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Fornel R, Maestri R, Cordeiro-Estrela P, Sanfelice D, de Freitas TRO. Cranial morphological variation of Ctenomys lami (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in a restricted geographical distribution. Genet Mol Biol 2023; 46:e20230130. [PMID: 37963285 PMCID: PMC10655944 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0130] [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: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between chromosomal and morphological variation in mammals is poorly understood. We analyzed the cranial size and shape variation in Ctenomys lami concerning to the geographic variation in their chromosome numbers. This subterranean rodent occurs in a narrow range of sand-dunes in the Coastal Plain of southern Brazil. This species presents a high karyotypic variation with diploid numbers varying from 2n = 54 to 2n = 58, involving the fission and fusion of chromosome pairs 1 and 2. Due to different chromosome rearrangement frequencies along their geographic distribution, four karyotypic blocks were proposed. This study, explored cranium shape and size variation in geographical, chromosomal polymorphism, and chromosome rearrangements contexts to test whether the four karyotypic blocks reflect morphologically distinct units. For this, we measured 89 craniums using geometric morphometrics and used uni and multivariate statistics to discriminate the predicted groups and test for an association among chromosomal and morphological variation. Our results show the size and shape of sexual dimorphism, with males larger than females, and support the existence of four karyotypic blocks for Ctenomys lami based on morphological variation. However, our results do not support a direct relationship between chromosomal and cranial morphological variation in C. lami.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Fornel
- Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões,
Campus Erechim, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Erechim, RS, Brazil
| | - Renan Maestri
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Departamento de Ecologia,
Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Pedro Cordeiro-Estrela
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Departamento de Sistemática e
Ecologia, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Daniela Sanfelice
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do
Sul, Campus Restinga, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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2
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Igado O, Joannis J. Skull Shape Variations in the Eidolon helvum (African Fruit Bat) Based on Geographical Location. Niger J Physiol Sci 2022; 37:101-111. [PMID: 35947850 DOI: 10.54548/njps.v37i1.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The shape and size of a skull provides insight into the age, breed and gender of the animal. Skull shape variations have been reported in different animals, with some theories linking these variations to evolution and/or migration. This study assessed the variations observed in the skull shape, size and gross morphometrics of two groups of the Eidolon helvum obtained from two geographical regions in Nigeria (south and north). All skulls were rostro-caudally elongated, having a dolichocephalic appearance. The skulls from the north had a distinct dome shape, with a more prominent zygomatic process, absence of a 'diastema' and an extra upper molar, while the southern skulls showed a more dorsally flattened skull and a less prominent zygomatic process. The shape of the sagittal crest was different in the two groups, while there was the presence of an accessory infraorbital foramen in some of the southern skulls. The southern skulls lacked the palatine foramen. The lacrimal foramen was observed to be more caudally placed in the southern skulls. Values for most linear measurements were higher in the northern skulls, although statistically significant difference was not present in all. The value for the neurocranial volume was considerably higher in the northern skulls (4.41 ± 0.28 mls) relative to the southern skulls (2.0 ± 0.27 mls). Statistically significant differences were not observed between males and females (within regions). Data obtained from this study may find application in evolution and migration studies, wildlife medicine and surgery and comparative and forensic anatomy.
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3
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Geographic Mosaic of Extensive Genetic Variations in Subterranean Mole Voles Ellobius alaicus as a Consequence of Habitat Fragmentation and Hybridization. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12050728. [PMID: 35629395 PMCID: PMC9146075 DOI: 10.3390/life12050728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Restricted mobility, sociality, and high inbreeding—characteristic for subterranean mammals—lead to rapid changes in their genome structure. Up to now, the Alay mole vole Ellobius alaicus was a data-deficient species; its spatial and phylogenetic relationships with a sibling species, E. tancrei, were not clarified. We carried out a genetic analysis including differential G-banding of chromosomes and mitochondrial (cytb) and nuclear gene (XIST and IRBP) sequencing. The phylogenetic reconstruction based on cytb represented the expected phylogenetic relationships of two species. Using the XIST, we revealed two new lineages among E. alaicus from the Alay Valley (Southern Kyrgyzstan). Analysis of IRBP demonstrated presence of the specific genotype in most of E. alaicus specimens, but also revealed the haplotype, typical for E. tancrei, in some Alay mole voles. The results may be explained as persistence of ancestral gene polymorphism in E. alaicus or limited interspecific hybridization with E. tancrei. Several chromosomal forms were revealed in E. alaicus in the Alay Valley. We propose that ‘mosaic’ genetic polymorphism might appear in E. alaicus due to fragmentation of their habitats in highlands of the Alay Valley, Tien Shan, and Pamir-Alay as well as due to hybridization with E. tancrei or persistence of ancestral polymorphisms.
