1
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Chong KL, Grahn A, Perl CD, Sumner-Rooney L. Allometry and ecology shape eye size evolution in spiders. Curr Biol 2024:S0960-9822(24)00804-2. [PMID: 38959880 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.020] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Eye size affects many aspects of visual function, but eyes are costly to grow and maintain. The allometry of eyes can provide insight into this trade-off, but this has mainly been explored in species that have two eyes of equal size. By contrast, animals possessing larger visual systems can exhibit variable eye sizes within individuals. Spiders have up to four pairs of eyes whose sizes vary dramatically, but their ontogenetic, static, and evolutionary allometry has not yet been studied in a comparative context. We report variable dynamics in eye size across 1,098 individuals in 39 species and 8 families, indicating selective pressures and constraints driving the evolution of different eye pairs and lineages. Supplementing our sampling with a recently published phylogenetically comprehensive dataset, we confirmed these findings across more than 400 species; found that ecological factors such as visual hunting, web building, and circadian activity correlate with eye diameter; and identified significant allometric shifts across spider phylogeny using an unbiased approach, many of which coincide with visual hunting strategies. The modular nature of the spider visual system provides additional degrees of freedom and is apparent in the strong correlations between maximum/minimum investment and interocular variance and three key ecological factors. Our analyses suggest an antagonistic relationship between the anterior and posterior eye pairs. These findings shed light on the relationship between spider visual systems and their diverse ecologies and how spiders exploit their modular visual systems to balance selective pressures and optical and energetic constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylin L Chong
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PW, UK.
| | - Angelique Grahn
- Institut für Biologie, Humboldt Universität, Invalidenstrasse 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Craig D Perl
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Lauren Sumner-Rooney
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PW, UK.
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2
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Cox DTC, Gaston KJ. Cathemerality: a key temporal niche. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:329-347. [PMID: 37839797 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Given the marked variation in abiotic and biotic conditions between day and night, many species specialise their physical activity to being diurnal or nocturnal, and it was long thought that these strategies were commonly fairly fixed and invariant. The term 'cathemeral', was coined in 1987, when Tattersall noted activity in a Madagascan primate during the hours of both daylight and darkness. Initially thought to be rare, cathemerality is now known to be a quite widespread form of time partitioning amongst arthropods, fish, birds, and mammals. Herein we provide a synthesis of present understanding of cathemeral behaviour, arguing that it should routinely be included alongside diurnal and nocturnal strategies in schemes that distinguish and categorise species across taxa according to temporal niche. This synthesis is particularly timely because (i) the study of animal activity patterns is being revolutionised by new and improved technologies; (ii) it is becoming apparent that cathemerality covers a diverse range of obligate to facultative forms, each with their own common sets of functional traits, geographic ranges and evolutionary history; (iii) daytime and nighttime activity likely plays an important but currently neglected role in temporal niche partitioning and ecosystem functioning; and (iv) cathemerality may have an important role in the ability of species to adapt to human-mediated pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T C Cox
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
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3
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Nelson J, Woeste EM, Oba K, Bitterman K, Billings BK, Sacco J, Jacobs B, Sherwood CC, Manger PR, Spocter MA. Neuropil Variation in the Prefrontal, Motor, and Visual Cortex of Six Felids. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2024; 99:25-44. [PMID: 38354714 DOI: 10.1159/000537843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Felids have evolved a specialized suite of morphological adaptations for obligate carnivory. Although the musculoskeletal anatomy of the Felidae has been studied extensively, the comparative neuroanatomy of felids is relatively unexplored. Little is known about how variation in the cerebral anatomy of felids relates to species-specific differences in sociality, hunting strategy, or activity patterns. METHODS We quantitatively analyzed neuropil variation in the prefrontal, primary motor, and primary visual cortices of six species of Felidae (Panthera leo, Panthera uncia, Panthera tigris, Panthera leopardus, Acinonyx jubatus, Felis sylvestris domesticus) to investigate relationships with brain size, neuronal cell parameters, and select behavioral and ecological factors. Neuropil is the dense, intricate network of axons, dendrites, and synapses in the brain, playing a critical role in information processing and communication between neurons. RESULTS There were significant species and regional differences in neuropil proportions, with African lion, cheetah, and tiger having more neuropil in all three cortical regions in comparison to the other species. Based on regression analyses, we find that the increased neuropil fraction in the prefrontal cortex supports social and behavioral flexibility, while in the primary motor cortex, this facilitates the neural activity needed for hunting movements. Greater neuropil fraction in the primary visual cortex may contribute to visual requirements associated with diel activity patterns. CONCLUSION These results provide a cross-species comparison of neuropil fraction variation in the Felidae, particularly the understudied Panthera, and provide evidence for convergence of the neuroanatomy of Panthera and cheetahs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Nelson
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Erin M Woeste
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Ken Oba
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Kathleen Bitterman
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Brendon K Billings
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - James Sacco
- Ellis Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Bob Jacobs
- Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Quantitative Neuromorphology, Neuroscience Program, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
| | - Chet C Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Paul R Manger
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Muhammad A Spocter
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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4
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Blary CLM, Duriez O, Bonadonna F, Mitkus M, Caro SP, Besnard A, Potier S. Low achromatic contrast sensitivity in birds: a common attribute shared by many phylogenetic orders. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246342. [PMID: 38099472 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246342] [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: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Vision is an important sensory modality in birds, which can outperform other vertebrates in some visual abilities. However, sensitivity to achromatic contrasts - the ability to discern luminance difference between two objects or an object and its background - has been shown to be lower in birds compared with other vertebrates. We conducted a comparative study to evaluate the achromatic contrast sensitivity of 32 bird species from 12 orders using the optocollic reflex technique. We then performed an analysis to test for potential variability in contrast sensitivity depending on the corneal diameter to the axial length ratio, a proxy of the retinal image brightness. To account for potential influences of evolutionary relatedness, we included phylogeny in our analyses. We found a low achromatic contrast sensitivity for all avian species studied compared with other vertebrates (except small mammals), with high variability between species. This variability is partly related to phylogeny but appears to be independent of image brightness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance L M Blary
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, France
- Agence de l'environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie 20, 49004 Angers Cedex 01, France
| | - Olivier Duriez
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | | | - Mindaugas Mitkus
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Samuel P Caro
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Aurélien Besnard
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE PSL University, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Simon Potier
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund 22362, Sweden
- Les Ailes de l'Urga, 27320 Marcilly la Campagne, France
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5
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Newman BA, D’Angelo GJ. A Review of Cervidae Visual Ecology. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:420. [PMID: 38338063 PMCID: PMC10854973 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030420] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This review examines the visual systems of cervids in relation to their ability to meet their ecological needs and how their visual systems are specialized for particular tasks. Cervidae encompasses a diverse group of mammals that serve as important ecological drivers within their ecosystems. Despite evidence of highly specialized visual systems, a large portion of cervid research ignores or fails to consider the realities of cervid vision as it relates to their ecology. Failure to account for an animal's visual ecology during research can lead to unintentional biases and uninformed conclusions regarding the decision making and behaviors for a species or population. Our review addresses core behaviors and their interrelationship with cervid visual characteristics. Historically, the study of cervid visual characteristics has been restricted to specific areas of inquiry such as color vision and contains limited integration into broader ecological and behavioral research. The purpose of our review is to bridge these gaps by offering a comprehensive review of cervid visual ecology that emphasizes the interplay between the visual adaptations of cervids and their interactions with habitats and other species. Ultimately, a better understanding of cervid visual ecology allows researchers to gain deeper insights into their behavior and ecology, providing critical information for conservation and management efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaise A. Newman
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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6
