1
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Leavey A, Richards CT, Porro LB. Comparative muscle anatomy of the anuran pelvis and hindlimb in relation to locomotor mode. J Anat 2024. [PMID: 39119773 DOI: 10.1111/joa.14122] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Frogs have a highly conserved body plan, yet they employ a diverse array of locomotor modes, making them ideal organisms for investigating the relationships between morphology and locomotor function, in particular whether anatomical complexity is a prerequisite for functional complexity. We use diffusible iodine contrast-enhanced microCT (diceCT) imaging to digitally dissect the gross muscle anatomy of the pelvis and hindlimbs for 30 species of frogs representing five primary locomotor modes, including the first known detailed dissection for some of the world's smallest frogs, forming the largest digital comparative analysis of musculoskeletal structure in any vertebrate clade to date. By linking musculoskeletal dissections and phylogenetic comparative methods, we then quantify and compare relationships between anatomy and function across over 160 million years of anuran evolution. In summary, we have found that bone lengths and pelvic crest sizes are generally not reliable predictors of muscle sizes, which highlights important implications for future palaeontological studies. Our investigation also presents previously unreported differences in muscle anatomy between frogs specialising in different locomotor modes, including several of the smallest frog hindlimb muscles, which are extremely difficult to extract and measure using traditional approaches. Furthermore, we find evidence of many-to-one and one-to-many mapping of form to function across the phylogeny. Additionally, we perform the first quantitative analysis of how the degree of muscle separation can differ between frogs. We find evidence that phylogenetic history is the key contributing factor to muscle separation in the pelvis and thigh, while the separation of shank muscles is influenced more strongly by locomotor mode. Finally, our anatomical 3D reconstructions are published alongside this manuscript to contribute towards future research and serve as educational materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Leavey
- Centre for Integrative Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College-Camden Campus, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, London, UK
| | - Christopher T Richards
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College-Camden Campus, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, London, UK
| | - Laura B Porro
- Centre for Integrative Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
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2
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Brennan IG, Lemmon AR, Moriarty Lemmon E, Hoskin CJ, Donnellan SC, Keogh JS. Populating a Continent: Phylogenomics Reveal the Timing of Australian Frog Diversification. Syst Biol 2024; 73:1-11. [PMID: 37527840 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syad048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The Australian continent's size and isolation make it an ideal place for studying the accumulation and evolution of biodiversity. Long separated from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, most of Australia's plants and animals are unique and endemic, including the continent's frogs. Australian frogs comprise a remarkable ecological and morphological diversity categorized into a small number of distantly related radiations. We present a phylogenomic hypothesis based on an exon-capture dataset that spans the main clades of Australian myobatrachoid, pelodryadid hyloid, and microhylid frogs. Our time-calibrated phylogenomic-scale phylogeny identifies great disparity in the relative ages of these groups that vary from Gondwanan relics to recent immigrants from Asia and include arguably the continent's oldest living vertebrate radiation. This age stratification provides insight into the colonization of, and diversification on, the Australian continent through deep time, during periods of dramatic climatic and community changes. Contemporary Australian frog diversity highlights the adaptive capacity of anurans, particularly in response to heat and aridity, and explains why they are one of the continent's most visible faunas. [Anuran; adaptive radiation; Gondwana; phylogenetics].
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian G Brennan
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Alan R Lemmon
- Department of Scientific Computing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32316, USA
| | - Emily Moriarty Lemmon
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Conrad J Hoskin
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Stephen C Donnellan
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - J Scott Keogh
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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3
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Farman RM, Archer M, Hand SJ. A geometric morphometric analysis of variation in Australian frog ilia and taxonomic interpretations. J Morphol 2023; 284:e21642. [PMID: 37708503 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21642] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Anurans including frogs and toads exhibit an ilium that is often regarded as taxonomically diagnostic. The ilium, one of the three paired bones that make up the pelvic girdle, has been important in the fossil record for identifying anuran morphotypes. Osteological collections for Australian frogs are rare in herpetological museums, and skeletonizing whole-bodied specimens requires destroying soft tissue morphology which is valuable to anuran specialists working on living species. Computed tomography scans provide the opportunity to study anuran osteology without the loss of soft tissues. Our study, based on microcomputed tomography scans of extant Australian frogs from the public repository Morphosource and from museum collections focuses on the morphological differences between Australian frogs at the familial and generic levels using geometric morphometrics to compare the diagnostic shape of the ilium. Principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical variate analysis (CVA) were conducted to assess differences in the ilium between supraspecific groups of Australian frogs. The canonical variates analysis accurately predicted group membership (i.e., the correct family) with up to 76.2% success for cross-validated predictions and 100% of original group predictions. While the sample was limited to familial and generic level analyses, our research shows that ilial morphology in Australian frogs is taxonomically informative. This research provides a guide for identifying Australian anurans, including fossils, as well as new information relevant to considerations about their phylogenetic relationships, and the potential use of the fossil record to enhance efforts to conserve threatened living frog species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy M Farman
