1
|
Pintore R, Cornette R, Houssaye A, Allain R. Femora from an exceptionally large population of coeval ornithomimosaurs yield evidence of sexual dimorphism in extinct theropod dinosaurs. eLife 2023; 12:83413. [PMID: 37309177 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83413] [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: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is challenging to detect among fossils due to a lack of statistical representativeness. The Angeac-Charente Lagerstätte (France) represents a remarkable 'snapshot' from a Berriasian (Early Cretaceous) ecosystem and offers a unique opportunity to study intraspecific variation among a herd of at least 61 coeval ornithomimosaurs. Herein, we investigated the hindlimb variation across the best-preserved specimens from the herd through 3D Geometric Morphometrics and Gaussian Mixture Modeling. Our results based on complete and fragmented femora evidenced a dimorphism characterized by variations in the shaft curvature and the distal epiphysis width. Since the same features vary between sexes among modern avian dinosaurs, crocodilians, and more distant amniotes, we attributed this bimodal variation to sexual dimorphism based on the extant phylogenetic bracketing approach. Documenting sexual dimorphism in fossil dinosaurs allows a better characterization and accounting of intraspecific variations, which is particularly relevant to address ongoing taxonomical and ecological questions relative to dinosaur evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Romain Pintore
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Évolution (MECADEV), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Paris, France
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Raphaël Cornette
- UMR 7205, Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, UA, Paris, France, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Évolution (MECADEV), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Ronan Allain
- UMR 7207, Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie - Paris (CR2P), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Green TL, Kay DI, Gignac PM. Intraspecific variation and directional casque asymmetry in adult southern cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius). J Anat 2022; 241:951-965. [PMID: 35933695 PMCID: PMC9482693 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The cranial casques of modern cassowaries (Casuarius) have long intrigued researchers; however, in-depth studies regarding their morphological variation are scarce. Through visual inspection, it has been recognized that casque variability exists between conspecifics. Understanding casque variation has both evolutionary and ecological importance. Although hypothesized to be targeted by selection, intraspecific casque variation has not been quantified previously. Through a large sample of C. casuarius (n = 103), we compared casque shape (lateral and rostral views) between sexes and between individuals from non-overlapping geographical regions using two-dimensional (2D) geometric morphometrics. We found no statistically significant differences between the casque shape of females and males and few substantial shape differences between individuals from different geographic areas. Much of the intraspecific variation within C. casuarius is due to casque asymmetries (77.5% rightward deviating, 20.7% leftward deviating, and 1.8% non-deviating from the midline; n = 111), which explain the high variability of southern cassowary casque shape, particularly from the rostral aspect. Finally, we discuss how our non-significant findings implicate social selection theory, and we identify the benefits of quantifying such variation for further elucidating casque function(s) and the social biology of cassowaries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Todd L. Green
- Department of AnatomyNew York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic MedicineOld WestburyNew YorkUSA
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyOklahoma State University Center for Health SciencesTulsaOklahomaUSA
| | - David Ian Kay
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyOklahoma State University Center for Health SciencesTulsaOklahomaUSA
| | - Paul M. Gignac
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyOklahoma State University Center for Health SciencesTulsaOklahomaUSA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular MedicineUniversity of Arizona College of MedicineTucsonArizonaUSA
- Division of PaleontologyAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- MicroCT Imaging Consortium for Research and Outreach (MICRO)FayettevilleArkansasUSA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Undin M, Castro I. Predicting breeding systems to guide conservation strategies: A kiwi example. Ethology 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Malin Undin
- Department of Natural Sciences Mid Sweden University Sundsvall Sweden
- Wildlife and Ecology Group, School of Agriculture and Environment Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand
| | - Isabel Castro
- Wildlife and Ecology Group, School of Agriculture and Environment Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand
- Wildbase Research Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Elzanowski A, Louchart A. Metric variation in the postcranial skeleton of ostriches, Struthio (Aves: Palaeognathae), with new data on extinct subspecies. Zool J Linn Soc 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