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Caves EM, Fernández-Juricic E, Kelley LA. Ecological and morphological correlates of visual acuity in birds. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246063. [PMID: 38126722 PMCID: PMC10906485 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246063] [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: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Birds use their visual systems for important tasks, such as foraging and predator detection, that require them to resolve an image. However, visual acuity (the ability to perceive spatial detail) varies by two orders of magnitude across birds. Prior studies indicate that eye size and aspects of a species' ecology may drive variation in acuity, but these studies have been restricted to small numbers of species. We used a literature review to gather data on acuity measured either behaviorally or anatomically for 94 species from 38 families. We then examined how acuity varies in relation to (1) eye size, (2) habitat spatial complexity, (3) habitat light level, (4) diet composition, (5) prey mobility and (6) foraging mode. A phylogenetically controlled model including all of the above factors as predictors indicated that eye size and foraging mode are significant predictors of acuity. Examining each ecological variable in turn revealed that acuity is higher in species whose diet comprises vertebrates or scavenged food and whose foraging modes require resolving prey from farther away. Additionally, species that live in spatially complex, vegetative habitats have lower acuity than expected for their eye sizes. Together, our results suggest that the need to detect important objects from far away - such as predators for species that live in open habitats, and food items for species that forage on vertebrate and scavenged prey - has likely been a key driver of higher acuity in some species, helping us to elucidate how visual capabilities may be adapted to an animal's visual needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor M. Caves
- University of California Santa Barbara, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- University of Exeter, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | | | - Laura A. Kelley
- University of Exeter, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
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7
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Irazábal-González L, Wright DS, Maan ME. Developmental and environmental plasticity in opsin gene expression in Lake Victoria cichlid fish. Evol Dev 2024; 26:e12465. [PMID: 38041513 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12465] [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: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
In many organisms, sensory abilities develop and evolve according to the changing demands of navigating, foraging, and communication across different environments and life stages. Teleost fish inhabit heterogeneous light environments and exhibit a large diversity in visual system properties among species. Cichlids are a classic example of this diversity; visual system variation is generated by different tuning mechanisms that involve both genetic factors and phenotypic plasticity. Here, we document the developmental progression of visual pigment gene expression in Lake Victoria cichlids and test if these patterns are influenced by variation in light conditions. We reared two sister species of Pundamilia to adulthood in two distinct visual conditions that resemble the light environments that they naturally inhabit in Lake Victoria. We also included interspecific first-generation hybrids. We focused on the four opsins that are expressed in Pundamilia adults (using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)) (SWS2B, SWS2A, RH2A, and LWS) at 17 time points. We find that opsin expression profiles progress from shorter-wavelength sensitive opsins to longer-wavelength sensitive opsins with increasing age, in both species and their hybrids. The developmental trajectories of opsin expression also responded plastically to the visual conditions. Developmental and environmental plasticity in opsin expression may provide an important stepping stone in the evolution of cichlid visual system diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Irazábal-González
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel S Wright
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martine E Maan
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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8
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Williams HJ, Sridhar VH, Hurme E, Gall GE, Borrego N, Finerty GE, Couzin ID, Galizia CG, Dominy NJ, Rowland HM, Hauber ME, Higham JP, Strandburg-Peshkin A, Melin AD. Sensory collectives in natural systems. eLife 2023; 12:e88028. [PMID: 38019274 PMCID: PMC10686622 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88028] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Groups of animals inhabit vastly different sensory worlds, or umwelten, which shape fundamental aspects of their behaviour. Yet the sensory ecology of species is rarely incorporated into the emerging field of collective behaviour, which studies the movements, population-level behaviours, and emergent properties of animal groups. Here, we review the contributions of sensory ecology and collective behaviour to understanding how animals move and interact within the context of their social and physical environments. Our goal is to advance and bridge these two areas of inquiry and highlight the potential for their creative integration. To achieve this goal, we organise our review around the following themes: (1) identifying the promise of integrating collective behaviour and sensory ecology; (2) defining and exploring the concept of a 'sensory collective'; (3) considering the potential for sensory collectives to shape the evolution of sensory systems; (4) exploring examples from diverse taxa to illustrate neural circuits involved in sensing and collective behaviour; and (5) suggesting the need for creative conceptual and methodological advances to quantify 'sensescapes'. In the final section, (6) applications to biological conservation, we argue that these topics are timely, given the ongoing anthropogenic changes to sensory stimuli (e.g. via light, sound, and chemical pollution) which are anticipated to impact animal collectives and group-level behaviour and, in turn, ecosystem composition and function. Our synthesis seeks to provide a forward-looking perspective on how sensory ecologists and collective behaviourists can both learn from and inspire one another to advance our understanding of animal behaviour, ecology, adaptation, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J Williams
- Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorKonstanzGermany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Biology Department, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Vivek H Sridhar
- Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorKonstanzGermany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Biology Department, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Edward Hurme
- Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorKonstanzGermany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Biology Department, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Gabriella E Gall
- Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorKonstanzGermany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Biology Department, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Zukunftskolleg, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | | | | | - Iain D Couzin
- Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorKonstanzGermany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Biology Department, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - C Giovanni Galizia
- Biology Department, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Zukunftskolleg, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Nathaniel J Dominy
- Zukunftskolleg, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth CollegeHanoverUnited States
| | - Hannah M Rowland
- Max Planck Research Group Predators and Toxic Prey, Max Planck Institute for Chemical EcologyJenaGermany
| | - Mark E Hauber
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUrbana-ChampaignUnited States
| | - James P Higham
- Zukunftskolleg, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Department of Anthropology, New York UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin
- Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorKonstanzGermany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Biology Department, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Amanda D Melin
- Zukunftskolleg, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of CalgaryCalgaryCanada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of CalgaryCalgaryCanada
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9
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Scott JE. The macroevolutionary dynamics of activity pattern in mammals: Primates in context. J Hum Evol 2023; 184:103436. [PMID: 37741141 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103436] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Activity pattern has played a prominent role in discussions of primate evolutionary history. Most primates are either diurnal or nocturnal, but a small number are active both diurnally and nocturnally. This pattern-cathemerality-also occurs at low frequency across mammals. Using a large sample of mammalian species, this study evaluates two macroevolutionary hypotheses proposed to explain why cathemerality is less common than diurnality and nocturnality: 1) that cathemeral lineages have higher extinction probabilities (differential diversification) and 2) that transitions out of cathemerality are more frequent, making it a less persistent state (differential state persistence). Rates of speciation, extinction, and transition between character states were estimated using hidden-rates models applied to a phylogenetic tree containing 3013 mammals classified by activity pattern. The models failed to detect consistent differences in diversification dynamics among activity patterns, but there is strong support for differential state persistence. Transition rates out of cathemerality tend to be much higher than transition rates out of nocturnality. Transition rates out of diurnality are similar to those for cathemerality in most clades, with two important exceptions: diurnality is unusually persistent in anthropoid primates and sciurid rodents. These two groups combine very low rates of transition out of diurnality with high speciation rates. This combination has no parallels among cathemeral lineages, explaining why diurnality has become more common than cathemerality in mammals. Similarly, the combination of rates found in anthropoids is sufficient to explain the low relative frequency of cathemerality in primates, making it unnecessary to appeal to high extinction probabilities in cathemeral lineages in this clade. These findings support the hypothesis that the distribution of activity patterns across mammals has been influenced primarily by differential state persistence, whereas the effect of differential diversification appears to have been more idiosyncratic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremiah E Scott
- Department of Medical Anatomical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA.