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael Archer
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Suzanne J Hand
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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4
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Leavey A, Ruta M, Richards CT, Porro LB. Locomotor, ecological and phylogenetic drivers of skeletal proportions in frogs. J Anat 2023; 243:404-420. [PMID: 37203401 PMCID: PMC10439368 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Frogs exhibit complex anatomical features of the pelvis, limbs and spine, long assumed to represent specialisations for jumping. Yet frogs employ a wide range of locomotor modes, with several taxa featuring primary locomotor modes other than jumping. Using a combination of techniques (CT imaging and 3D visualization, morphometrics, phylogenetic mapping), this study aims to determine the link between skeletal anatomy and locomotor style, habitat type and phylogenetic history, shedding new light on how functional demands impact morphology. Body and limb measurements for 164 taxa from all the recognised anuran families are extracted from digitally segmented CT scans of whole frog skeletons and analysed using various statistical techniques. We find that the expansion of the sacral diapophyses is the most important variable for predicting locomotor mode, which was more closely correlated with frog morphology than either habitat type or phylogenetic relationships. Predictive analyses suggest that skeletal morphology is a useful indicator of jumping but less so for other locomotor modes, suggesting that there is a wide range of anatomical solutions to performing locomotor styles such as swimming, burrowing or walking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Leavey
- Centre for Integrative Anatomy, Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity College LondonLondon
- Structure and Motion LaboratoryRoyal Veterinary College ‐ Camden Campus, Comparative Biomedical SciencesLondon
| | - Marcello Ruta
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of Lincoln, Joseph Banks LaboratoriesLincolnshireUnited Kingdom
| | - Christopher T. Richards
- Structure and Motion LaboratoryRoyal Veterinary College ‐ Camden Campus, Comparative Biomedical SciencesLondon
| | - Laura B. Porro
- Centre for Integrative Anatomy, Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity College LondonLondon
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5
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Keeffe R, Blackburn DC. Diversity and function of the fused anuran radioulna. J Anat 2022; 241:1026-1038. [PMID: 35962544 PMCID: PMC9482697 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In tetrapods, fusion between elements of the appendicular skeleton is thought to facilitate rapid movements during running, flying, and jumping. Although such fusion is widespread, frogs stand out because adults of all living species exhibit fusion of the zeugopod elements (radius and ulna, tibia and fibula), regardless of jumping ability or locomotor mode. To better understand what drives the maintenance of limb bone fusion in frogs, we use finite element modeling methods to assess the functional consequences of fusion in the anuran radioulna, the forearm bone of frogs that is important to both locomotion and mating behavior (amplexus). Using CT scans of museum specimens, measurement tools, and mesh‐editing software, we evaluated how different degrees of fusion between the radius and ulna affect the von Mises stress and bending resistance of the radioulna in three loading scenarios: landing, amplexus, and long‐axis loading conditions. We find that the semi‐fused state observed in the radioulna exhibits less von Mises stress and more resistance to bending than unfused or completely fused models in all three scenarios. Our results suggest that radioulna morphology is optimized to minimize von Mises stress across different loading regimes while also minimizing volume. We contextualize our findings in an evaluation of the diversity of anuran radioulnae, which reveals unique, permanent pronation of the radioulna in frogs and substantial variation in wall thickness. This work provides new insight into the functional consequences of limb bone fusion in anuran evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Keeffe
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - David C Blackburn
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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6
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Incongruences between morphology and molecular phylogeny provide an insight into the diversification of the Crocidura poensis species complex. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10531. [PMID: 35732784 PMCID: PMC9217945 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12615-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Untangling the factors of morphological evolution has long held a central role in the study of evolutionary biology. Extant speciose clades that have only recently diverged are ideal study subjects, as they allow the examination of rapid morphological variation in a phylogenetic context, providing insights into a clade’s evolution. Here, we focus on skull morphological variability in a widely distributed shrew species complex, the Crocidura poensis species complex. The relative effects of taxonomy, size, geography, climate and habitat on skull form were tested, as well as the presence of a phylogenetic signal. Taxonomy was the best predictor of skull size and shape, but surprisingly both size and shape exhibited no significant phylogenetic signal. This paper describes one of the few cases within a mammal clade where morphological evolution does not match the phylogeny. The second strongest predictor for shape variation was size, emphasizing that allometry can represent an easily accessed source of morphological variability within complexes of cryptic species. Taking into account species relatedness, habitat preferences, geographical distribution and differences in skull form, our results lean in favor of a parapatric speciation model within this complex of species, where divergence occurred along an ecological gradient, rather than a geographic barrier.
