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Gartner SM, Larouche O, Evans KM, Westneat MW. Evolutionary Patterns of Modularity in the Linkage Systems of the Skull in Wrasses and Parrotfish. Integr Org Biol 2023; 5:obad035. [PMID: 37860086 PMCID: PMC10583192 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obad035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The concept of modularity is fundamental to understanding the evolvability of morphological structures and is considered a central framework for the exploration of functionally and developmentally related subsets of anatomical traits. In this study, we explored evolutionary patterns of modularity and integration in the 4-bar linkage biomechanical system of the skull in the fish family Labridae (wrasses and parrotfish). We measured evolutionary modularity and rates of shape diversification of the skull partitions of three biomechanical 4-bar linkage systems using 205 species of wrasses (family: Labridae) and a three-dimensional geometric morphometrics data set of 200 coordinates. We found support for a two-module hypothesis on the family level that identifies the bones associated with the three linkages as being a module independent from a module formed by the remainder of the skull (neurocranium, nasals, premaxilla, and pharyngeal jaws). We tested the patterns of skull modularity for four tribes in wrasses: hypsigenyines, julidines, cheilines, and scarines. The hypsigenyine and julidine groups showed the same two-module hypothesis for Labridae, whereas cheilines supported a four-module hypothesis with the three linkages as independent modules relative to the remainder of the skull. Scarines showed increased modularization of skull elements, where each bone is its own module. Diversification rates of modules show that linkage modules have evolved at a faster net rate of shape change than the remainder of the skull, with cheilines and scarines exhibiting the highest rate of evolutionary shape change. We developed a metric of linkage planarity and found the oral jaw linkage system to exhibit high planarity, while the rest position of the hyoid linkage system exhibited increased three dimensionality. This study shows a strong link between phenotypic evolution and biomechanical systems, with modularity influencing rates of shape change in the evolution of the wrasse skull.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Gartner
- Organismal Biology and Anatomy Department, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - O Larouche
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - K M Evans
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - M W Westneat
- Organismal Biology and Anatomy Department, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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2
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Roberts-Hugghis AS, Burress ED, Lam B, Wainwright PC. The cichlid pharyngeal jaw novelty enhances evolutionary integration in the feeding apparatus. Evolution 2023; 77:1917-1929. [PMID: 37326103 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The modified pharyngeal jaw system of cichlid fishes is widely viewed as a key innovation that substantially facilitated the evolutionary exuberance of this iconic evolutionary radiation. We conduct comparative phylogenetic analyses of integration, disparity, and rate of evolution among feeding-related, skeletal structures in Neotropical cichlids and North American centrarchids, which lack the specialized pharyngeal jaw. Contrasting evolutionary patterns in these two continental radiations, we test a classic decoupling hypothesis. Specifically, we ask whether the modified pharyngeal jaw in cichlids resulted in enhanced evolutionary independence of the oral and pharyngeal jaws, leading to increased diversity of trophic structures. Contrary to this prediction, we find significantly stronger evolutionary integration between the oral and pharyngeal jaws in cichlids compared to centrarchids, although the two groups do not differ in patterns of integration within each jaw system. Further, though we find no significant differences in disparity, centrarchids show faster rates of morphological evolution. Our results suggest that the modified pharyngeal jaw resulted in less evolutionary independence and slower rates of evolution within the feeding system. Thus, we raise the possibility that the cichlid novelty enhances feeding performance, but does not prompt increased morphological diversification within the feeding apparatus, as has long been thought.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edward D Burress
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
| | - Brian Lam
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Peter C Wainwright
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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3
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Evans KM, Larouche O, Gartner SM, Faucher RE, Dee SG, Westneat MW. Beaks promote rapid morphological diversification along distinct evolutionary trajectories in labrid fishes (Eupercaria: Labridae). Evolution 2023; 77:2000-2014. [PMID: 37345732 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