As a result of numerous fossil and subfossil finds of ostriches, there is great demand for a comprehensive osteometric dataset for the living species and subspecies of the genus Struthio. We meet this demand by providing a set of > 100 measurements for a sample of 18 sexed skeletons, including all living and recently extinct species and subspecies of ostriches. We provide the first mensural data for two extinct subspecies, the hitherto questioned Struthio camelus spatzi from north-western Africa and the Arabian ostrich, Struthio camelus syriacus. The unique skeletal proportions of S. c. spatzi, with a relatively short wing, broad pelvis, short tarsometatarsus and big third toe, confirm the validity of this taxon and suggest an increased stability at the expense of cursoriality, which might have contributed to its extermination by humans. Our biometric analysis of the entire sample suggests a subtle sexual dimorphism in the ostrich skeleton, with females having more robust limb bones (especially wider and/or deeper at the ends) despite being on average smaller than males. If confirmed by further research, this size-independent dimorphism might reflect the independent regulation of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of bones as revealed by several independent studies of morphological integration (covariance among morphological traits) in the avian skeleton.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Antoine Louchart
- Univ Lyon, UCBL, ENSL, UJM, CNRS, LGL-TPE, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hanson M, Hoffman EA, Norell MA, Bhullar BAS. The early origin of a birdlike inner ear and the evolution of dinosaurian movement and vocalization. Science 2021; 372:601-609. [PMID: 33958471 DOI: 10.1126/science.abb4305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Reptiles, including birds, exhibit a range of behaviorally relevant adaptations that are reflected in changes to the structure of the inner ear. These adaptations include the capacity for flight and sensitivity to high-frequency sound. We used three-dimensional morphometric analyses of a large sample of extant and extinct reptiles to investigate inner ear correlates of locomotor ability and hearing acuity. Statistical analyses revealed three vestibular morphotypes, best explained by three locomotor categories-quadrupeds, bipeds and simple fliers (including bipedal nonavialan dinosaurs), and high-maneuverability fliers. Troodontids fall with Archaeopteryx among the extant low-maneuverability fliers. Analyses of cochlear shape revealed a single instance of elongation, on the stem of Archosauria. We suggest that this transformation coincided with the origin of both high-pitched juvenile location, alarm, and hatching-synchronization calls and adult responses to them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hanson
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Eva A Hoffman
- Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark A Norell
- Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bhart-Anjan S Bhullar
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rhodes MM, Henderson DM, Currie PJ. Maniraptoran pelvic musculature highlights evolutionary patterns in theropod locomotion on the line to birds. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10855. [PMID: 33717681 PMCID: PMC7937347 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Locomotion is a fundamental aspect of palaeobiology and often investigated by comparing osteological structures and proportions. Previous studies document a stepwise accumulation of avian-like features in theropod dinosaurs that accelerates in the clade Maniraptora. However, the soft tissues that influenced the skeleton offer another perspective on locomotory adaptations. Examination of the pelvis for osteological correlates of hind limb and tail musculature allowed reconstruction of primary locomotory muscles across theropods and their closest extant relatives. Additionally, the areas of pelvic muscle origins were quantified to measure relative differences within and between taxa, to compare morphological features associated with cursoriality, and offer insight into the evolution of locomotor modules. Locomotory inferences based on myology often corroborate those based on osteology, although they occasionally conflict and indicate greater complexity than previously appreciated. Maniraptoran pelvic musculature underscores previous studies noting the multifaceted nature of cursoriality and suggests that a more punctuated step in caudal decoupling occurred at or near the base of Maniraptora.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M Rhodes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Philip J Currie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lundgren EJ, Schowanek SD, Rowan J, Middleton O, Pedersen RØ, Wallach AD, Ramp D, Davis M, Sandom CJ, Svenning JC. Functional traits of the world's late Quaternary large-bodied avian and mammalian herbivores. Sci Data 2021; 8:17. [PMID: 33473149 PMCID: PMC7817692 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-020-00788-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prehistoric and recent extinctions of large-bodied terrestrial herbivores had significant and lasting impacts on Earth's ecosystems due to the loss of their distinct trait combinations. The world's surviving large-bodied avian and mammalian herbivores remain among the most threatened taxa. As such, a greater understanding of the ecological impacts of large herbivore losses is increasingly important. However, comprehensive and ecologically-relevant trait datasets for extinct and extant herbivores are lacking. Here, we present HerbiTraits, a comprehensive functional trait dataset for all late Quaternary terrestrial avian and mammalian herbivores ≥10 kg (545 species). HerbiTraits includes key traits that influence how herbivores interact with ecosystems, namely body mass, diet, fermentation type, habitat use, and limb morphology. Trait data were compiled from 557 sources and comprise the best available knowledge on late Quaternary large-bodied herbivores. HerbiTraits provides a tool for the analysis of herbivore functional diversity both past and present and its effects on Earth's ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erick J Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia.