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7
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Ferraro DP. Combined phylogenetic analysis of Pleurodema (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Leiuperinae). Cladistics 2022; 38:301-319. [PMID: 34985147 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Pleurodema comprises 15 species distributed through the Neotropical region, from sea level up to 5000 m.a.s.l. A total-evidence analysis of Pleurodema is provided based on the parsimony criterion. The combined dataset included morphometric, phenotypic, and DNA evidence (34 taxa, 4441 characters). The parsimony analysis yielded one most-parsimonious tree. Pleurodema was recovered as a well-supported clade composed of two major subclades. One subclade has an identical topology to that of previous analyses, the P. brachyops Clade (P. alium, P. borellii, P. brachyops, P. cinereum, P. diplolister, and P. tucumanum). The other subclade includes the remaining nine species of the genus, exhibiting a topology different from that of previous studies. According to the present phylogeny, this second lineage is formed by the P. nebulosum Clade (P. guayapae + P. nebulosum), P. marmoratum, the re-defined P. thaul Clade (P. bufoninum, P. somuncurense, P. thaul) and the P. bibroni Clade (P. bibroni, P. cordobae, P. kriegi). The reproductive modes of Pleurodema represent a unique combination of features within Leiuperinae, including three egg-clutch structures, two types of amplexus, and lack of vocalization. Also, some species of Pleurodema have been considered fossorial, because they are capable of digging with their hind-limbs and remaining in self-made burrows during dry seasons. The evolution of characters associated with reproductive biology and fossoriality is discussed in light of the obtained results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiana Paola Ferraro
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" -CONICET, Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires, C1405DJR, Argentina
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8
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Limb length and poison glands size as predictors of anti-predatory performance in South American true toads. ZOOL ANZ 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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9
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Martínez-Gil H, Martínez-Freiría F, Perera A, Enriquez-Urzelai U, Martínez-Solano Í, Velo-Antón G, Kaliontzopoulou A. Morphological diversification of Mediterranean anurans: the roles of evolutionary history and climate. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Investigation of the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms governing the origin and diversification of species requires integrative approaches that often have to accommodate strong discordance among datasets. A common source of conflict is the combination of morphological and molecular characters with different evolutionary rates. Resolution of these discordances is crucial to assess the relative roles of different processes in generating and maintaining biodiversity. Anuran amphibians provide many examples of morphologically similar, genetically divergent lineages, posing questions about the relative roles of phylogeny and ecological factors in phenotypic evolution. We focused on three circum-Mediterranean anuran genera (Hyla, Alytes and Discoglossus), characterizing morphological and environmental disparity and comparing diversity patterns across biological levels of organization. Using a comparative phylogenetic framework, we tested how shared ancestry and climatic factors come together to shape phenotypic diversity. We found higher morphological differentiation within Hyla and Alytes than in Discoglossus. Body size and limb morphology contributed most to inter- and intraspecific morphological variation in Hyla and Alytes, but there was no strong phylogenetic signal, indicating that shared ancestry does not predict patterns of phenotypic divergence. In contrast, we uncovered a significant association between morphology and climatic descriptors, supporting the hypothesis that morphological disparity between species results from adaptive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Martínez-Gil
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez-Freiría
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Ana Perera
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Urtzi Enriquez-Urzelai
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Květná 8, 60365 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Íñigo Martínez-Solano
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Guillermo Velo-Antón
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Grupo de Ecoloxía Animal, Torre Cacti (Lab 97), E-36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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10
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Castro KMSA, Amado TF, Olalla-Tárraga MÁ, Gouveia SF, Navas CA, Martinez PA. Water constraints drive allometric patterns in the body shape of tree frogs. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1218. [PMID: 33441858 PMCID: PMC7806824 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80456-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The origin of morphological diversity is a critical question in evolutionary biology. Interactions between the environment and developmental processes have determining roles in morphological diversity, creating patterns through space and over time. Also, the shape of organisms tends to vary with increasing size as a result of those developmental processes, known as allometry. Several studies have demonstrated that the body sizes of anurans are associated with hydric conditions in their environments and that localities with high water stress tend to select for larger individuals. However, how environmental conditions alter those patterns of covariance between size and shape is still elusive. We used 3D geometric morphometric analyses, associated with phylogenetic comparative methods, to determine if the morphological variations and allometric patterns found in Arboranae (Anura) is linked to water conservation mechanisms. We found effects of the hydric stress on the shape of Arboranae species, favouring globular shapes. Also, the allometric patterns varied in intensity according to the water stress gradient, being particularly relevant for smaller frogs, and more intense in environments with higher water deficits. Our study provides empirical evidence that more spherical body shapes, especially among smaller species, reflect an important adaptation of anurans to water conservation in water-constrained environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M S A Castro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, 49.000-100, Brazil.