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Hedrick BP. Inter- and intraspecific variation in the Artibeus species complex demonstrates size and shape partitioning among species. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11777. [PMID: 34306832 PMCID: PMC8280882 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11777] [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: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Neotropical leaf-nosed bats (family Phyllostomidae) are one of the most diverse mammalian families and Artibeus spp. is one of the most speciose phyllostomid genera. In spite of their species diversity, previous work on Artibeus crania using linear morphometrics has uncovered limited interspecific variation. This dearth of shape variation suggests that differences in cranial morphology are not contributing to niche partitioning across species, many of which are often found in sympatry. Using two-dimensional geometric morphometric methods on crania from eleven species from the Artibeus species complex, the current study demonstrates substantial cranial interspecific variation, sexual size and shape dimorphism, and intraspecific geographic variation. The majority of species were shown to have a unique size and shape, which suggests that each species may be taking advantage of slightly different ecological resources. Further, both sexual size and shape dimorphism were significant in the Artibeus species complex. Male and female Artibeus are known to have sex specific foraging strategies, with males eating near their roosts and females feeding further from their roosts. The presence of cranial sexual dimorphism in the Artibeus species complex, combined with previous work showing that different fruit size and hardness is correlated with different cranial shapes in phyllostomids, indicates that the males and females may be utilizing different food resources, leading to divergent cranial morphotypes. Additional field studies will be required to confirm this emergent hypothesis. Finally, significant geographical shape variation was found in a large intraspecific sample of Artibeus lituratus crania. However, this variation was not correlated with latitude and instead may be linked to local environmental factors. Additional work on ecology and behavior in the Artibeus species complex underlying the morphological variation uncovered in this study will allow for a better understanding of how the group has reached its present diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon P Hedrick
- Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center- New Orleans, New Orleans, United States of America
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5
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Hybridization between subterranean tuco-tucos (Rodentia, Ctenomyidae) with contrasting phylogenetic positions. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1502. [PMID: 32001746 PMCID: PMC6992752 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58433-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive compatibility usually decreases according to increasing genetic difference and the time of divergence between species. However, the amount of modification required to influence hybridization may vary in different species. Thus, it is extremely important to conduct studies that seek to understand what and how variables influence the reproductive isolation of species. We have explored a system involving two species of subterranean rodents that present morphological, karyotypic, and evolutionary history differences and are capable of generating hybrids. To gain insight into the karyotype organization of genus Ctenomys, we examined the chromosome evolution by classical and molecular cytogenetics of both parental species and hybrids. Furthermore, we have used different approaches to analyze the differences between the parental species and the hybrids, and determined the origin of the hybrids. The results of our work demonstrate unequivocally that some species that present extensive differences in chromosome organization, phenotype, evolutionary history, sperm morphology and genetic, which are usually associated with reproductive isolation, can generate natural hybrids. The results also demonstrate that females of both species are able to generate hybrids with males of the other species. In addition, the chromosome-specific probes prepared from Ctenomys flamarioni provide an invaluable tool for comparative cytogenetics in closely related species.