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Simon D Schowanek
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - John Rowan
- Department of Anthropology, University at Albany, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Owen Middleton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Sussex, UK
| | - Rasmus Ø Pedersen
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Matt Davis
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, USA
| | | | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Green TL, Gignac PM. Osteological description of casque ontogeny in the southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) using micro-CT imaging. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 304:461-479. [PMID: 32558300 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Extant cassowaries (Casuarius) are unique flightless birds found in the tropics of Indo-Australia. They have garnered substantial attention from anatomists with focus centered on the bony makeup and function of their conspicuous cranial casques, located dorsally above the orbits and neurocranium. The osteological patterning of the casque has been formally described previously; however, there are differing interpretations between authors. These variable descriptions suggest that an anatomical understanding of casque anatomy and its constituent elements may be enhanced by developmental studies aimed at further elucidating this bizarre structure. In the present study, we clarify casque osteology of the southern cassowary (C. casuarius) by detailing casque anatomy across an extensive growth series for the first time. We used micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging to visualize embryonic development and post-hatching ontogeny through adulthood. We also sampled closely related emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and ostriches (Struthio camelus) to provide valuable comparative context. We found that southern cassowary casques are comprised of three paired (i.e., nasals, lacrimals, frontals) and two unpaired elements (i.e., mesethmoid, median casque element). Although lacrimals have rarely been considered as casque elements, the contribution to the casque structure was evident in μCT images. The median casque element has often been cited as a portion of the mesethmoid. However, through comparisons between immature C. casuarius and D. novaehollandiae, we document the median casque element as a distinct unit from the mesethmoid.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Todd L Green
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Paul M Gignac
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.,Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA.,MicroCT Imaging Consortium for Research and Outreach, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kappeler PM, Nunn CL, Vining AQ, Goodman SM. Evolutionary dynamics of sexual size dimorphism in non-volant mammals following their independent colonization of Madagascar. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1454. [PMID: 30723219 PMCID: PMC6363729 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36246-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
As predicted by sexual selection theory, males are larger than females in most polygynous mammals, but recent studies found that ecology and life history traits also affect sexual size dimorphism (SSD) through evolutionary changes in either male size, female size, or both. The primates of Madagascar (Lemuriformes) represent the largest group of mammals without male-biased SSD. The eco-evo-devo hypothesis posited that adaptations to unusual climatic unpredictability on Madagascar have ultimately reduced SSD in lemurs after dispersing to Madagascar, but data have not been available for comparative tests of the corresponding predictions that SSD is also absent in other terrestrial Malagasy mammals and that patterns of SSD changed following the colonization of Madagascar. We used phylogenetic methods and new body mass data to test these predictions among the four endemic radiations of Malagasy primates, carnivorans, tenrecs, and rodents. In support of our prediction, we found that male-biased SSD is generally absent among all Malagasy mammals. Phylogenetic comparative analyses further indicated that after their independent colonization of Madagascar, SSD decreased in primates and tenrecs, but not in the other lineages or when analyzed across all species. We discuss several mechanisms that may have generated these patterns and conclude that neither the eco-evo-devo hypothesis, founder effects, the island rule nor sexual selection theory alone can provide a compelling explanation for the observed patterns of SSD in Malagasy mammals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Kappeler
- Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute of Primatology, Göttingen, Germany.
- Department Sociobiology/Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Charles L Nunn
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alexander Q Vining
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Steven M Goodman
- Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
- Association Vahatra, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hansford JP, Turvey ST. Unexpected diversity within the extinct elephant birds (Aves: Aepyornithidae) and a new identity for the world's largest bird. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:181295. [PMID: 30839722 PMCID: PMC6170582 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.181295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Madagascar's now-extinct radiation of large-bodied ratites, the elephant birds (Aepyornithidae), has been subject to little modern research compared to the island's mammalian megafauna and other Late Quaternary giant birds. The family's convoluted and conflicting taxonomic history has hindered accurate interpretation of morphological diversity and has restricted modern research into their evolutionary history, biogeography and ecology. We present a new quantitative analysis of patterns of morphological diversity of aepyornithid skeletal elements, including material from all major global collections of aepyornithid skeletal remains, and constituting the first taxonomic reassessment of the family for over 50 years. Linear morphometric data collected from appendicular limb elements, and including nearly all type specimens, were examined using multivariate cluster analysis and the Bayesian information criterion, and with estimation of missing data using multiple imputation and expectation maximization algorithms. These analyses recover three distinct skeletal morphotypes within the Aepyornithidae. Two of these morphotypes are associated with the type specimens of the existing genera Mullerornis and Aepyornis, and represent small-bodied and medium-bodied aepyornithids, respectively. Aepyornis contains two distinct morphometric subgroups, which are identified as the largely allopatric species A. hildebrandti and A. maximus. The third morphotype, which has not previously been recognized as a distinct genus, is described as the novel taxon Vorombe titan. Vorombe represents the largest-bodied aepyornithid and is the world's largest bird, with a mean body mass of almost 650 kg. This new taxonomic framework for the Aepyornithidae provides an important new baseline for future studies of avian evolution and the Quaternary ecology of Madagascar.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James P. Hansford