- PIBi Lab - Laboratório de Pesquisas Integrativas em Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, 49100-000, Brazil.
| | - Talita F Amado
- Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, 28933, Madrid, Spain
- PIBi Lab - Laboratório de Pesquisas Integrativas em Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, 49100-000, Brazil
| | - Miguel Á Olalla-Tárraga
- Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, 28933, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sidney F Gouveia
- Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil
- PIBi Lab - Laboratório de Pesquisas Integrativas em Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, 49100-000, Brazil
| | - Carlos A Navas
- Departamento de Fisiologia Geral, Instituto de Biociência, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pablo A Martinez
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil
- PIBi Lab - Laboratório de Pesquisas Integrativas em Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, 49100-000, Brazil
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11
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Barrionuevo JS. Variation in the growth and development of the hind limbs in frogs of the genus
Telmatobius
(Anura: Telmatobiidae). J Morphol 2020; 281:1534-1546. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Sebastián Barrionuevo
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" CONICET Buenos Aires Argentina
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12
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Engelkes K, Kath L, Kleinteich T, Hammel JU, Beerlink A, Haas A. Ecomorphology of the pectoral girdle in anurans (Amphibia, Anura): Shape diversity and biomechanical considerations. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:11467-11487. [PMID: 33144978 PMCID: PMC7593145 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Frogs and toads (Lissamphibia: Anura) show a diversity of locomotor modes that allow them to inhabit a wide range of habitats. The different locomotor modes are likely to be linked to anatomical specializations of the skeleton within the typical frog Bauplan. While such anatomical adaptations of the hind limbs and the pelvic girdle are comparably well understood, the pectoral girdle received much less attention in the past. We tested for locomotor-mode-related shape differences in the pectoral girdle bones of 64 anuran species by means of micro-computed-tomography-based geometric morphometrics. The pectoral girdles of selected species were analyzed with regard to the effects of shape differences on muscle moment arms across the shoulder joint and stress dissipation within the coracoid. Phylogenetic relationships, size, and locomotor behavior have an effect on the shape of the pectoral girdle in anurans, but there are differences in the relative impact of these factors between the bones of this skeletal unit. Remarkable shape diversity has been observed within locomotor groups indicating many-to-one mapping of form onto function. Significant shape differences have mainly been related to the overall pectoral girdle geometry and the shape of the coracoid. Most prominent shape differences have been found between burrowing and nonburrowing species with headfirst and backward burrowing species significantly differing from one another and from the other locomotor groups. The pectoral girdle shapes of burrowing species have generally larger moment arms for (simulated) humerus retractor muscles across the shoulder joint, which might be an adaptation to the burrowing behavior. The mechanisms of how the moment arms were enlarged differed between species and were associated with differences in the reaction of the coracoid to simulated loading by physiologically relevant forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolin Engelkes
- Center of Natural History (CeNak)Universität HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Lena Kath
- Center of Natural History (CeNak)Universität HamburgHamburgGermany
| | | | - Jörg U. Hammel
- Institute of Materials ResearchHelmholtz‐Zentrum GeesthachtGeesthachtGermany
- Institut für Zoologie und Evolutionsforschung mit Phyletischem Museum, Ernst‐Hackel‐Haus und BiologiedidaktikFriedrich‐Schiller‐Universität JenaJenaGermany
| | | | - Alexander Haas
- Center of Natural History (CeNak)Universität HamburgHamburgGermany
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13
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Vidal-García M, O'Hanlon JC, Svenson GJ, Umbers KDL. The evolution of startle displays: a case study in praying mantises. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201016. [PMID: 32873210 PMCID: PMC7542774 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-predator defences are typically regarded as relatively static signals that conceal prey or advertise their unprofitability. However, startle displays are complex performances that deter or confuse predators and can include a spectacular array of movements, colours and sounds. Yet, we do not fully understand the mechanisms by which they function, their evolutionary correlates, or the conditions under which they are performed and evolve. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first phylogenetically controlled comparative analyses of startle displays including behavioural data, using praying mantises as a model system. We included 58 species that provide a good representation of mantis diversity and estimated the strength of phylogenetic signal in the presence and complexity of displays. We also tested hypotheses on potential evolutionary correlates, including primary defences and body size. We found that startle displays and morphological traits were phylogenetically conserved, whereas behavioural traits were highly labile. Surprisingly, body size was not correlated with display presence or complexity in phylogenetically controlled analyses. Species-rich clades were more likely to exhibit displays, suggesting that startle displays were probably involved in lineage diversification. We suggest that to further elucidate the conditions under which startle displays evolve, future work should include quantitative descriptions of multiple display components, habitat type, and predator communities. Understanding the evolution of startle displays is critical to our overall understanding of the theory behind predator-prey dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Vidal-García
- Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - James C. O'Hanlon
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gavin J. Svenson
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kate D. L. Umbers
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
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14
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Mander L, Parins‐Fukuchi C, Dick CW, Punyasena SW, Jaramillo C. Phylogenetic and ecological correlates of pollen morphological diversity in a Neotropical rainforest. Biotropica 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luke Mander