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10
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Cerio DG, Witmer LM. Orbital soft tissues, bones, and allometry: Implications for the size and position of crocodylian eyes. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023; 306:2537-2561. [PMID: 36508325 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25133] [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: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Although the visual system of crocodylians has attracted interest regarding optical parameters and retinal anatomy, fundamental questions remain about the allometry of the eyeball and whether such scaling is the same across all crown groups of crocodylians. In addition, anatomy and identities of adnexal soft tissues that interact with the visual system are not well understood in many cases. We used contrast-enhancing iodine stain and high-resolution micro-computed tomography to assess the anatomy of orbital soft tissues, including extraocular muscles and glands, in crocodylians. We also used regression analysis to estimate the allometric relationship between the bony orbit and eyeball across Alligator mississippiensis and Crocodylus niloticus for the first time. Results revealed tight, negatively allometric relationships between the bony orbit and eyeball. Notably, the eyes of C. niloticus were larger for a given orbit size than the eyes of A. mississippiensis, although the slope of the relationship was no different between these two crown crocodylian groups. Among the findings from our anatomical study, new details were uncovered about the homologies of muscles of the abducens complex. In particular, M. rectus lateralis of crocodylians is revealed to have a more complex form than previously appreciated, being adhered to the tendon of the nictitating membrane, which may be apomorphic for Crocodylia. Our calculation of the orbit-eyeball allometric relationship and study of the adnexal soft tissues of the crocodylian visual system, in combination with previous work by other teams in other crown saurian clades, is a critical, formerly missing, piece in the Extant Phylogenetic Bracket for restoring the visual apparatus of extinct crocodyliforms and other archosauriform groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald Greene Cerio
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, Ohio, USA
- Ohio Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Studies, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Lawrence M Witmer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, Ohio, USA
- Ohio Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Studies, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
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Corral-Lopez A, Kotrschal A, Szorkovszky A, Garate-Olaizola M, Herbert-Read J, van der Bijl W, Romenskyy M, Zeng HL, Buechel SD, Fontrodona-Eslava A, Pelckmans K, Mank JE, Kolm N. Evolution of schooling drives changes in neuroanatomy and motion characteristics across predation contexts in guppies. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6027. [PMID: 37758730 PMCID: PMC10533906 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41635-6] [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: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most spectacular displays of social behavior is the synchronized movements that many animal groups perform to travel, forage and escape from predators. However, elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying the evolution of collective behaviors, as well as their fitness effects, remains challenging. Here, we study collective motion patterns with and without predation threat and predator inspection behavior in guppies experimentally selected for divergence in polarization, an important ecological driver of coordinated movement in fish. We find that groups from artificially selected lines remain more polarized than control groups in the presence of a threat. Neuroanatomical measurements of polarization-selected individuals indicate changes in brain regions previously suggested to be important regulators of perception, fear and attention, and motor response. Additional visual acuity and temporal resolution tests performed in polarization-selected and control individuals indicate that observed differences in predator inspection and schooling behavior should not be attributable to changes in visual perception, but rather are more likely the result of the more efficient relay of sensory input in the brain of polarization-selected fish. Our findings highlight that brain morphology may play a fundamental role in the evolution of coordinated movement and anti-predator behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Corral-Lopez
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
- Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, UK.
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Alexander Kotrschal
- Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Behavioural Ecology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Alexander Szorkovszky
- RITMO Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time and Motion, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maddi Garate-Olaizola
- Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - James Herbert-Read
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Aquatic Ecology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Wouter van der Bijl
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Maksym Romenskyy
- Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Hong-Li Zeng
- School of Science, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China
| | - Severine Denise Buechel
- Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Behavioural Ecology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Ada Fontrodona-Eslava
- Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | | | - Judith E Mank
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Niclas Kolm
- Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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12
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Mutumi GL, Hall RP, Hedrick BP, Yohe LR, Sadier A, Davies KTJ, Rossiter SJ, Sears KE, Dávalos LM, Dumont ER. Disentangling Mechanical and Sensory Modules in the Radiation of Noctilionoid Bats. Am Nat 2023; 202:216-230. [PMID: 37531274 DOI: 10.1086/725368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
AbstractWith diverse mechanical and sensory functions, the vertebrate cranium is a complex anatomical structure whose shifts between modularity and integration, especially in mechanical function, have been implicated in adaptive diversification. Yet how mechanical and sensory systems and their functions coevolve, as well as how their interrelationship contributes to phenotypic disparity, remain largely unexplored. To examine the modularity, integration, and evolutionary rates of sensory and mechanical structures within the head, we analyzed hard and soft tissue scans from ecologically diverse bats in the superfamily Noctilionoidea, a clade that ranges from insectivores and carnivores to frugivores and nectarivores. We identified eight regions that evolved in a coordinated fashion, thus recognizable as evolutionary modules: five associated with bite force and three linked to olfactory, visual, and auditory systems. Interrelationships among these modules differ between Neotropical leaf-nosed bats (family Phyllostomidae) and other noctilionoids. Consistent with the hypothesis that dietary transitions begin with changes in the capacity to detect novel food items followed by adaptations to process them, peak rates of sensory module evolution predate those of some mechanical modules. We propose that the coevolution of structures influencing bite force, olfaction, vision, and hearing constituted a structural opportunity that allowed the phyllostomid ancestor to take advantage of existing ecological opportunities and contributed to the clade's remarkable radiation.
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13
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Liu Y, Jiang Y, Xu J, Liao W. Evolution of Avian Eye Size Is Associated with Habitat Openness, Food Type and Brain Size. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101675. [PMID: 37238105 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101675] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The eye is the primary sensory organ that obtains information from the ecological environments and specifically bridges the brain with the extra environment. However, the coevolutionary relationships between eye size and ecological factors, behaviours and brain size in birds remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate whether eye size evolution is associated with ecological factors (e.g., habitat openness, food type and foraging habitat), behaviours (e.g., migration and activity pattern) and brain size among 1274 avian species using phylogenetically controlled comparative analyses. Our results indicate that avian eye size is significantly associated with habitat openness, food type and brain size. Species living in dense habitats and consuming animals exhibit larger eye sizes compared to species living in open habitats and consuming plants, respectively. Large-brained birds tend to possess larger eyes. However, migration, foraging habitat and activity pattern were not found to be significantly associated with eye size in birds, except for nocturnal birds having longer axial lengths than diurnal ones. Collectively, our results suggest that avian eye size is primarily influenced by light availability, food need and cognitive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yating Liu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ying Jiang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jiliang Xu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wenbo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
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14
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de Azevedo CS, Cipreste CF, Pizzutto CS, Young RJ. Review of the Effects of Enclosure Complexity and Design on the Behaviour and Physiology of Zoo Animals. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13081277. [PMID: 37106840 PMCID: PMC10135285 DOI: 10.3390/ani13081277] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The complexity of the habitat refers to its physical geometry, which includes abiotic and biotic elements. Habitat complexity is important because it allows more species to coexist and, consequently, more interactions to be established among them. The complexity of the habitat links the physical structure of the enclosure to the biological interactions, which occur within its limits. Enclosure complexity should vary temporally, to be able to influence the animals in different ways, depending on the period of the day and season and throughout the year. In the present paper, we discuss how habitat complexity is important, and how it can positively influence the physical and mental states of zoo animals. We show how habitat complexity can ultimately affect educational projects. Finally, we discuss how we can add complexity to enclosures and, thus, make the lives of animals more interesting and functional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, s/n Bauxita, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil
| | | | - Cristiane Schilbach Pizzutto
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Reprodução Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária Armando Salles de Oliveira, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Robert John Young
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford Manchester, Peel Building-Room G51, Salford M5 4WT, UK
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15
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Gaillard C, MacPhee RDE, Forasiepi AM. Seeing through the eyes of the sabertooth Thylacosmilus atrox (Metatheria, Sparassodonta). Commun Biol 2023; 6:257. [PMID: 36944801 PMCID: PMC10030895 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04624-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of mammalian vision is difficult to study because the actual receptor organs-the eyes-are not preserved in the fossil record. Orbital orientation and size are the traditional proxies for inferring aspects of ocular function, such as stereoscopy. Adaptations for good stereopsis have evolved in living predaceous mammals, and it is reasonable to infer that fossil representatives would follow the same pattern. This applies to the sparassodonts, an extinct group of South American hypercarnivores related to marsupials, with one exception. In the sabertooth Thylacosmilus atrox, the bony orbits were notably divergent, like those of a cow or a horse, and thus radically differing from conditions in any other known mammalian predator. Orbital convergence alone, however, does not determine presence of stereopsis; frontation and verticality of the orbits also play a role. We show that the orbits of Thylacosmilus were frontated and verticalized in a way that favored some degree of stereopsis and compensated for limited convergence in orbital orientation. The forcing function behind these morphological tradeoffs was the extraordinary growth of its rootless canines, which affected skull shape in Thylacosmilus in numerous ways, including relative orbital displacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlène Gaillard
- Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales, CCT-CONICET Mendoza, Av. Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque General San Martín, CP5500, Mendoza, Argentina.