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6
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Carvalhaes JG, Cordeiro-Estrela P, Hohl LSL, Vilela RV, D'Andrea PS, Rocha-Barbosa O. Variation in the skull morphometry of four taxonomic units of Thrichomys (Rodentia: Echimyidae), from different Neotropical biomes. J Morphol 2019; 280:436-445. [PMID: 30747455 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The echimyid rodents of the genus Thrichomys vary considerably in their behavior and feeding ecology, reflecting their occurrence in environments as different as the Caatinga, Cerrado, Pantanal, and Chaco biomes. While the genus was originally classified as monospecific, a number of Thrichomys species have been recognized in recent decades, based on morphometric, cytogenetic, and molecular analyses. While Thrichomys is well studied, the variation found in its cranial morphology is poorly understood, given the taxonomic and ecological complexities of the genus. Using a geometric morphometric approach, we characterized the differences found in the cranial morphology of four Thrichomys taxonomic units, including three established species, Thrichomys apereoides, Thrichomys fosteri, and Thrichomys laurentius, and one operational taxonomic unit (OTU), Thrichomys aff. laurentius. No significant differences were found among these units in cranium size, but significant variation was found in skull shape. The Procrustes distances provided a quantification of the differences in the shape of the skull, with the largest distances being found between T. aff. laurentius and T. fosteri in the dorsal view, and between T. aff. laurentius and T. apereoides in the ventral view. A Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) with cross-validation determined that the pairings with the highest correct classification were T. aff. laurentius vs. T. apereoides and T. aff. laurentius vs. T. fosteri, in both views. The principal variation in skull shape was found in the posterior region and the zygomatic arch, which may be related to differences in diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeiel G Carvalhaes
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-graduação Stricto sensu em Biodiversidade e Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Pedro Cordeiro-Estrela
- Laboratório de Mamíferos, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, CCEN, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Joáo Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Leandro S L Hohl
- Laboratório de Zoologia de Vertebrados Tetrapoda - LAZOVERTE, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Coordenação de Biologia, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca - CEFET/RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Roberto V Vilela
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paulo S D'Andrea
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Oscar Rocha-Barbosa
- Laboratório de Zoologia de Vertebrados Tetrapoda - LAZOVERTE, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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7
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Kubiak BB, Maestri R, de Almeida TS, Borges LR, Galiano D, Fornel R, de Freitas TRO. Evolution in action: soil hardness influences morphology in a subterranean rodent (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno B Kubiak
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões – Campus de Frederico Westphalen, Av. Assis Brasil, Frederico Westphalen – RS, Brazil
| | - Renan Maestri
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
| | - Thamara S de Almeida
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
| | - Leandro R Borges
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
| | - Daniel Galiano
- Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, Campus Realeza, Rua Edmundo Gaievisk, Realeza, PR, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Fornel
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Regional do Alto Uruguai e das Missões – Campus de Erechim, Av. Sete de Setembro, Erechim – RS, Brazil
| | - Thales R O de Freitas
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
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8
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Lineages of Tuco-Tucos (Ctenomyidae: Rodentia) from Midwest and Northern Brazil: Late Irradiations of Subterranean Rodents Towards the Amazon Forest. J MAMM EVOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-018-9450-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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9
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Fornel R, Cordeiro-Estrela P, de Freitas TRO. Skull shape and size variation within and between mendocinus and torquatus groups in the genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in chromosomal polymorphism context. Genet Mol Biol 2018; 41:263-272. [PMID: 29668015 PMCID: PMC5913726 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2017-0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We tested the association between chromosomal polymorphism and skull shape and size variation in two groups of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys. The hypothesis is based on the premise that chromosomal rearrangements in small populations, as it occurs in Ctenomys, produce reproductive isolation and allow the independent diversification of populations. The mendocinus group has species with low chromosomal diploid number variation (2n=46-48), while species from the torquatus group have a higher karyotype variation (2n=42-70). We analyzed the shape and size variation of skull and mandible by a geometric morphometric approach, with univariate and multivariate statistical analysis in 12 species from mendocinus and torquatus groups of the genus Ctenomys. We used 763 adult skulls in dorsal, ventral, and lateral views, and 515 mandibles in lateral view and 93 landmarks in four views. Although we expected more phenotypic variation in the torquatus than the mendocinus group, our results rejected the hypothesis of an association between chromosomal polymorphism and skull shape and size variation. Moreover, the torquatus group did not show more variation than mendocinus. Habitat heterogeneity associated to biomechanical constraints and other factors like geography, phylogeny, and demography, may affect skull morphological evolution in Ctenomys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Fornel
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões - Campus de Erechim, Erechim, RS, Brazil
| | - Pedro Cordeiro-Estrela