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences The Open University Milton Keynes UK
| | | | - Christopher W. Dick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan, MI USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa, Ancon Republic of Panama
| | | | - Carlos Jaramillo
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa, Ancon Republic of Panama
- ISEM, U. Montpellier CNRS EPHE Montpellier France
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15
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Buttimer SM, Stepanova N, Womack MC. Evolution of the Unique Anuran Pelvic and Hind limb Skeleton in Relation to Microhabitat, Locomotor Mode, and Jump Performance. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:1330-1345. [PMID: 32437511 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Anurans (frogs and toads) have a unique pelvic and hind limb skeleton among tetrapods. Although their distinct body plan is primarily associated with saltation, anuran species vary in their primary locomotor mode (e.g., walkers, hoppers, jumpers, and swimmers) and are found in a wide array of microhabitats (e.g., burrowing, terrestrial, arboreal, and aquatic) with varying functional demands. Given their largely conserved body plan, morphological adaptation to these diverse niches likely results from more fine-scale morphological change. Our study determines how shape differences in Anura's unique pelvic and hind limb skeletal structures vary with microhabitat, locomotor mode, and jumping ability. Using microCT scans of preserved specimens from museum collections, we added 3D landmarks to the pelvic and hind limb skeleton of 230 anuran species. In addition, we compiled microhabitat and locomotor data from the literature for these species that span 52 of the 55 families of frogs and ∼210 million years of anuran evolution. Using this robust dataset, we examine the relationship between pelvic and hind limb morphology and phylogenetic history, allometry, microhabitat, and locomotor mode. We find pelvic and hind limb changes associated with shifts in microhabitat ("ecomorphs") and locomotor mode ("locomorphs") and directly relate those morphological changes to the jumping ability of individual species. We also reveal how individual bones vary in evolutionary rate and their association with phylogeny, body size, microhabitat, and locomotor mode. Our findings uncover previously undocumented morphological variation related to anuran ecological and locomotor diversification and link that variation to differences in jumping ability among species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Buttimer
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California at Berkeley, 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Natasha Stepanova
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085, USA
| | - Molly C Womack
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA.,Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA
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16
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Stepanova N, Womack MC. Anuran limbs reflect microhabitat and distal, later‐developing bones are more evolutionarily labile*. Evolution 2020; 74:2005-2019. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Stepanova
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology University of California at Berkeley 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building Berkeley California 94720
- Present Address: Department of Biology Villanova University 800 Lancaster Avenue Villanova Pennsylvania 19085
| | - Molly C. Womack
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution 1000 Constitution Avenue NW Washington DC 20560
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17
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De Oliveira-Lagôa S, Cruz FB, Azócar DLM, Lavilla EO, Abdala V. Anuran forelimb muscle tendinous structures and their relationship with locomotor modes and habitat use. Curr Zool 2019; 65:599-608. [PMID: 31616491 PMCID: PMC6784496 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between organisms and their environment is central in functional morphology. Differences in habitat usage may imply divergent morphology of locomotor systems; thus, detecting which morphological traits are conservative across lineages and which ones vary under environmental pressure is important in evolutionary studies. We studied internal and external morphology in 28 species of Neotropical anurans. Our aim was to determine if internal morphology (muscle and tendons) shows lower phylogenetic signal than external morphology. In addition, we wanted to know if morphology varies in relation to the habitat use and if there are different functional groups. We found differences in the degree of phylogenetic signal on the groups of traits. Interestingly, postaxial regions of the forelimb are evolutionarily more labile than the preaxial regions. Phylomorphospace plots show that arboreal (jumpers and graspers) and swimmer frogs cluster based on length of fingers and the lack of sesamoid, also reflected by the use of habitat. These functional clusters are also related to phylogeny. Sesamoid and flexor plate dimensions together with digit tendons showed to be important to discriminate functional groups as well as use of habitat classification. Our results allow us to identify a "grasping syndrome" in the hand of these frogs, where palmar sesamoid and flexor plate are absent and a third metacarpal with a bony knob are typical. Thus, a lighter skeleton, long fingers and a prensile hand may be key for arboreality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia De Oliveira-Lagôa
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales - Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Félix B Cruz
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente INIBIOMA (CONICET-UNCOMA) Quintral Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Débora L Moreno Azócar
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente INIBIOMA (CONICET-UNCOMA) Quintral Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Esteban O Lavilla
- Instituto de Herpetología, UEL (Fundación Miguel Lillo - CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Virginia Abdala
- Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical (UNT-CONICET) Horco Molle s/n Yerba Buena, Tucumán. Cátedra de Biología General, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, UNT, Tucumán, Argentina
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18
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Alves VM, Hernández MIM. Local extinctions may be evidenced by the holes of the morphometric hypervolume in dung beetle communities. AUSTRAL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Victor Michelon Alves
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia; Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia; Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Florianópolis Santa Catarina 88040-900 Brazil
| | - Malva Isabel Medina Hernández