| | - Ross D E MacPhee
- Department of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, 10024-5102, New York, NY, USA
| | - Analía M Forasiepi
- Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales, CCT-CONICET Mendoza, Av. Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque General San Martín, CP5500, Mendoza, Argentina
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16
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Morandi K, Lindholm AK, Lee DE, Bond ML. Biofluorescence and predator avoidance in the giraffe. Afr J Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.13107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kin Morandi
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Anna K. Lindholm
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Derek E. Lee
- Wild Nature Institute Concord New Hampshire USA
- Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania USA
| | - Monica L. Bond
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Wild Nature Institute Concord New Hampshire USA
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17
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Veilleux CC, Dominy NJ, Melin AD. The sensory ecology of primate food perception, revisited. Evol Anthropol 2022; 31:281-301. [PMID: 36519416 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21967] [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: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Twenty years ago, Dominy and colleagues published "The sensory ecology of primate food perception," an impactful review that brought new perspectives to understanding primate foraging adaptations. Their review synthesized information on primate senses and explored how senses informed feeding behavior. Research on primate sensory ecology has seen explosive growth in the last two decades. Here, we revisit this important topic, focusing on the numerous new discoveries and lines of innovative research. We begin by reviewing each of the five traditionally recognized senses involved in foraging: audition, olfaction, vision, touch, and taste. For each sense, we provide an overview of sensory function and comparative ecology, comment on the state of knowledge at the time of the original review, and highlight advancements and lingering gaps in knowledge. Next, we provide an outline for creative, multidisciplinary, and innovative future research programs that we anticipate will generate exciting new discoveries in the next two decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie C Veilleux
- Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USA
| | - Nathaniel J Dominy
- Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Amanda D Melin
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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18
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Wallace MN, Zobay O, Hardman E, Thompson Z, Dobbs P, Chakrabarti L, Palmer AR. The large numbers of minicolumns in the primary visual cortex of humans, chimpanzees and gorillas are related to high visual acuity. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:1034264. [PMID: 36439196 PMCID: PMC9681811 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.1034264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Minicolumns are thought to be a fundamental neural unit in the neocortex and their replication may have formed the basis of the rapid cortical expansion that occurred during primate evolution. We sought evidence of minicolumns in the primary visual cortex (V-1) of three great apes, three rodents and representatives from three other mammalian orders: Eulipotyphla (European hedgehog), Artiodactyla (domestic pig) and Carnivora (ferret). Minicolumns, identified by the presence of a long bundle of radial, myelinated fibers stretching from layer III to the white matter of silver-stained sections, were found in the human, chimpanzee, gorilla and guinea pig V-1. Shorter bundles confined to one or two layers were found in the other species but represent modules rather than minicolumns. The inter-bundle distance, and hence density of minicolumns, varied systematically both within a local area that might represent a hypercolumn but also across the whole visual field. The distance between all bundles had a similar range for human, chimpanzee, gorilla, ferret and guinea pig: most bundles were 20-45 μm apart. By contrast, the space between bundles was greater for the hedgehog and pig (20-140 μm). The mean density of minicolumns was greater in tangential sections of the gorilla and chimpanzee (1,243-1,287 bundles/mm2) than in human (314-422 bundles/mm2) or guinea pig (643 bundles/mm2). The minicolumnar bundles did not form a hexagonal lattice but were arranged in thin curving and branched bands separated by thicker bands of neuropil/somata. Estimates of the total number of modules/minicolumns within V-1 were strongly correlated with visual acuity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark N. Wallace
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Hearing Research, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Hearing Sciences, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Zobay
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Hearing Research, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Hearing Sciences—Scottish Section, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Eden Hardman
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Hearing Research, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Zoe Thompson
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Hearing Research, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Phillipa Dobbs
- Veterinary Department, Twycross Zoo, East Midland Zoological Society, Atherstone, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Chakrabarti
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alan R. Palmer
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Hearing Research, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Hearing Sciences, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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19
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Morandi K, Lindholm AK, Lee DE, Bond ML. Phenotypic matching by spot pattern potentially mediates female giraffe social associations. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. Morandi
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - A. K. Lindholm
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - D. E. Lee
- Wild Nature Institute Concord NH USA
- Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA
| | - M. L. Bond
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Wild Nature Institute Concord NH USA
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20
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Munds RA, Cooper EB, Janiak MC, Lam LG, DeCasien AR, Bauman Surratt S, Montague MJ, Martinez MI, Research Unit CB, Kawamura S, Higham JP, Melin AD. Variation and heritability of retinal cone ratios in a free-ranging population of rhesus macaques. Evolution 2022; 76:1776-1789. [PMID: 35790204 PMCID: PMC9544366 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
A defining feature of catarrhine primates is uniform trichromacy-the ability to distinguish red (long; L), green (medium; M), and blue (short; S) wavelengths of light. Although the tuning of photoreceptors is conserved, the ratio of L:M cones in the retina is variable within and between species, with human cone ratios differing from other catarrhines. Yet, the sources and structure of variation in cone ratios are poorly understood, precluding a broader understanding of color vision variability. Here, we report a large-scale study of a pedigreed population of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). We collected foveal RNA and analyzed opsin gene expression using cDNA and estimated additive genetic variance of cone ratios. The average L:M ratio and standard error was 1.03:1 ± 0.02. There was no age effect, and genetic contribution to variation was negligible. We found marginal sex effects with females having larger ratios than males. S cone ratios (0.143:1 ± 0.002) had significant genetic variance with a heritability estimate of 43% but did not differ between sexes or age groups. Our results contextualize the derived human condition of L-cone dominance and provide new information about the heritability of cone ratios and variation in primate color vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A. Munds
- Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada
| | - Eve B. Cooper
- Department of AnthropologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003,New York Consortium in Evolutionary PrimatologyNew YorkNew York10460
| | - Mareike C. Janiak
- Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada,Department of AnthropologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003,School of Science, Engineering and EnvironmentUniversity of SalfordSalfordM5 4NTUnited Kingdom
| | - Linh Gia Lam
- Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada
| | - Alex R. DeCasien
- Department of AnthropologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003,New York Consortium in Evolutionary PrimatologyNew YorkNew York10460,Section on Developmental NeurogenomicsNational Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaMaryland20892
| | | | - Michael J. Montague
- Department of NeuroscienceUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvania19104
| | - Melween I. Martinez
- Caribbean Primate Research CenterUniversity of Puerto RicoSan JuanPuerto Rico00936
| | | | - Shoji Kawamura
- Department of Integrated BiosciencesUniversity of TokyoKashiwa277‐8562Japan
| | - James P. Higham
- Department of AnthropologyNew York UniversityNew YorkNew York10003,New York Consortium in Evolutionary PrimatologyNew YorkNew York10460
| | - Amanda D. Melin
- Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada,Department of Medical GeneticsUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada,Alberta Children's Hospital Research InstituteUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada
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21
