwa Karoo Basin on reptile distribution in south-western South Africa. AFR J HERPETOL 2010. [DOI: 10.1080/04416651.2010.482002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anita Meyer
- a Department of Botany & Zoology , Stellenbosch University , Matieland, South Africa
| | - P. le Fras N. Mouton
- a Department of Botany & Zoology , Stellenbosch University , Matieland, South Africa
| | - Laco Mucina
- a Department of Botany & Zoology , Stellenbosch University , Matieland, South Africa
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43
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GOODMAN BA. Nowhere to run: the role of habitat openness and refuge use in defining patterns of morphological and performance evolution in tropical lizards. J Evol Biol 2009; 22:1535-44. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01766.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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44
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Lanse Van Rensburg DA, Mouton PLFN. Foraging behaviour and use of space in the Graceful Crag Lizard,Pseudocordylus capensis:life on large rock surfaces. AFR J HERPETOL 2009. [DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2009.9650030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Maritz B, Alexander GJ. Breaking ground: Quantitative fossorial herpetofaunal ecology in South Africa. AFR J HERPETOL 2009. [DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2009.9635575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Bergmann PJ, Meyers JJ, Irschick DJ. DIRECTIONAL EVOLUTION OF STOCKINESS COEVOLVES WITH ECOLOGY AND LOCOMOTION IN LIZARDS. Evolution 2009; 63:215-27. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2008.00534.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Goodman BA, Miles DB, Schwarzkopf L. LIFE ON THE ROCKS: HABITAT USE DRIVES MORPHOLOGICAL AND PERFORMANCE EVOLUTION IN LIZARDS. Ecology 2008; 89:3462-71. [DOI: 10.1890/07-2093.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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48
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GOODMAN BRETTA, ISAAC JOANNEL. Convergent body flattening in a clade of tropical rock-using lizards (Scincidae: Lygosominae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2008.00988.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Revell LJ, Johnson MA, Schulte JA, Kolbe JJ, Losos JB. A PHYLOGENETIC TEST FOR ADAPTIVE CONVERGENCE IN ROCK-DWELLING LIZARDS. Evolution 2007; 61:2898-912. [PMID: 17894806 DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2007.00225.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Phenotypic similarity of species occupying similar habitats has long been taken as strong evidence of adaptation, but this approach implicitly assumes that similarity is evolutionarily derived. However, even derived similarities may not represent convergent adaptation if the similarities did not evolve as a result of the same selection pressures; an alternative possibility is that the similar features evolved for different reasons, but subsequently allowed the species to occupy the same habitat, in which case the convergent evolution of the same feature by species occupying similar habitats would be the result of exaptation. Many lizard lineages have evolved to occupy vertical rock surfaces, a habitat that places strong functional and ecological demands on lizards. We examined four clades in which species that use vertical rock surfaces exhibit long hindlimbs and flattened bodies. Morphological change on the phylogenetic branches leading to the rock-dwelling species in the four clades differed from change on other branches of the phylogeny; evolutionary transitions to rock-dwelling generally were associated with increases in limb length and decreases in head depth. Examination of particular characters revealed several different patterns of evolutionary change. Rock-dwelling lizards exhibited similarities in head depth as a result of both adaptation and exaptation. Moreover, even though rock-dwelling species generally had longer limbs than their close relatives, clade-level differences in limb length led to an overall lack of difference between rock- and non-rock-dwelling lizards. These results indicate that evolutionary change in the same direction in independent lineages does not necessarily produce convergence, and that the existence of similar advantageous structures among species independently occupying the same environment may not indicate adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam J Revell
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
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Cooper WE, Whiting MJ. Universal Optimization of Flight Initiation Distance and Habitat-Driven Variation in Escape Tactics in a Namibian Lizard Assemblage. Ethology 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01363.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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