The upper and lower jaws of some wrasses (Eupercaria: Labridae) possess teeth that have been coalesced into a strong durable beak that they use to graze on hard coral skeletons, hard-shelled prey, and algae, allowing many of these species to function as important ecosystem engineers in their respective marine habitats. While the ecological impact of the beak is well understood, questions remain about its evolutionary history and the effects of this innovation on the downstream patterns of morphological evolution. Here we analyze 3D cranial shape data in a phylogenetic comparative framework and use paleoclimate modeling to reconstruct the evolution of the labrid beak across 205 species. We find that wrasses evolved beaks three times independently, once within odacines and twice within parrotfishes in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. We find an increase in the rate of shape evolution in the Scarus+Chlorurus+Hipposcarus (SCH) clade of parrotfishes likely driven by the evolution of the intramandibular joint. Paleoclimate modeling shows that the SCH clade of parrotfishes rapidly morphologically diversified during the middle Miocene. We hypothesize that possession of a beak in the SCH clade coupled with favorable environmental conditions allowed these species to rapidly morphologically diversify.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kory M Evans
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Olivier Larouche
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Samantha M Gartner
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Rose E Faucher
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sylvia G Dee
- Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mark W Westneat
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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4
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Conith AJ, Hope SA, Albertson RC. Covariation of brain and skull shapes as a model to understand the role of crosstalk in development and evolution. Evol Dev 2023; 25:85-102. [PMID: 36377237 PMCID: PMC9839637 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Covariation among discrete phenotypes can arise due to selection for shared functions, and/or shared genetic and developmental underpinnings. The consequences of such phenotypic integration are far-reaching and can act to either facilitate or limit morphological variation. The vertebrate brain is known to act as an "organizer" of craniofacial development, secreting morphogens that can affect the shape of the growing neurocranium, consistent with roles for pleiotropy in brain-neurocranium covariation. Here, we test this hypothesis in cichlid fishes by first examining the degree of shape integration between the brain and the neurocranium using three-dimensional geometric morphometrics in an F5 hybrid population, and then genetically mapping trait covariation using quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. We observe shape associations between the brain and the neurocranium, a pattern that holds even when we assess associations between the brain and constituent parts of the neurocranium: the rostrum and braincase. We also recover robust genetic signals for both hard- and soft-tissue traits and identify a genomic region where QTL for the brain and braincase overlap, implicating a role for pleiotropy in patterning trait covariation. Fine mapping of the overlapping genomic region identifies a candidate gene, notch1a, which is known to be involved in patterning skeletal and neural tissues during development. Taken together, these data offer a genetic hypothesis for brain-neurocranium covariation, as well as a potential mechanism by which behavioral shifts may simultaneously drive rapid change in neuroanatomy and craniofacial morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Conith
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01002,Corresponding authors: AJC: , RCA:
| | - Sylvie A. Hope
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01002
| | - R. Craig Albertson
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01002,Corresponding authors: AJC: , RCA:
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5
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Evans KM, Larouche O, West JL, Gartner SM, Westneat MW. Burrowing constrains patterns of skull shape evolution in wrasses. Evol Dev 2023; 25:73-84. [PMID: 35971630 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of behavioral and ecological specialization can have marked effects on the tempo and mode of phenotypic evolution. Head-first burrowing has been shown to exert powerful selective pressures on the head and body shapes of many vertebrate and invertebrate taxa. In wrasses, burrowing behaviors have evolved multiple times independently, and are commonly used in foraging and predator avoidance behaviors. While recent studies have examined the kinematics and body shape morphology associated with this behavior, no study to-date has examined the macroevolutionary implications of burrowing on patterns of phenotypic diversification in this clade. Here, we use three-dimensional geometric morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative methods to study the evolution of skull shape in fossorial wrasses and their relatives. We test for skull shape differences between burrowing and non burrowing wrasses and evaluate hypotheses of shape convergence among the burrowing wrasses. We also quantify rates of skull shape evolution between burrowing and non burrowing wrasses to test for whether burrowing constrains or accelerates rates of skull shape evolution in this clade. We find that while burrowing and non burrowing wrasses exhibit similar degrees of morphological disparity, for burrowing wrasses, it took nearly twice as long to amass this disparity. Furthermore, while the disparities between groups are evenly matched, we find that most burrowing species are confined to a particular region of shape space with most species exhibiting narrower heads than many non-burrowing species. These results suggest head-first burrowing constrains patterns of skull shape diversification in wrasses by potentially restricting the range of phenotypes that can perform this behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kory M Evans
- Department of Bioscience, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - JoJo L West
- Department of Bioscience, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Samantha M Gartner
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mark W Westneat