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Indrischek H, Hammer J, Machate A, Hecker N, Kirilenko B, Roscito J, Hans S, Norden C, Brand M, Hiller M. Vision-related convergent gene losses reveal SERPINE3's unknown role in the eye. eLife 2022; 11:77999. [PMID: 35727138 PMCID: PMC9355568 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research, knowledge about the genes that are important for development and function of the mammalian eye and are involved in human eye disorders remains incomplete. During mammalian evolution, mammals that naturally exhibit poor vision or regressive eye phenotypes have independently lost many eye-related genes. This provides an opportunity to predict novel eye-related genes based on specific evolutionary gene loss signatures. Building on these observations, we performed a genome-wide screen across 49 mammals for functionally uncharacterized genes that are preferentially lost in species exhibiting lower visual acuity values. The screen uncovered several genes, including SERPINE3, a putative serine proteinase inhibitor. A detailed investigation of 381 additional mammals revealed that SERPINE3 is independently lost in 18 lineages that typically do not primarily rely on vision, predicting a vision-related function for this gene. To test this, we show that SERPINE3 has the highest expression in eyes of zebrafish and mouse. In the zebrafish retina, serpine3 is expressed in Müller glia cells, a cell type essential for survival and maintenance of the retina. A CRISPR-mediated knockout of serpine3 in zebrafish resulted in alterations in eye shape and defects in retinal layering. Furthermore, two human polymorphisms that are in linkage with SERPINE3 are associated with eye-related traits. Together, these results suggest that SERPINE3 has a role in vertebrate eyes. More generally, by integrating comparative genomics with experiments in model organisms, we show that screens for specific phenotype-associated gene signatures can predict functions of uncharacterized genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrike Indrischek
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Juliane Hammer
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Machate
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nikolai Hecker
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Juliana Roscito
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Hans
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Caren Norden
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Brand
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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22
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Bohenek JR, Pintar MR, Breech TM, Resetarits WJ. A wolf in sheep's clothing: Predatory fish have convergent consumptive effects but divergent predation‐risk effects. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Bohenek
- Department of Biology and Center for Water and Wetlands Resources The University of Mississippi University Mississippi USA
| | - Matthew R. Pintar
- Department of Biology and Center for Water and Wetlands Resources The University of Mississippi University Mississippi USA
| | - Tyler M. Breech
- Department of Biology and Center for Water and Wetlands Resources The University of Mississippi University Mississippi USA
| | - William J. Resetarits
- Department of Biology and Center for Water and Wetlands Resources The University of Mississippi University Mississippi USA
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23
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Lang MM, Bertrand OC, San Martin Flores G, Law CJ, Abdul‐Sater J, Spakowski S, Silcox MT. Scaling Patterns of Cerebellar Petrosal Lobules in Euarchontoglires: Impacts of Ecology and Phylogeny. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2022; 305:3472-3503. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.24929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Madlen M. Lang
- Department of Anthropology University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto ON Canada
| | - Ornella C. Bertrand
- School of GeoSciences University of Edinburgh, Grant Institute Edinburgh Scotland UK
| | | | - Chris J. Law
- Richard Gilder Graduate School, Department of Mammalogy, and Division of Paleontology American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West New York NY
- Department of Biology University of Washington Seattle WA
- The University of Texas at Austin Austin TX
| | - Jade Abdul‐Sater
- Department of Anthropology University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto ON Canada
| | - Shayda Spakowski
- Department of Anthropology University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto ON Canada
| | - Mary T. Silcox
- Department of Anthropology University of Toronto Scarborough Toronto ON Canada
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24
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Non-visual senses in fruit selection by the mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata). Primates 2022; 63:293-303. [PMID: 35289382 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-022-00984-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
There is extensive knowledge about the visual system and the implications of the evolution of trichromatic color vision in howler monkeys (genus Alouatta) related to food selection; however, information about the other sensory systems is limited. In this study we assessed the use of touch, sniffing, and taste in fruit evaluation by 20 adult mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) on Agaltepec Island, Mexico. During 9 months of observation, we recorded the frequency that each monkey used touch, sniffing, and taste in evaluating cryptic fruits (that remain green during their ripening process) and conspicuous fruits (with red, yellow, or orange colorations when they are ripe). Sucrose content and hardness measurements were made to establish the degree of ripeness of the fruits. We found that mantled howler monkeys used long behavioral sequences during conspicuous fruit investigations. Sniffing was used infrequently, but significantly more often in the evaluation of conspicuous-ripe and unripe fruits compared to cryptic-ripe and unripe fruits. During the evaluation of cryptic-ripe fruits, mantled howler monkeys increased the use of touch compared to evaluating cryptic-unripe fruits. We did not find significant differences in the use of taste in the evaluation of cryptic and conspicuous fruits (both ripe and unripe). Our results suggest that the non-visual senses play an essential role in fruit selection by howler monkeys, with differences in the behavioral strategy according to the fruit's conspicuity. The multimodal signals of ripe and unripe fruits allow the howler monkeys to assess their palatability before being consumed.
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25
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Chatterji RM, Hipsley CA, Sherratt E, Hutchinson MN, Jones MEH. Ontogenetic allometry underlies trophic diversity in sea turtles (Chelonioidea). Evol Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-022-10162-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AbstractDespite only comprising seven species, extant sea turtles (Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae) display great ecological diversity, with most species inhabiting a unique dietary niche as adults. This adult diversity is remarkable given that all species share the same dietary niche as juveniles. These ontogenetic shifts in diet, as well as a dramatic increase in body size, make sea turtles an excellent group to examine how morphological diversity arises by allometric processes and life habit specialisation. Using three-dimensional geometric morphometrics, we characterise ontogenetic allometry in the skulls of all seven species and evaluate variation in the context of phylogenetic history and diet. Among the sample, the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) has a seemingly average sea turtle skull shape and generalised diet, whereas the green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) show different extremes of snout shape associated with their modes of food gathering (grazing vs. grasping, respectively). Our ontogenetic findings corroborate previous suggestions that the skull of the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) is paedomorphic, having similar skull proportions to hatchlings of other sea turtle species and retaining a hatchling-like diet of relatively soft bodied organisms. The flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) shows a similar but less extreme pattern. By contrast, the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) shows a peramorphic signal associated with increased jaw muscle volumes that allow predation on hard shelled prey. The Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) has a peramorphic skull shape compared to its sister species the olive ridley, and a diet that includes harder prey items such as crabs. We suggest that diet may be a significant factor in driving skull shape differences among species. Although the small number of species limits statistical power, differences among skull shape, size, and diet are consistent with the hypothesis that shifts in allometric trajectory facilitated diversification in skull shape as observed in an increasing number of vertebrate groups.
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26
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Huang MCW, Liao CP, Chou CC, Lin JW, Huang WS. Size of Snake Eyes Correlates With Habitat Types and Diel Activity Patterns. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.821965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Eye size influences visual acuity, sensitivity, and temporal resolution and is a result of vertebrate adaptation to the environment. The habitats of snake species are diverse, ranging from fossorial, terrestrial, arboreal, to aquatic. They also demonstrate a variety of behavioral and physiological characteristics, such as activity time, feeding patterns, and prey detection. In this study, we comparatively investigated how the relative eye size (i.e., eye diameter vs. head width) associated with the ecological (i.e., habitat), behavioral (i.e., diel activity pattern, foraging strategy), and physiological traits (i.e., the presence of pits), respectively, across six snake families from Taiwan. Among the traits we examined, we found that terrestrial and/or diurnal snakes tended to exhibit the larger relative eye size, indicating the evolutionary responses of eye size to changes in habitat types and activity patterns, respectively, while no evidence of how foraging strategies and the presence of pits affected snake eye size was found. Our findings not only shed light on the adaptive significance of the visual system in diversifying the behaviors and the environments exploited in snakes, but also underline the interactive effects of multidimensional evolutionary attributes (e.g., behavior, ecology, physiology and phylogeny) on the evolution of optimal visual performance.