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Samuel T. Turvey
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
AbstractBody mass is a key parameter for understanding the physiology, biomechanics, and ecology of an organism. Within paleontology, body mass is a fundamental prerequisite for many studies considering body-size evolution, survivorship patterns, and the occurrence of dwarfism and gigantism. The conventional method for estimating fossil body mass relies on allometric scaling relationships derived from skeletal metrics of extant taxa, but the recent application of three-dimensional imaging techniques to paleontology (e.g., surface laser scanning, computed tomography, and photogrammetry) has allowed for the rapid digitization of fossil specimens. Volumetric body-mass estimation methods based on whole articulated skeletons are therefore becoming increasingly popular. Volume-based approaches offer several advantages, including the ability to reconstruct body-mass distribution around the body, and their relative insensitivity to particularly robust or gracile elements, i.e., the so-called ‘one bone effect.’ Yet their application to the fossil record will always be limited by the paucity of well-preserved specimens. Furthermore, uncertainties with regards to skeletal articulation, body density, and soft-tissue distribution must be acknowledged and their effects quantified. Future work should focus on extant taxa to improve our understanding of body composition and increase confidence in volumetric model input parameters.
Collapse
|
12
|
Friscia A, Sanin GD, Lindsay WR, Day LB, Schlinger BA, Tan J, Fuxjager MJ. Adaptive evolution of a derived radius morphology in manakins (Aves, Pipridae) to support acrobatic display behavior. J Morphol 2016; 277:766-75. [PMID: 27027525 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2016] [Revised: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The morphology of the avian skeleton is often studied in the context of adaptations for powered flight. The effects of other evolutionary forces, such as sexual selection, on avian skeletal design are unclear, even though birds produce diverse behaviors that undoubtedly require a variety of osteological modifications. Here, we investigate this issue in a family of passerine birds called manakins (Pipridae), which have evolved physically unusual and elaborate courtship displays. We report that, in species within the genus Manacus, the shaft of the radius is heavily flattened and shows substantial solidification. Past work anecdotally notes this morphology and attributes it to the species' ability to hit their wings together above their heads to produce loud mechanical sonations. Our results show that this feature is unique to Manacus compared to the other species in our study, including a variety of taxa that produce other sonations through alternate wing mechanisms. At the same time, our data reveal striking similarities across species in total radius volume and solidification. Together, this suggests that supposedly adaptive alterations in radial morphology occur within a conserved framework of a set radius volume and solidness, which in turn is likely determined by natural selection. Further allometric analyses imply that the radius is less constrained by body size and the structural demands that underlie powered flight, compared to other forelimb bones that are mostly unmodified across taxa. These results are consistent with the idea that the radius is more susceptible to selective modification by sexual selection. Overall, this study provides some of the first insight into the osteological evolution of passerine birds, as well as the way in which opposing selective forces can shape skeletal design in these species. J. Morphol. 277:766-775, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Friscia
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Gloria D Sanin
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27109
| | - Willow R Lindsay
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, 38677
| | - Lainy B Day
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, 38677
| | - Barney A Schlinger
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095.,Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
| | - Josh Tan
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157
| | - Matthew J Fuxjager
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27109
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Meiri S, Kadison AE, Novosolov M, Pafilis P, Foufopoulos J, Itescu Y, Raia P, Pincheira-Donoso D. The number of competitor species is unlinked to sexual dimorphism. J Anim Ecol 2014; 83:1302-12. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shai Meiri
- Department of Zoology; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
| | - Amy E. Kadison
- Department of Zoology; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
| | - Maria Novosolov
- Department of Zoology; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
| | - Panayiotis Pafilis
- Section of Zoology and Marine Biology; Department of Biology; University of Athens; Panepistimioupolis, Ilissia Athens 157-84 Greece
| | - Johannes Foufopoulos
- School of Natural Resources and Environment; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Ann Arbor MI 48109 USA
| | - Yuval Itescu
- Department of Zoology; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
| | - Pasquale Raia
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e delle Risorse; Università Federico II; L.go San Marcellino 10 Naples 80138 Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|