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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6
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Black CR, Armbruster JW. Evolutionary integration and modularity in the diversity of the suckermouth armoured catfishes. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220713. [PMID: 36425524 PMCID: PMC9682303 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of morphological diversity has held a long-standing fascination among scientists. In particular, do bodies evolve as single, integrated units or do different body parts evolve semi-independently (modules)? Suckermouth armoured catfishes (Loricariidae) have a morphology that lends nicely to evolutionary modularity and integration studies. In addition to a ventrally facing oral jaw that directly contacts surfaces, the neurocranium and pectoral girdle are fused, which limits movement of the anterior part of the body. Functional constraints suggest it is likely the head and post-cranial body act as separate modules that can evolve independently. If true, one would expect to see a two- or three-module system where the head and post-cranial body are morphologically distinct. To test this hypothesis, we quantified shape using geometric morphometric analysis and assessed the degree of modularity across functionally important regions. We found the armoured catfish body is highly modularized, with varying degrees of integration between each module. Within subfamilies, there are different patterns of evolutionary modularity and integration, suggesting that the various patterns may have driven diversification along a single trajectory in each subfamily. This study suggests the evolution of armoured catfish diversification is complex, with morphological evolution influenced by interactions within and between modules.
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7
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Ford KL, Peterson R, Bernt M, Albert JS. Convergence is Only Skin Deep: Craniofacial Evolution in Electric Fishes from South America and Africa (Apteronotidae and Mormyridae). Integr Org Biol 2022; 4:obac022. [PMID: 35976714 PMCID: PMC9375771 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obac022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Apteronotidae and Mormyridae are species-rich clades of weakly electric fishes from Neotropical and Afrotropical freshwaters, respectively, known for their high morphological disparity and often regarded as a classic example of convergent evolution. Here, we use CT-imaging and 3D geometric morphometrics to quantify disparity in craniofacial morphologies, and to test the hypothesis of convergent skull-shape evolution in a phylogenetic context. For this study, we examined 391 specimens representing 78 species of Apteronotidae and Mormyridae including 30 of 37 (81%) of all valid genera with the goal to sample most of the craniofacial disparity known in these clades. We found no overlap between Apteronotidae and Mormyridae in the skull-shape morphospace using PCA and a common landmark scheme, and therefore no instances of complete phenotypic convergence. Instead, we found multiple potential instances of incomplete convergence, and at least one parallel shift among electric fish clades. The greatest components of shape variance in both families are the same as observed for most vertebrate clades: heterocephaly (i.e., opposite changes in relative sizes of the snout and braincase regions of the skull), and heterorhynchy (i.e., dorsoventral changes in relative snout flexion and mouth position). Mormyrid species examined here exhibit less craniofacial disparity than do apteronotids, potentially due to constraints associated with a larger brain size, ecological constraints related to food-type availability. Patterns of craniofacial evolution in these two clades depict a complex story of phenotypic divergence and convergence in which certain superficial similarities of external morphology obscure deeper osteological and presumably developmental differences of skull form and function. Among apteronotid and mormyrid electric fishes, craniofacial convergence is only skin deep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kassandra L Ford
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Universität Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Eawag Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Switzerland
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA
| | - Rose Peterson
- Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, USA
| | - Maxwell Bernt
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA
- Department of Ichthyology, American Museum of Natural History, USA
| | - James S Albert
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA
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8
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Evans KM, Buser TJ, Larouche O, Kolmann MA. Untangling the relationship between developmental and evolutionary integration. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 145:22-27. [PMID: 35659472 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Patterns of integration and modularity among organismal traits are prevalent across the tree of life, and at multiple scales of biological organization. Over the past several decades, researchers have studied these patterns at the developmental, and evolutionary levels. While their work has identified the potential drivers of these patterns at different scales, there appears to be a lack of consensus on the relationship between developmental and evolutionary integration. Here, we review and summarize key studies and build a framework to describe the conceptual relationship between these patterns across organismal scales and illustrate how, and why some of these studies may have yielded seemingly conflicting outcomes. We find that among studies that analyze patterns of integration and modularity using morphological data, the lack of consensus may stem in part from the difficulty of fully disentangling the developmental and functional causes of integration. Nonetheless, in some empirical systems, patterns of evolutionary modularity have been found to coincide with expectations based on developmental processes, suggesting that in some circumstances, developmental modularity may translate to evolutionary modularity. We also advance an extension to Hallgrímsson et al.'s palimpsest model to describe how patterns of trait modularity may shift across different evolutionary scales. Finally, we also propose some directions for future research which will hopefully be useful for investigators interested in these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kory M Evans