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de Sousa AA, Todorov OS, Proulx MJ. A natural history of vertebrate vision loss: Insight from mammalian vision for human visual function. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 134:104550. [PMID: 35074313 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104550] [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: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Research on the origin of vision and vision loss in naturally "blind" animal species can reveal the tasks that vision fulfills and the brain's role in visual experience. Models that incorporate evolutionary history, natural variation in visual ability, and experimental manipulations can help disentangle visual ability at a superficial level from behaviors linked to vision but not solely reliant upon it, and could assist the translation of ophthalmological research in animal models to human treatments. To unravel the similarities between blind individuals and blind species, we review concepts of 'blindness' and its behavioral correlates across a range of species. We explore the ancestral emergence of vision in vertebrates, and the loss of vision in blind species with reference to an evolution-based classification scheme. We applied phylogenetic comparative methods to a mammalian tree to explore the evolution of visual acuity using ancestral state estimations. Future research into the natural history of vision loss could help elucidate the function of vision and inspire innovations in how to address vision loss in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra A de Sousa
- Centre for Health and Cognition, Bath Spa University, Bath, United Kingdom; UKRI Centre for Accessible, Responsible & Transparent Artificial Intelligence (ART:AI), University of Bath, United Kingdom.
| | - Orlin S Todorov
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael J Proulx
- UKRI Centre for Accessible, Responsible & Transparent Artificial Intelligence (ART:AI), University of Bath, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, REVEAL Research Centre, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
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Predictive Factors of Chemical and Visual Sensory Organ Size: The Roles of Sex, Environment, and Evolution. Evol Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-021-09554-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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29
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Page RA, ter Hofstede HM. Sensory and Cognitive Ecology of Bats. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND SYSTEMATICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-012921-052635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We see stunning morphological diversity across the animal world. Less conspicuous but equally fascinating are the sensory and cognitive adaptations that determine animals’ interactions with their environments and each other. We discuss the development of the fields of sensory and cognitive ecology and the importance of integrating these fields to understand the evolution of adaptive behaviors. Bats, with their extraordinarily high ecological diversity, are ideal animals for this purpose. An explosion in recent research allows for better understanding of the molecular, genetic, neural, and behavioral bases for sensory ecology and cognition in bats. We give examples of studies that illuminate connections between sensory and cognitive features of information filtering, evolutionary trade-offs in sensory and cognitive processing, and multimodal sensing and integration. By investigating the selective pressures underlying information acquisition, processing, and use in bats, we aim to illuminate patterns and processes driving sensory and cognitive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A. Page
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843–03092, Balboa, Ancón, República de Panamá
| | - Hannah M. ter Hofstede
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843–03092, Balboa, Ancón, República de Panamá
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
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Chen C, Jiang Y, Jin L, Liao WB. No Evidence for Effects of Ecological and Behavioral Factors on Eye Size Evolution in Anurans. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.755818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Eye size varies markedly among taxonomic levels, and this variation is often related to the patterns shaped by phylogeny and ecological and behavioral factors. The selective pressures underlying eye size evolution are especially studied in fishes, anurans, birds, and mammals. However, selective pressures underlying the eye size evolution in anurans have inconsistent scaling rules. Here, we investigated the links between eye size and both ecological (e.g., light availability and habitat type) and behavioral factors (e.g., activity time, foraging mobility, defensive strategy, and mating system) among 252 species of anurans by using phylogenetically controlled generalized least-squared (PGLS) regression. Results show that anuran eye size scales hypo-allometrically with body size. However, eye size was not significantly influenced by ecological and behavioral factors, including habitat type, activity time, light availability, foraging mobility, defensive strategy, and mating system. Therefore, neither ecology nor behavior plays a key role in promoting eye size evolution in frogs.
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31
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Carnosaurs as Apex Scavengers: Agent-based simulations reveal possible vulture analogues in late Jurassic Dinosaurs. Ecol Modell 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2021.109706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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32
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Liu C, Gao J, Huang J, Wang W, Heller R, Qiu Q. Giraffa camelopardalis. Trends Genet 2021; 37:860-861. [PMID: 34112506 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Jianbo Gao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Jinghui Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Rasmus Heller
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N 2200, Denmark.
| | - Qiang Qiu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
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Hall RP, Mutumi GL, Hedrick BP, Yohe LR, Sadier A, Davies KTJ, Rossiter SJ, Sears K, Dávalos LM, Dumont ER. Find the food first: An omnivorous sensory morphotype predates biomechanical specialization for plant based diets in phyllostomid bats. Evolution 2021; 75:2791-2801. [PMID: 34021589 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The role of mechanical morphologies in the exploitation of novel niche space is well characterized; however, the role of sensory structures in unlocking new niches is less clear. Here, we investigate the relationship between the evolution of sensory structures and diet during the radiation of noctilionoid bats. With a broad range of foraging ecologies and a well-supported phylogeny, noctilionoids constitute an ideal group for studying this relationship. We used diffusible iodine-based contrast enhanced computed tomography scans of 44 noctilionoid species to analyze relationships between the relative volumes of three sensory structures (olfactory bulbs, orbits, and cochleae) and diet. We found a positive relationship between frugivory and both olfactory and orbit size. However, we also found a negative relationship between nectarivory and cochlea size. Ancestral state estimates suggest that larger orbits and olfactory bulbs were present in the common ancestor of family Phyllostomidae, but not in other noctilionoid. This constellation of traits indicates a shift toward omnivory at the base of Phyllostomidae, predating their radiation into an exceptionally broad range of dietary niches. This is consistent with a scenario in which changes in sensory systems associated with foraging and feeding set the stage for subsequent morphological modification and diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald P Hall
- Life and Environmental Sciences, University of California-Merced, Merced, California
| | - Gregory L Mutumi
- Life and Environmental Sciences, University of California-Merced, Merced, California
| | - Brandon P Hedrick
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Laurel R Yohe
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Alexa Sadier
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kalina T J Davies
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Stephen J Rossiter
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Karen Sears
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Liliana M Dávalos
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.,Consortium for Inter-Disciplinary Environmental Research, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Elizabeth R Dumont
- Life and Environmental Sciences, University of California-Merced, Merced, California
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Hodge JR, Song Y, Wightman MA, Milkey A, Tran B, Štajner A, Roberts AS, Hemingson CR, Wainwright PC, Price SA. Constraints on the Ecomorphological Convergence of Zooplanktivorous Butterflyfishes. Integr Org Biol 2021; 3:obab014. [PMID: 34377941 PMCID: PMC8341894 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether distantly related organisms evolve similar strategies to meet the demands of a shared ecological niche depends on their evolutionary history and the nature of form-function relationships. In fishes, the visual identification and consumption of microscopic zooplankters, selective zooplanktivory, is a distinct type of foraging often associated with a suite of morphological specializations. Previous work has identified inconsistencies in the trajectory and magnitude of morphological change following transitions to selective zooplanktivory, alluding to the diversity and importance of ancestral effects. Here we investigate whether transitions to selective zooplanktivory have influenced the morphological evolution of marine butterflyfishes (family Chaetodontidae), a group of small-prey specialists well known for several types of high-precision benthivory. Using Bayesian ancestral state estimation, we inferred the recent evolution of zooplanktivory among benthivorous ancestors that hunted small invertebrates and browsed by picking or scraping coral polyps. Traits related to the capture of prey appear to be functionally versatile, with little morphological distinction between species with benthivorous and planktivorous foraging modes. In contrast, multiple traits related to prey detection or swimming performance are evolving toward novel, zooplanktivore-specific optima. Despite a relatively short evolutionary history, general morphological indistinctiveness, and evidence of constraint on the evolution of body size, convergent evolution has closed a near significant amount of the morphological distance between zooplanktivorous species. Overall, our findings describe the extent to which the functional demands associated with selective zooplanktivory have led to generalizable morphological features among butterflyfishes and highlight the importance of ancestral effects in shaping patterns of morphological convergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Hodge
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Y Song
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - M A Wightman
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, USA
| | - A Milkey
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - B Tran
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - A Štajner
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - A S Roberts
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - C R Hemingson
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - P C Wainwright
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - S A Price
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
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35