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza - Campus I, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Thales Renato O de Freitas
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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10
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Kubiak BB, Gutiérrez EE, Galiano D, Maestri R, Freitas TROD. Can Niche Modeling and Geometric Morphometrics Document Competitive Exclusion in a Pair of Subterranean Rodents (Genus Ctenomys) with Tiny Parapatric Distributions? Sci Rep 2017; 7:16283. [PMID: 29176709 PMCID: PMC5701118 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16243-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Species with similar ecological requirements coexisting in the same geographic region are prone to competitively exclude each other. Alternatively, they may coexist if character displacement acts to change the niche requirements of one or both species. We used two methodological approaches (ecological niche modeling [ENM] and geometric morphometrics) to test two hypotheses: given their behavioral, morphological, and ecological similarities, one species competitively excludes the other; and, character displacement enables their coexistence at two sites in which the species are known to occur in sympatry. The results from the ENM-based approach did not provide evidence for competitive exclusion; however, the morphometric analyses documented displacement in size of C. minutus. This result, suggests that C. minutus might exclude C. flamarioni from areas with softer soils and higher food availability. We stress the importance of using multiple methodological approaches when testing prediction of competitive exclusion. However, both methods had limited explanatory power given that the focal species possess truly peculiar distributions, being largely parapatric and restricted to narrow, small geographic areas with a strange distribution and there is a need to search for additional methods. We discuss the idiosyncrasy of the ENM-based approach when applied to organisms with subterranean habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno B Kubiak
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões - Campus de Frederico Westphalen, Av. Assis Brasil 709, 98400-000, Frederico Westphalen, Brazil.
| | - Eliécer E Gutiérrez
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Av. Roraima n. 1000, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil
- Programa Nacional de Pós Doutorado em Ecologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Campus UnB, Universidade de Brasília, Asa Norte 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Division of Mammals, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daniel Galiano
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais - Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó, - Avenida Senador Attílio Fontana, 591-E, CEP 89809-000, Chapecó, SC, Brazil
| | - Renan Maestri
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Thales R O de Freitas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, CEP 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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11
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Borges LR, Maestri R, Kubiak BB, Galiano D, Fornel R, Freitas TRO. The role of soil features in shaping the bite force and related skull and mandible morphology in the subterranean rodents of genus
Ctenomys
(Hystricognathi: Ctenomyidae). J Zool (1987) 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- L. R. Borges
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biologia Animal Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - R. Maestri
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - B. B. Kubiak
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biologia Animal Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
| | - D. Galiano
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ciências Ambientais Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó Chapecó SC Brazil
| | - R. Fornel
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões Erechim RS Brazil
| | - T. R. O. Freitas
- Departamento de Genética Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre RS Brazil
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12
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Marcy AE, Hadly EA, Sherratt E, Garland K, Weisbecker V. Getting a head in hard soils: Convergent skull evolution and divergent allometric patterns explain shape variation in a highly diverse genus of pocket gophers (Thomomys). BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:207. [PMID: 27724858 PMCID: PMC5057207 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0782-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background High morphological diversity can occur in closely related animals when selection favors morphologies that are subject to intrinsic biological constraints. A good example is subterranean rodents of the genus Thomomys, one of the most taxonomically and morphologically diverse mammalian genera. Highly procumbent, tooth-digging rodent skull shapes are often geometric consequences of increased body size. Indeed, larger-bodied Thomomys species tend to inhabit harder soils. We used geometric morphometric analyses to investigate the interplay between soil hardness (the main extrinsic selection pressure on fossorial mammals) and allometry (i.e. shape change due to size change; generally considered the main intrinsic factor) on crania and humeri in this fast-evolving mammalian clade. Results Larger Thomomys species/subspecies tend to have more procumbent cranial shapes with some exceptions, including a small-bodied species inhabiting hard soils. Counter to earlier suggestions, cranial shape within Thomomys does not follow a genus-wide allometric pattern as even regional subpopulations differ in allometric slopes. In contrast, humeral shape varies less with body size and with soil hardness. Soft-soil taxa have larger humeral muscle attachment sites but retain an orthodont (non-procumbent) cranial morphology. In intermediate soils, two pairs of sister taxa diverge through differential modifications on either the humerus or the cranium. In the hardest soils, both humeral and cranial morphology are derived through large muscle attachment sites and a high degree of procumbency. Conclusions Our results show that conflict between morphological function and intrinsic allometric patterning can quickly and differentially alter the rodent skeleton, especially the skull. In addition, we found a new case of convergent evolution of incisor procumbency among large-, medium-, and small-sized species inhabiting hard soils. This occurs through different combinations of allometric and non-allometric changes, contributing to shape diversity within the genus. The strong influence of allometry on cranial shape appears to confirm suggestions that developmental change underlies mammalian cranial shape divergences, but this requires confirmation from ontogenetic studies. Our findings illustrate how a variety of intrinsic processes, resulting in species-level convergence, could sustain a genus-level range across a variety of extrinsic environments. This might represent a mechanism for observations of genus-level niche conservation despite species extinctions in mammals. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0782-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel E Marcy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. .,Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305-5020, CA, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Hadly
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305-5020, CA, USA
| | - Emma Sherratt
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Kathleen Garland
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Vera Weisbecker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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13
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Martínez JJ, Sandoval ML, Carrizo LV. Taxonomic status of large- and middle-sized Calomys(Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) from the southern central Andes inferred through geometric morphometrics of the skull. J Mammal 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyw123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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14
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Muñoz-Muñoz F, Quinto-Sánchez M, González-José R. Photogrammetry: a useful tool for three-dimensional morphometric analysis of small mammals. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesc Muñoz-Muñoz
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia; Facultat de Biociències; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès) Spain
| | - Mirsha Quinto-Sánchez
- Centro Nacional Patagónico; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Puerto Madryn Argentina
| | - Rolando González-José
- Centro Nacional Patagónico; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Puerto Madryn Argentina
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QUINTELA FERNANDOM, FORNEL RODRIGO, FREITAS THALESR. Geographic variation in skull shape of the water rat Scapteromys tumidus (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae): isolation-by-distance plus environmental and geographic barrier effects? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 88 Suppl 1:451-66. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201620140631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The geographic variation in skull size and shape of the swamp rat Scapteromys tumidus was examined in samples from eight geographic clusters in almost of its distribution in southern Brazil and Uruguay. For analysis we used two-dimensional geometric morphometric methods for dorsal, ventral and lateral views of the skull. The geometric descriptors showed no significant differences in skull size between geographic clusters, while differences in shape were highly significant. We found a significant and moderate correlation between geographic and morphological distances, corroborating the isolation-by-distance model. Samples from the Rio Grande do Sul central coastal plain were the most differentiated, segregating completely from all other samples in canonical variate analysis for the dorsal view. The most visible variable regions in skull were the zygomatic arch (mainly the squamosal root of zygomatic) and the lateral braincase borders. Once correlation between geographic and morphological distances were not strong, it is possible that other factors (environmental heterogeneity and/or geographic barriers) may are acting in S. tumidus skull differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - RODRIGO FORNEL
- Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões, Brazil
| | - THALES R.O. FREITAS
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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Marchiori AB, Bartholomei-Santos ML, Santos S. Intraspecific variation inAegla longirostri(Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) revealed by geometric morphometrics: evidence for ongoing speciation? Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda B. Marchiori
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal; Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM); Santa Maria Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
| | - Marlise L. Bartholomei-Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal; Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM); Santa Maria Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
| | - Sandro Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Animal; Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM); Santa Maria Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
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Wilson LA. Geographic variation in the greater Japanese shrew-mole, Urotrichus talpoides: Combining morphological and chromosomal patterns. Mamm Biol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2012.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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de Freitas TRO, Fernandes FA, Fornel R, Roratto PA. An endemic new species of tuco-tuco, genusCtenomys(Rodentia: Ctenomyidae), with a restricted geographic distribution in southern Brazil. J Mammal 2012. [DOI: 10.1644/12-mamm-a-007.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Incongruent patterns of morphological, molecular, and karyotypic variation among populations of Ctenomys pearsoni (Rodentia, Ctenomyidae). Mamm Biol 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2010.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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FORNEL RODRIGO, CORDEIRO-ESTRELA PEDRO, DE FREITAS THALESRENATOO. Skull shape and size variation in Ctenomys minutus (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in geographical, chromosomal polymorphism, and environmental contexts. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01496.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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