- Rice University, Biosciences Department, 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
| | - Thaddaeus J Buser
- Rice University, Biosciences Department, 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Olivier Larouche
- Rice University, Biosciences Department, 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Matthew A Kolmann
- Rice University, Biosciences Department, 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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9
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Peixoto LAW, de Pinna M. Patterns of diversification and phylogenetic structure in the dorsolateral head musculature of Neotropical electric eels (Ostariophysi: Gymnotiformes), with a myological synonymy. NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2021-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract The present study offers a broad comparative analysis of the dorsolateral head musculature in the Gymnotiformes, with detailed descriptions and illustrations of the dorsolateral head muscles of 83 species representing combined all valid genera. Results permit a detailed assessment of primary homologies and taxonomically-relevant variation across the order. This provides the basis for a myological synonymy, which organizes 33 previously proposed names for 15 recognized muscles. Morphological variation derived from dorsolateral head musculature was coded into 56 characters. When analyzed in isolation, that set of characters results in Gymnotidae as the sister group of remaining gymnotiforms, and all other currently recognized families as monophyletic groups. In a second analysis, myological characters were concatenated with other previously proposed characters into a phenotypic matrix. Results of that analysis reveal new myological synapomorphies for nearly all taxonomic categories within Gymnotiformes. A Partitioned Bremer Support (PBS) was used to asses the significance of comparative myology in elucidating phylogenetic relationships. PBS values show strongly non-uniform distributions on the tree, with positive scores skewed towards more inclusive taxa, and negative PBS values concentrated on less inclusive clades. Our results provide background for future studies on biomechanical constraints evolved in the early stages of gymnotiform evolution.
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10
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Zelditch ML, Goswami A. What does modularity mean? Evol Dev 2021; 23:377-403. [PMID: 34464501 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Modularity is now generally recognized as a fundamental feature of organisms, one that may have profound consequences for evolution. Modularity has recently become a major focus of research in organismal biology across multiple disciplines including genetics, developmental biology, functional morphology, population and evolutionary biology. While the wealth of new data, and also new theory, has provided exciting and novel insights, the concept of modularity has become increasingly ambiguous. That ambiguity is underlain by diverse intuitions about what modularity means, and the ambiguity is not merely about the meaning of the word-the metrics of modularity are measuring different properties and the methods for delimiting modules delimit them by different, sometimes conflicting criteria. The many definitions, metrics and methods can lead to substantial confusion not just about what modularity means as a word but also about what it means for evolution. Here we review various concepts, using graphical depictions of modules. We then review some of the metrics and methods for analyzing modularity at different levels. To place these in theoretical context, we briefly review theories about the origins and evolutionary consequences of modularity. Finally, we show how mismatches between concepts, metrics and methods can produce theoretical confusion, and how potentially illogical interpretations can be made sensible by a better match between definitions, metrics, and methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam L Zelditch
- Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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11
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Aiello BR, Tan M, Bin Sikandar U, Alvey AJ, Bhinderwala B, Kimball KC, Barber JR, Hamilton CA, Kawahara AY, Sponberg S. Adaptive shifts underlie the divergence in wing morphology in bombycoid moths. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210677. [PMID: 34344177 PMCID: PMC8334871 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of flapping flight is linked to the prolific success of insects. Across Insecta, wing morphology diversified, strongly impacting aerodynamic performance. In the presence of ecological opportunity, discrete adaptive shifts and early bursts are two processes hypothesized to give rise to exceptional morphological diversification. Here, we use the sister-families Sphingidae and Saturniidae to answer how the evolution of aerodynamically important traits is linked to clade divergence and through what process(es) these traits evolve. Many agile Sphingidae evolved hover feeding behaviours, while adult Saturniidae lack functional mouth parts and rely on a fixed energy budget as adults. We find that Sphingidae underwent an adaptive shift in wing morphology coincident with life history and behaviour divergence, evolving small high aspect ratio wings advantageous for power reduction that can be moved at high frequencies, beneficial for flight control. By contrast, Saturniidae, which do not feed as adults, evolved large wings and morphology which surprisingly does not reduce aerodynamic power, but could contribute to their erratic flight behaviour, aiding in predator avoidance. We suggest that after the evolution of flapping flight, diversification of wing morphology can be potentiated by adaptative shifts, shaping the diversity of wing morphology across insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett R. Aiello