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia; Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia; Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Florianópolis Santa Catarina 88040-900 Brazil
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19
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Rebelo AD, Measey J. Locomotor performance constrained by morphology and habitat in a diverse clade of African frogs (Anura: Pyxicephalidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander D Rebelo
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
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20
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Skeels A, Cardillo M. Reconstructing the Geography of Speciation from Contemporary Biodiversity Data. Am Nat 2019; 193:240-255. [DOI: 10.1086/701125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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21
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Santini L, Benítez-López A, Ficetola GF, Huijbregts MAJ. Length-mass allometries in amphibians. Integr Zool 2018; 13:36-45. [PMID: 28493499 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Body mass is rarely recorded in amphibians, and other body measurements (e.g. snout to vent length, SVL) are generally collected instead. However, length measurements, when used as proxies of body mass in comparative analyses, are problematic if different taxa and morphotypes are included. We developed allometric relationships to derive body mass from SVL measurements. We fitted phylogenetic generalized least square models for frogs (Anura) and salamanders (Caudata) and for several families separately. We tested whether allometric relationships differed between species with different habitat preferences and between morphs in salamanders. Models were fitted with SVL-mass measurements for 88 frog and 42 salamander species. We assessed the predictive performance of the models by cross-validation. Overall, the models showed high explained variance and low forecasting errors. Models differed among semi-aquatic, terrestrial and arboreal frogs, and between paedomorphic and non-paedomorphic salamanders. Body mass estimates derived from our models allow for comparability of studies on multiple taxa and can be used for testing theories built upon evolutionary and ecological processes which are directly related to body mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Santini
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Ana Benítez-López
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Gentile Francesco Ficetola
- Department of Bioscience, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Alpine Ecology Laboratory, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France
| | - Mark A J Huijbregts
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.,PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, The Hague, the Netherlands
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22
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Citadini JM, Brandt R, Williams CR, Gomes FR. Evolution of morphology and locomotor performance in anurans: relationships with microhabitat diversification. J Evol Biol 2018; 31:371-381. [PMID: 29297953 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Revised: 11/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The relationships between morphology, performance, behavior and ecology provide evidence for multiple and complex phenotypic adaptations. The anuran body plan, for example, is evolutionarily conserved and shows clear specializations to jumping performance back at least to the early Jurassic. However, there are instances of more recent adaptation to habit diversity in the post-cranial skeleton, including relative limb length. The present study tested adaptive models of morphological evolution in anurans associated with the diversity of microhabitat use (semi-aquatic arboreal, fossorial, torrent, and terrestrial) in species of anuran amphibians from Brazil and Australia. We use phylogenetic comparative methods to determine which evolutionary models, including Brownian motion (BM) and Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) are consistent with morphological variation observed across anuran species. Furthermore, this study investigated the relationship of maximum distance jumped as a function of components of morphological variables and microhabitat use. We found there are multiple optima of limb lengths associated to different microhabitats with a trend of increasing hindlimbs in torrent, arboreal, semi-aquatic whereas fossorial and terrestrial species evolve toward optima with shorter hindlimbs. Moreover, arboreal, semi-aquatic and torrent anurans have higher jumping performance and longer hindlimbs, when compared to terrestrial and fossorial species. We corroborate the hypothesis that evolutionary modifications of overall limb morphology have been important in the diversification of locomotor performance along the anuran phylogeny. Such evolutionary changes converged in different phylogenetic groups adapted to similar microhabitat use in two different zoogeographical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Citadini
- Department of Physiology, Bioscience Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - R Brandt
- Department of Biology, FFCLRP/USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - C R Williams
- Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - F R Gomes
- Department of Physiology, Bioscience Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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23
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Creation of forest edges has a global impact on forest vertebrates. Nature 2017; 551:187-191. [PMID: 29088701 PMCID: PMC5681864 DOI: 10.1038/nature24457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 244] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Forest edges influence more than half of the world's forests and contribute to worldwide declines in biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, predicting these declines is challenging in heterogeneous fragmented landscapes. Here we assembled a global dataset on species responses to fragmentation and developed a statistical approach for quantifying edge impacts in heterogeneous landscapes to quantify edge-determined changes in abundance of 1,673 vertebrate species. We show that the abundances of 85% of species are affected, either positively or negatively, by forest edges. Species that live in the centre of the forest (forest core), that were more likely to be listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), reached peak abundances only at sites farther than 200-400 m from sharp high-contrast forest edges. Smaller-bodied amphibians, larger reptiles and medium-sized non-volant mammals experienced a larger reduction in suitable habitat than other forest-core species. Our results highlight the pervasive ability of forest edges to restructure ecological communities on a global scale.