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Duncan AB, Salazar BA, Garcia SR, Brandley NC. A Sexual Dimorphism in the Spatial Vision of North American Band-Winged Grasshoppers. Integr Org Biol 2021; 3:obab008. [PMID: 34396041 PMCID: PMC8358991 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obab008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual acuity (VA)-a measurement of the fineness or coarseness of vision-may vary within a species including between the biological sexes. Although numerous studies have found males with finer VA than females, relatively few have shown the opposite with females having finer vision. This is surprising because our understanding of between species differences in VA suggests that females may have finer vision than males if they 1) are larger than males, or 2) need finer vision to detect and/or discriminate between males. Here, we estimate the interommatidial angle (ΔΦ, an anatomical measurement of VA) in three species of band-winged grasshoppers in which females are both the larger sex and likely interpret visual signals (Arphia pseudonietana, Dissosteira carolina, and Spharagemon equale; total n = 98). Using a radius of curvature estimation method, we find that females have ∼19% finer estimated ΔΦ than males in the most acute region and axis of the eye, but that this dimorphism varies between species. Further visual explorations of the species showing the greatest body size dimorphism (D. carolina) suggest that this ΔΦ dimorphism is driven by females having larger eyes with more ommatidia. In contrast to many diurnal flying insects where males have finer vision to acquire mates, our study is one of the first to demonstrate a female-biased sexual dimorphism in acuity. Given 1) the number of species in which females are larger than males, and 2) the variability of mating behaviors across taxa, our results suggest that differences in VA between the sexes may be more common than currently appreciated. Resumen La agudeza visual (AV)-una medida de la finura o la dificultad visual-puede variar dentro de una especie, incluso entre los sexos biológicos. Aunque numerosos estudios han encontrado machos con una AV más fina que las hembras, relativamente pocos han demostrado lo contrario, hembras con visión más fina. Esto es sorprendente porque nuestra comprensión de diferencias entre especies en AV sugiere que las hembras pueden tener una visión más fina que los machos si 1) son más grandes que los machos, o 2) necesitan una visión más fina para detectar y/o discriminar entre los machos. Aquí, estimamos el ángulo interommatidial (ΔΦ, una medida anatómica de AV) en tres especies de saltamontes de ala de banda en las que las hembras son el sexo más grande y probablemente interpretan señales visuales (Arphia pseudonietana, Dissosteira carolina, y Spharagemon equale; total n = 98). Usando un método de estimación de radio de curvatura, encontramos que las hembras tienen un estimado ΔΦ ∼19% más fino que los machos en la región y eje más agudos del ojo, pero que este dimorfismo varía entre especies. Exploraciones visuales adicionales de la especie que muestra el mayor dimorfismo del tamaño corporal (D. carolina) sugieren que este dimorfismo de ΔΦ debe a que las hembras tienen ojos más grandes con más omatidios. En contraste con muchos insectos voladores diurnos donde los machos tienen una visión más fina para adquirir parejas, nuestro estudio es uno de los primeros en demostrar un dimorfismo sesgado por las hembras en la agudeza. Dado 1) el número de especies en las que las hembras son más grandes que los machos, y 2) la variabilidad de los comportamientos de apareamiento entre taxones, nuestros resultados sugieren que las diferencies de AV entre los sexos pueden ser más comunes de lo que se aprecia actualmente.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Duncan
- Department of Organismal Biology and Ecology, Colorado College, 14 E, W Cache La Poudre Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
| | - B A Salazar
- Department of Organismal Biology and Ecology, Colorado College, 14 E, W Cache La Poudre Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
| | - S R Garcia
- Department of Biology, College of Wooster, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - N C Brandley
- Department of Organismal Biology and Ecology, Colorado College, 14 E, W Cache La Poudre Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA.,Department of Biology, College of Wooster, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
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36
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Liu C, Gao J, Cui X, Li Z, Chen L, Yuan Y, Zhang Y, Mei L, Zhao L, Cai D, Hu M, Zhou B, Li Z, Qin T, Si H, Li G, Lin Z, Xu Y, Zhu C, Yin Y, Zhang C, Xu W, Li Q, Wang K, Gilbert MTP, Heller R, Wang W, Huang J, Qiu Q. A towering genome: Experimentally validated adaptations to high blood pressure and extreme stature in the giraffe. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/12/eabe9459. [PMID: 33731352 PMCID: PMC7968835 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe9459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The suite of adaptations associated with the extreme stature of the giraffe has long interested biologists and physiologists. By generating a high-quality chromosome-level giraffe genome and a comprehensive comparison with other ruminant genomes, we identified a robust catalog of giraffe-specific mutations. These are primarily related to cardiovascular, bone growth, vision, hearing, and circadian functions. Among them, the giraffe FGFRL1 gene is an outlier with seven unique amino acid substitutions not found in any other ruminant. Gene-edited mice with the giraffe-type FGFRL1 show exceptional hypertension resistance and higher bone mineral density, both of which are tightly connected with giraffe adaptations to high stature. Our results facilitate a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism underpinning distinct giraffe traits, and may provide insights into the study of hypertension in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Jianbo Gao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Xinxin Cui
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Zhipeng Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Lei Chen
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Yaolei Zhang
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao 266555, China
| | - Liangwei Mei
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Lan Zhao
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Dan Cai
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao 266555, China
| | - Mingliang Hu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Botong Zhou
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Zihe Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Tao Qin
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Huazhe Si
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Guangyu Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Zeshan Lin
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Yicheng Xu
- Jiaxing SynBioLab. Co. Ltd., Jiaxing 314000, China
| | - Chenglong Zhu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Yuan Yin
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Chenzhou Zhang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Wenjie Xu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Qingjie Li
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Kun Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - M Thomas P Gilbert
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen 1350, Denmark
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University Museum, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Rasmus Heller
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N 2200, Denmark.
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Jinghui Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
| | - Qiang Qiu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
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37
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Feller KD, Sharkey CR, McDuffee-Altekruse A, Bracken-Grissom HD, Lord NP, Porter ML, Schweikert LE. Surf and turf vision: Patterns and predictors of visual acuity in compound eye evolution. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2021; 60:101002. [PMID: 33191145 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2020.101002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Eyes have the flexibility to evolve to meet the ecological demands of their users. Relative to camera-type eyes, the fundamental limits of optical diffraction in arthropod compound eyes restrict the ability to resolve fine detail (visual acuity) to much lower degrees. We tested the capacity of several ecological factors to predict arthropod visual acuity, while simultaneously controlling for shared phylogenetic history. In this study, we have generated the most comprehensive review of compound eye visual acuity measurements to date, containing 385 species that span six of the major arthropod classes. An arthropod phylogeny, made custom to this database, was used to develop a phylogenetically-corrected generalized least squares (PGLS) linear model to evaluate four ecological factors predicted to underlie compound eye visual acuity: environmental light intensity, foraging strategy (predator vs. non-predator), horizontal structure of the visual scene, and environmental medium (air vs. water). To account for optical constraints on acuity related to animal size, body length was also included, but this did not show a significant effect in any of our models. Rather, the PGLS analysis revealed that the strongest predictors of compound eye acuity are described by a combination of environmental medium, foraging strategy, and environmental light intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn D Feller
- Union College, Department of Biological Sciences, 807 Union St., Schenectady, NY, 12308, USA.
| | - Camilla R Sharkey
- University of Minnesota, Ecology Evolution and Behavior Department, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | | | - Heather D Bracken-Grissom
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Nathan P Lord
- Louisiana State University, Entomology Department, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Megan L Porter
- University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Department of Biology, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Lorian E Schweikert
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
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38
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Clark WJ, Colombo M. The functional architecture, receptive field characteristics, and representation of objects in the visual network of the pigeon brain. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 195:101781. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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39
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The Effects of Limited Visual Acuity and Context on the Appearance of Anolis Lizard Dewlaps. J HERPETOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1670/19-108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Abstract
Ecological diversity among diurnal birds of prey, or raptors, is highlighted regarding their sensory abilities. While raptors are believed to forage primarily using sight, the sensory demands of scavengers and predators differ, as reflected in their visual systems. Here, I have reviewed the visual specialisations of predatory and scavenging diurnal raptors, focusing on (1) the anatomy of the eye and (2) the use of vision in foraging. Predators have larger eyes than scavengers relative to their body mass, potentially highlighting the higher importance of vision in these species. Scavengers possess one centrally positioned fovea that allows for the detection of carrion at a distance. In addition to the central fovea, predators have a second, temporally positioned fovea that views the frontal visual field, possibly for prey capture. Spatial resolution does not differ between predators and scavengers. In contrast, the organisation of the visual fields reflects important divergences, with enhanced binocularity in predators opposed to an enlarged field of view in scavengers. Predators also have a larger blind spot above the head. The diversity of visual system specializations according to the foraging ecology displayed by these birds suggests a complex interplay between visual anatomy and ecology, often unrelatedly of phylogeny.