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Milton Tan
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Usama Bin Sikandar
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Information Technology University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Alexis J. Alvey
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | | | - Katalina C. Kimball
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Jesse R. Barber
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
| | - Chris A. Hamilton
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Akito Y. Kawahara
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Simon Sponberg
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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12
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Semple TL, Vidal-García M, Tatarnic NJ, Peakall R. Evolution of reproductive structures for in-flight mating in thynnine wasps (Hymenoptera: Thynnidae: Thynninae). J Evol Biol 2021; 34:1406-1422. [PMID: 34258799 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13902] [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: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Thynnine wasps have an unusual mating system that involves concurrent in-flight copulation and nuptial feeding of wingless females by alate males. Consequently, thynnine genitalia play a multifunctional role and have likely been subject to various different selective pressures for both reproductive success and food provisioning. Here, we present a new molecular phylogeny for the Australian Thynninae and use 3D-geometric morphometrics and comparative methods to investigate the morphological evolution of select genital structures across the group. We found significant morphological integration between all male and female structures analysed, which is likely influenced by sexual selection, but also reproductive isolation requirements and mechanical constraints. The morphology of the primary male and female coupling structures was correlated with female body size, and female genitalia exhibited strong negative size allometry. Those male and female coupling structures have evolved at similar evolutionary rates, whereas female structures appear to have evolved a higher degree of morphological novelty over time. We conclude that the unique reproductive strategies of thynnine wasps have resulted in complex evolutionary patterns in their genital morphology, which has likely played a central role in the extensive diversification of the subfamily across Australasia and South America. Our study reinforces the need to treat composite characters such as genitalia by their component parts, and to consider the roles of both male and female reproductive structures in evolutionary studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L Semple
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Marta Vidal-García
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Nikolai J Tatarnic
- Collections & Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Australia.,Centre for Evolutionary Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, Australia
| | - Rod Peakall
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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13
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Evans KM, Larouche O, Watson SJ, Farina S, Habegger ML, Friedman M. Integration drives rapid phenotypic evolution in flatfishes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2101330118. [PMID: 33931506 PMCID: PMC8106320 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2101330118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary innovations are scattered throughout the tree of life, and have allowed the organisms that possess them to occupy novel adaptive zones. While the impacts of these innovations are well documented, much less is known about how these innovations arise in the first place. Patterns of covariation among traits across macroevolutionary time can offer insights into the generation of innovation. However, to date, there is no consensus on the role that trait covariation plays in this process. The evolution of cranial asymmetry in flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes) from within Carangaria was a rapid evolutionary innovation that preceded the colonization of benthic aquatic habitats by this clade, and resulted in one of the most bizarre body plans observed among extant vertebrates. Here, we use three-dimensional geometric morphometrics and a phylogenetic comparative toolkit to reconstruct the evolution of skull shape in carangarians, and quantify patterns of integration and modularity across the skull. We find that the evolution of asymmetry in flatfishes was a rapid process, resulting in the colonization of novel trait space, that was aided by strong integration that coordinated shape changes across the skull. Our findings suggest that integration plays a major role in the evolution of innovation by synchronizing responses to selective pressures across the organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kory M Evans