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24
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Vidal-García M, Keogh JS. Invasive cane toads are unique in shape but overlap in ecological niche compared to Australian native frogs. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:7609-7619. [PMID: 29043018 PMCID: PMC5632638 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive species are an important issue worldwide but predicting invasiveness, and the underlying mechanisms that cause it, is difficult. There are several primary hypotheses to explain invasion success. Two main hypothesis based on niche spaces stand out as alternative, although not exclusive. The empty niche hypothesis states that invaders occupy a vacant niche space in the recipient community, and the niche competition hypothesis states that invaders overlap with native species in niche space. Studies on trait similarity/dissimilarity between the invader and native species can provide information on their niche overlap. Here, we use the highly invasive and well‐studied cane toad (Rhinella marina) to test these two hypotheses in Australia, and assess its degree of overlap with native species in several niche dimensions. We compare extensive morphological and environmental data of this successful invader to 235 species (97%) of native Australian frogs. Our study is the first to document the significant morphological differences between the invasive cane toad and a continent‐wide frog radiation: despite significant environmental overlap, cane toads were distinct in body size and shape from most Australian frog species, suggesting that in addition to their previously documented phenotypic plasticity and wide environmental and trophic niche breadth, their unique shape also may have contributed to their success as an invasive species in Australia. Thus, the invasive success of cane toads in Australia may be explained through them successfully colonizing an empty niche among Australian anurans. Our results support that the cane toad's distinct morphology may have played a unique role in the invasiveness of this species in Australia, which coupled with a broad environmental niche breadth, would have boosted their ability to expand their distribution across Australia. We also propose RLLR (Relative limb length ratio) as a potentially useful measure of identifying morphological niche uniqueness and a potential measure of invasiveness potential in anuran amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Vidal-García
- Ecology and Evolution Research School of Biology The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - J Scott Keogh
- Ecology and Evolution Research School of Biology The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
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25
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Adult frogs and tadpoles have different macroevolutionary patterns across the Australian continent. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:1385-1391. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0268-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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26
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Vidal-García M, Scott Keogh J. Phylogenetic conservatism in skulls and evolutionary lability in limbs - morphological evolution across an ancient frog radiation is shaped by diet, locomotion and burrowing. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:165. [PMID: 28693418 PMCID: PMC5504843 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-0993-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Quantifying morphological diversity across taxa can provide valuable insight into evolutionary processes, yet its complexities can make it difficult to identify appropriate units for evaluation. One of the challenges in this field is identifying the processes that drive morphological evolution, especially when accounting for shape diversification across multiple structures. Differential levels of co-varying phenotypic diversification can conceal selective pressures on traits due to morphological integration or modular shape evolution of different structures, where morphological evolution of different modules is explained either by co-variation between them or by independent evolution, respectively. Methods Here we used a 3D geometric morphometric approach with x-ray micro CT scan data of the skull and bones of forelimbs and hindlimbs of representative species from all 21 genera of the ancient Australo-Papuan myobatrachid frogs and analysed their shape both as a set of distinct modules and as a multi-modular integrative structure. We then tested three main questions: (i) are evolutionary patterns and the amount and direction of morphological changes similar in different structures and subfamilies?, (ii) do skulls and limbs show different levels of integration?, and (iii) is morphological diversity of skulls and limbs shaped by diet, locomotion, burrowing behavior, and ecology?. Results Our results in both skulls and limbs support a complex evolutionary pattern typical of an adaptive radiation with an early burst of phenotypic variation followed by slower rates of morphological change. Skull shape diversity was phylogenetically conserved and correlated with diet whereas limb shape was more labile and associated with diet, locomotion, and burrowing behaviour. Morphological changes between different limb bones were highly correlated, depicting high morphological integration. In contrast, overall limb and skull shape displayed semi-independence in morphological evolution, indicating modularity. Conclusions Our results illustrate how morphological diversification in animal clades can follow complex processes, entailing selective pressures from the environment as well as multiple trait covariance with varying degrees of independence across different structures. We suggest that accurately quantifying shape diversity across multiple structures is crucial in order to understand complex evolutionary processes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-017-0993-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Vidal-García
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
| | - J Scott Keogh
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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27
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García-Navas V, Noguerales V, Cordero PJ, Ortego J. Phenotypic disparity in Iberian short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididae): the role of ecology and phylogeny. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:109. [PMID: 28472922 PMCID: PMC5418863 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-0954-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The combination of model-based comparative techniques, disparity analyses and ecomorphological correlations constitutes a powerful method to gain insight into the evolutionary mechanisms that shape morphological variation and speciation processes. In this study, we used a time-calibrated phylogeny of 70 Iberian species of short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididae) to test for patterns of morphological disparity in relation to their ecology and phylogenetic history. Specifically, we examined the role of substrate type and level of ecological specialization in driving different aspects of morphological evolution (locomotory traits, chemosensitive organs and cranial morphology) in this recent radiation. RESULTS We found a bimodal distribution of locomotory attributes corresponding to the two main substrate type guilds (plant vs. ground); plant-perching species tend to exhibit larger wings and thicker femora than those that remain on the ground. This suggests that life form (i.e., substrate type) is an important driving force in the evolution of morphological traits in short-horned grasshoppers, irrespective of ancestry. Substrate type and ecological specialization had no significant influence on head shape, a trait that showed a strong phylogenetic conservatism. Finally, we also found a marginal significant association between the length of antennae and the level of ecological specialization, suggesting that the development of sensory organs may be favored in specialist species. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide evidence that even in taxonomic groups showing limited morphological and ecological disparity, natural selection seems to play a more important role than genetic drift in driving the speciation process. Overall, this study suggests that morphostatic radiations should not necessarily be considered as "non-adaptive" and that the speciation process can bind both adaptive divergence mechanisms and neutral speciation processes related with allopatric and/or reproductive isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente García-Navas
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avenida Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092, Seville, Spain.