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005;
| | | | - Sara-Jane Watson
- Department of Biology, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM 87801
| | - Stacy Farina
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059
| | | | - Matt Friedman
- Department of Paleontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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White HE, Goswami A, Tucker AS. The Intertwined Evolution and Development of Sutures and Cranial Morphology. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:653579. [PMID: 33842480 PMCID: PMC8033035 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.653579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic variation across mammals is extensive and reflects their ecological diversification into a remarkable range of habitats on every continent and in every ocean. The skull performs many functions to enable each species to thrive within its unique ecological niche, from prey acquisition, feeding, sensory capture (supporting vision and hearing) to brain protection. Diversity of skull function is reflected by its complex and highly variable morphology. Cranial morphology can be quantified using geometric morphometric techniques to offer invaluable insights into evolutionary patterns, ecomorphology, development, taxonomy, and phylogenetics. Therefore, the skull is one of the best suited skeletal elements for developmental and evolutionary analyses. In contrast, less attention is dedicated to the fibrous sutural joints separating the cranial bones. Throughout postnatal craniofacial development, sutures function as sites of bone growth, accommodating expansion of a growing brain. As growth frontiers, cranial sutures are actively responsible for the size and shape of the cranial bones, with overall skull shape being altered by changes to both the level and time period of activity of a given cranial suture. In keeping with this, pathological premature closure of sutures postnatally causes profound misshaping of the skull (craniosynostosis). Beyond this crucial role, sutures also function postnatally to provide locomotive shock absorption, allow joint mobility during feeding, and, in later postnatal stages, suture fusion acts to protect the developed brain. All these sutural functions have a clear impact on overall cranial function, development and morphology, and highlight the importance that patterns of suture development have in shaping the diversity of cranial morphology across taxa. Here we focus on the mammalian cranial system and review the intrinsic relationship between suture development and morphology and cranial shape from an evolutionary developmental biology perspective, with a view to understanding the influence of sutures on evolutionary diversity. Future work integrating suture development into a comparative evolutionary framework will be instrumental to understanding how developmental mechanisms shaping sutures ultimately influence evolutionary diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather E White
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.,Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anjali Goswami
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.,Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail S Tucker
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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15
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Peixoto LAW, Datovo A, Menezes NA, de Santana CD. A new species of sexually dimorphic and rheophilic ghost knifefish (Apteronotidae: Gymnotiformes) from the Amazon basin. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 98:803-816. [PMID: 33247436 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A new species of ghost knifefish, Apteronotus, is described from high-energy environments in the Rios Mapuera and Trombetas (at Cachoeira Porteira waterfalls), Brazil. X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT scan) was used to access the internal anatomy of the type series. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by the anteriormost position of the anus, with its posterior margin extending less than one eye diameter beyond the vertical through the caudal limit of the posterior nostril, the low number of anal-fin rays (117-125) and the reduced number of branchiostegal rays (three). A series of modifications associated with secondary sexual dimorphism on the preorbital region of mature males are depicted and discussed. In addition, comments on homologies of the branchiostegal rays in Apteronotidae are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aléssio Datovo
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos David de Santana
- Division of Fishes, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, MRC-159, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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16
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White HE, Clavel J, Tucker AS, Goswami A. A comparison of metrics for quantifying cranial suture complexity. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200476. [PMID: 33023399 PMCID: PMC7653371 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cranial sutures play critical roles in facilitating postnatal skull development and function. The diversity of function is reflected in the highly variable suture morphology and complexity. Suture complexity has seldom been studied, resulting in little consensus on the most appropriate approach for comparative, quantitative analyses. Here, we provide the first comprehensive comparison of current approaches for quantifying suture morphology, using a wide range of two-dimensional suture outlines across extinct and extant mammals (n = 79). Five complexity metrics (sinuosity index (SI), suture complexity index (SCI), fractal dimension (FD) box counting, FD madogram and a windowed short-time Fourier transform with power spectrum density (PSD) calculation) were compared with each other and with the shape variation in the dataset. Analyses of suture shape demonstrate that the primary axis of variation captured attributes other than complexity, supporting the use of a complexity metric over raw shape data for sutural complexity analyses. Each approach captured different aspects of complexity. PSD successfully discriminates different sutural features, such as looping patterns and interdigitation amplitude and number, while SCI best-captured variation in interdigitation number alone. Therefore, future studies should consider the relevant attributes for their question when selecting a metric for comparative analysis of suture variation, function and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather E. White
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College LondonSE1 9RT, UK
- Division of Biosciences, University College LondonWC1E 6DE, UK
| | - Julien Clavel
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Abigail S. Tucker
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College LondonSE1 9RT, UK
| | - Anjali Goswami
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
- Division of Biosciences, University College LondonWC1E 6DE, UK
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17
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Conith AJ, Kidd MR, Kocher TD, Albertson RC. Ecomorphological divergence and habitat lability in the context of robust patterns of modularity in the cichlid feeding apparatus. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:95. [PMID: 32736512 PMCID: PMC7393717 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01648-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adaptive radiations are characterized by extreme and/or iterative phenotypic divergence; however, such variation does not accumulate evenly across an organism. Instead, it is often partitioned into sub-units, or modules, which can differentially respond to selection. While it is recognized that changing the pattern of modularity or the strength of covariation (integration) can influence the range or rate of morphological evolution, the relationship between shape variation and covariation remains unclear. For example, it is possible that rapid phenotypic change requires concomitant changes to the underlying covariance structure. Alternatively, repeated shifts between phenotypic states may be facilitated by a conserved covariance structure. Distinguishing between these scenarios will contribute to a better understanding of the factors that shape biodiversity. Here, we explore these questions using a diverse Lake Malawi cichlid species complex, Tropheops, that appears to partition habitat by depth. RESULTS We construct a phylogeny of Tropheops populations and use 3D geometric morphometrics to assess the shape of four bones involved in feeding (mandible, pharyngeal jaw, maxilla, pre-maxilla) in populations that inhabit deep versus shallow habitats. We next test numerous modularity hypotheses to understand whether fish at different depths are characterized by conserved or divergent patterns of modularity. We further examine rates of morphological evolution and disparity between habitats and among modules. Finally, we raise a single Tropheops species in environments mimicking deep or shallow habitats to discover whether plasticity can replicate the pattern of morphology, disparity, or modularity observed in natural populations. CONCLUSIONS Our data support the hypothesis that conserved patterns of modularity permit the evolution of divergent morphologies and may facilitate the repeated transitions between habitats. In addition, we find the lab-reared populations replicate many trends in the natural populations, which suggests that plasticity may be an important force in initiating depth transitions, priming the feeding apparatus for evolutionary change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Conith
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
| | - Michael R. Kidd
- Department of Biology & Chemistry, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX 78041 USA
| | - Thomas D. Kocher
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
| | - R. Craig Albertson
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
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18
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Buser TJ, Boyd OF, Cortés Á, Donatelli CM, Kolmann MA, Luparell JL, Pfeiffenberger JA, Sidlauskas BL, Summers AP. The Natural Historian's Guide to the CT Galaxy: Step-by-Step Instructions for Preparing and Analyzing Computed Tomographic (CT) Data Using Cross-Platform, Open Access Software. Integr Org Biol 2020; 2:obaa009. [PMID: 33791553 PMCID: PMC7671151 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obaa009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The decreasing cost of acquiring computed tomographic (CT) data has fueled a global effort to digitize the anatomy of museum specimens. This effort has produced a wealth of open access digital three-dimensional (3D) models of anatomy available to anyone with access to the Internet. The potential applications of these data are broad, ranging from 3D printing for purely educational purposes to the development of highly advanced biomechanical models of anatomical structures. However, while virtually anyone can access these digital data, relatively few have the training to easily derive a desirable product (e.g., a 3D visualization of an anatomical structure) from them. Here, we present a workflow based on free, open source, cross-platform software for processing CT data. We provide step-by-step instructions that start with acquiring CT data from a new reconstruction or an open access repository, and progress through visualizing, measuring, landmarking, and constructing digital 3D models of anatomical structures. We also include instructions for digital dissection, data reduction, and exporting data for use in downstream applications such as 3D printing. Finally, we provide Supplementary Videos and workflows that demonstrate how the workflow facilitates five specific applications: measuring functional traits associated with feeding, digitally isolating anatomical structures, isolating regions of interest using semi-automated segmentation, collecting data with simple visual tools, and reducing file size and converting file type of a 3D model.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Buser