| | - Víctor Noguerales
- Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, E-13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Pedro J Cordero
- Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, E-13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Joaquín Ortego
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avenida Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092, Seville, Spain
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28
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Diogo R. Etho-Eco-Morphological Mismatches, an Overlooked Phenomenon in Ecology, Evolution and Evo-Devo That Supports ONCE (Organic Nonoptimal Constrained Evolution) and the Key Evolutionary Role of Organismal Behavior. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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Constructing an Invasion Machine: The Rapid Evolution of a Dispersal-Enhancing Phenotype During the Cane Toad Invasion of Australia. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156950. [PMID: 27658247 PMCID: PMC5033235 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological invasions can induce rapid evolutionary change. As cane toads (Rhinella marina) have spread across tropical Australia over an 80-year period, their rate of invasion has increased from around 15 to 60 km per annum. Toads at the invasion front disperse much faster and further than conspecifics from range-core areas, and their offspring inherit that rapid dispersal rate. We investigated morphological changes that have accompanied this dramatic acceleration, by conducting three-dimensional morphometric analyses of toads from both range-core and invasion-front populations. Morphology of heads, limbs, pectoral girdles and pelvic girdles differed significantly between toads from the two areas, ranging from 0.5% to 16.5% difference in mean bone dimensions between populations, with invasion-front toads exhibiting wider forelimbs, narrower hindlimbs and more compact skulls. Those changes plausibly reflect an increased reliance on bounding (multiple short hops in quick succession) rather than separate large leaps. Within an 80-year period, invasive cane toads have converted the basic anuran body plan – which evolved for occasional large leaps to evade predators – into a morphotype better-suited to sustained long-distance travel.
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30
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Holmes MW, Hammond TT, Wogan GOU, Walsh RE, LaBarbera K, Wommack EA, Martins FM, Crawford JC, Mack KL, Bloch LM, Nachman MW. Natural history collections as windows on evolutionary processes. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:864-81. [PMID: 26757135 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Revised: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Natural history collections provide an immense record of biodiversity on Earth. These repositories have traditionally been used to address fundamental questions in biogeography, systematics and conservation. However, they also hold the potential for studying evolution directly. While some of the best direct observations of evolution have come from long-term field studies or from experimental studies in the laboratory, natural history collections are providing new insights into evolutionary change in natural populations. By comparing phenotypic and genotypic changes in populations through time, natural history collections provide a window into evolutionary processes. Recent studies utilizing this approach have revealed some dramatic instances of phenotypic change over short timescales in response to presumably strong selective pressures. In some instances, evolutionary change can be paired with environmental change, providing a context for potential selective forces. Moreover, in a few cases, the genetic basis of phenotypic change is well understood, allowing for insight into adaptive change at multiple levels. These kinds of studies open the door to a wide range of previously intractable questions by enabling the study of evolution through time, analogous to experimental studies in the laboratory, but amenable to a diversity of species over longer timescales in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W Holmes
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA.,Department of Biology, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, 29528, USA
| | - Talisin T Hammond
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA
| | - Guinevere O U Wogan
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA
| | - Rachel E Walsh
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA
| | - Katie LaBarbera
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Wommack
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA.,Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming Museum of Vertebrates, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Felipe M Martins
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA
| | - Jeremy C Crawford
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA
| | - Katya L Mack
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA
| | - Luke M Bloch
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA
| | - Michael W Nachman
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 97420-3140, USA
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31
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Hudson CM, Brown GP, Shine R. Athletic anurans: the impact of morphology, ecology and evolution on climbing ability in invasive cane toads. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron M. Hudson
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; University of Sydney; A08 Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Gregory P. Brown
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; University of Sydney; A08 Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; University of Sydney; A08 Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
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Johansson F, Richter-Boix A, Gomez-Mestre I. Morphological Consequences of Developmental Plasticity in Rana temporaria are not Accommodated into Among-Population or Among-Species Variation. Evol Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-015-9363-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Vidal-García M, Keogh JS. Convergent evolution across the Australian continent: ecotype diversification drives morphological convergence in two distantly related clades of Australian frogs. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:2136-51. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Vidal-García
- Evolution, Ecology & Genetics, Research School of Biology; The Australian National University; Canberra ACT Australia
| | - J. S. Keogh
- Evolution, Ecology & Genetics, Research School of Biology; The Australian National University; Canberra ACT Australia
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Pyron RA. Biogeographic Analysis Reveals Ancient Continental Vicariance and Recent Oceanic Dispersal in Amphibians. Syst Biol 2014; 63:779-97. [DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syu042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R. Alexander Pyron
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2023 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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