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - O F Boyd
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Á Cortés
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - C M Donatelli
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, USA
| | - M A Kolmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - J L Luparell
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | | | - B L Sidlauskas
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - A P Summers
- Department of Biology and SAFS, University of Washington, Friday Harbor Laboratories, Friday Harbor, Washington, DC, USA
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19
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Farina SC, Kane EA, Hernandez LP. Multifunctional Structures and Multistructural Functions: Integration in the Evolution of Biomechanical Systems. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 59:338-345. [PMID: 31168594 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icz095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Integration is an essential feature of complex biomechanical systems, with coordination and covariation occurring among and within structural components at time scales that vary from microseconds to deep evolutionary time. Integration has been suggested to both promote and constrain morphological evolution, and the effects of integration on the evolution of structure likely vary by system, clade, historical contingency, and time scale. In this introduction to the 2019 symposium "Multifunctional Structures and Multistructural Functions," we discuss the role of integration among structures in the context of functional integration and multifunctionality. We highlight articles from this issue of Integrative and Comparative Biology that explore integration within and among kinematics, sensory and motor systems, physiological systems, developmental processes, morphometric dimensions, and biomechanical functions. From these myriad examples it is clear that integration can exist at multiple levels of organization that can interact with adjacent levels to result in complex patterns of structural and functional phenotypes. We conclude with a synthesis of major themes and potential future directions, particularly with respect to using multifunctionality, itself, as a trait in evolutionary analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Farina
- Department of Biology, Howard University, 415 College Street NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - E A Kane
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, 1332 Southern Drive, Statesboro, GA 30458, USA
| | - L P Hernandez
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Suite 6000, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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20
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Evans KM, Kim LY, Schubert BA, Albert JS. Ecomorphology of Neotropical Electric Fishes: An Integrative Approach to Testing the Relationships between Form, Function, and Trophic Ecology. Integr Org Biol 2019; 1:obz015. [PMID: 33791530 PMCID: PMC7671154 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obz015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between form and function is thought to play an integral role in structuring broad-scale patterns of morphological evolution and resource utilization. In ecomorphological studies, mechanical performance is widely understood to constrain the evolution of form and function. However, the relationship between form, function, and resource utilization is less clear. Additionally, seasonal fluctuations in resource availability may further complicate patterns of resource use. How organisms cope with these complexities, and the effect of these factors on broadscale patterns of morphological evolution is also poorly understood. Here we use three-dimensional geometric morphometrics, biomechanics, stable isotope analysis, and gut-content analysis to study trophic evolution in a clade of riverine-adapted electric fishes from a region with high seasonal variability; the Amazon River. We find significant and phylogenetically structured relationships among measures of trophic ecology and skull shape. We also recover a significant relationship between the mechanical advantage of the mandible and trophic position, where species feeding at higher trophic levels have narrower jaws with lower mechanical advantages, and species feeding at lower trophic levels have deeper jaws with higher mechanical advantages. Our results indicate that selection is driving the evolution of mandible shape and performance toward specialization on different trophic ecologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Evans
- College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - L Y Kim
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, P.O. Box 42451, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
| | - B A Schubert
- School of Geosciences, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, P.O. Box 43705, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
| | - J S Albert
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, P.O. Box 42451, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
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