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41
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Caves EM, Troscianko J, Kelley LA. A customizable, low‐cost optomotor apparatus: A powerful tool for behaviourally measuring visual capability. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor M. Caves
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Penryn UK
| | - Jolyon Troscianko
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Penryn UK
| | - Laura A. Kelley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Penryn UK
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42
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Thomas KN, Gower DJ, Bell RC, Fujita MK, Schott RK, Streicher JW. Eye size and investment in frogs and toads correlate with adult habitat, activity pattern and breeding ecology. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201393. [PMID: 32962540 PMCID: PMC7542830 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Frogs and toads (Amphibia: Anura) display diverse ecologies and behaviours, which are often correlated with visual capacity in other vertebrates. Additionally, anurans exhibit a broad range of relative eye sizes, which have not previously been linked to ecological factors in this group. We measured relative investment in eye size and corneal size for 220 species of anurans representing all 55 currently recognized families and tested whether they were correlated with six natural history traits hypothesized to be associated with the evolution of eye size. Anuran eye size was significantly correlated with habitat, with notable decreases in eye investment among fossorial, subfossorial and aquatic species. Relative eye size was also associated with mating habitat and activity pattern. Compared to other vertebrates, anurans have relatively large eyes for their body size, indicating that vision is probably of high importance. Our study reveals the role that ecology and behaviour may have played in the evolution of anuran visual systems and highlights the usefulness of museum specimens, and importance of broad taxonomic sampling, for interpreting macroecological patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate N Thomas
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - David J Gower
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Rayna C Bell
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560-0162, USA.,Department of Herpetology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Matthew K Fujita
- Department of Biology, Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Ryan K Schott
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560-0162, USA
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Bryman GS, Liu A, Do MTH. Optimized Signal Flow through Photoreceptors Supports the High-Acuity Vision of Primates. Neuron 2020; 108:335-348.e7. [PMID: 32846139 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The fovea is a neural specialization that endows humans and other primates with the sharpest vision among mammals. This performance originates in the foveal cones, which are extremely narrow and long to form a high-resolution pixel array. Puzzlingly, this form is predicted to impede electrical conduction to an extent that appears incompatible with vision. We observe the opposite: signal flow through even the longest cones (0.4-mm axons) is essentially lossless. Unlike in most neurons, amplification and impulse generation by voltage-gated channels are dispensable. Rather, sparse channel activity preserves intracellular current, which flows as if unobstructed by organelles. Despite these optimizations, signaling would degrade if cones were lengthier. Because cellular packing requires that cone elongation accompanies foveal expansion, this degradation helps explain why the fovea is a constant, miniscule size despite multiplicative changes in eye size through evolution. These observations reveal how biophysical mechanisms tailor form-function relationships for primate behavioral performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory S Bryman
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center and Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Center for Life Science 12061, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Andreas Liu
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center and Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Center for Life Science 12061, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Michael Tri H Do
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center and Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Center for Life Science 12061, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Vinterstare J, Hulthén K, Nilsson DE, Nilsson PA, Brönmark C. More than meets the eye: Predator-induced pupil size plasticity in a teleost fish. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2258-2267. [PMID: 33460050 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Most animals are visually oriented, and their eyes provide their 'window to the world'. Eye size correlates positively with visual performance, because larger eyes can house larger pupils that increase photon catch and contrast discrimination, particularly under dim light, which have positive effects on behaviours that enhance fitness, including predator avoidance and foraging. Recent studies have linked predation risk to selection for larger eyes and pupils, and such changes should be of importance for the majority of teleost fishes as they have a pupil that is fixed in size (eyes lack a pupillary sphincter muscle) and, hence, do not respond to changes in light conditions. Here, we quantify eye and pupil size of individual crucian carp, a common freshwater fish, following controlled manipulations of perceived predation risk (presence/absence). We also tested if crucian carp responded to increased predation risk by shifts in diel activity patterns. We found that crucian carp show phenotypic plasticity with regards to pupil size, but not eye size, as pupil size increased when exposed to predators (pike). Predator-exposed crucian carp also shifted from diurnal to nocturnal activity. Using a modelling exercise, we moreover show that the plastically enlarged pupils significantly increase visual range, especially for small objects under dim light conditions. Overall, our results provide compelling evidence for predator-induced pupil enlargement resulting in enhanced visual capabilities in a teleost fish. Pupil size plasticity in combination with the observed shift towards nocturnal activity may allow for efficient foraging also under dark conditions when predation risk from diurnal and visually oriented predators is reduced. The data highlight the powerful role of predation risk for eye development and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerker Vinterstare
- Department of Biology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology Building, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kaj Hulthén
- Department of Biology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology Building, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dan E Nilsson
- Department of Biology, Lund Vision Group, Biology Building, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Per Anders Nilsson
- Department of Biology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology Building, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Christer Brönmark
- Department of Biology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Ecology Building, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Intensity of giraffe locomotor activity is shaped by solar and lunar zeitgebers. Behav Processes 2020; 178:104178. [PMID: 32562740 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Natural cycles of light and darkness shift the balance of risks and gains for animals across space and time. Entrainment to photic cycles allows animals to spatiotemporally adapt their behavioural and physiological processes in line with interplaying ecological factors, such as temperature, foraging efficiency and predation risk. Until recently, our understanding of these chronobiological processes was limited by the difficulties of 24 h observations. Technological advances in GPS biotelemetry however are now allowing us unprecedented access to long-term, fine-scale activity data. Here we use data derived from frontline technology to present the first large-scale investigation into the effects of natural fluctuations of light and darkness on the locomotor activity patterns of a threatened African mega-herbivore, the giraffe (Giraffa spp.). Using data from a remote population of Angolan giraffe (G. g. angolensis) in the northern Namib Desert, Namibia, we reveal the first full picture of giraffe chronobiology in a landscape of fear. Furthermore, we present clear evidence of the effect of moonlight on the nocturnal activity patterns of large ungulates. Our results are in line with recent research demonstrating that, rather than a fixed internal representation of time (circadian clock), many surface-dwelling ungulates have plastic activity patterns that are vulnerable to modification by external factors including light and temperature. Relatedly, we highlight important conservation management implications of rising temperatures and increasing light pollution on the chronobiology of surface-dwelling mammals.
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Fear of the dark? A mesopredator mitigates large carnivore risk through nocturnality, but humans moderate the interaction. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02831-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
While constrained by endogenous rhythms, morphology and ecology, animals may still exhibit flexible activity patterns in response to risk. Temporal avoidance of interspecific aggression can enable access to resources without spatial exclusion. Apex predators, including humans, can affect mesopredator activity patterns. Human context might also modify temporal interactions between predators. We explored activity patterns, nocturnality and the effects of human activity upon a guild of carnivores (grey wolf, Canis lupus; Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx; red fox, Vulpes vulpes) using travel routes in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. Humans were diurnal, foxes nocturnal and large carnivores active during the night, immediately after sunrise and before sunset. Carnivore activity patterns overlapped greatly and to a similar extent for all pairings. Activity curves followed expectations based on interspecific killing, with activity peaks coinciding where body size differences were small (wolf and lynx) but not when they were intermediate (foxes to large carnivores). Carnivore activity, particularly fox, overlapped much less with that of diurnal humans. Foxes responded to higher large carnivore activity by being more nocturnal. Low light levels likely provide safer conditions by reducing the visual detectability of mesopredators. The nocturnal effect of large carnivores was however moderated and reduced by human activity. This could perhaps be due to temporal shielding or interference with risk cues. Subtle temporal avoidance and nocturnality may enable mesopredators to cope with interspecific aggression at shared spatial resources. Higher human activity moderated the effects of top-down temporal suppression which could consequently affect the trophic interactions of mesopredators.
Significance statement
Temporal partitioning can provide an important mechanism for spatial resource access and species coexistence. Our findings show that carnivores partition the use of shared travel routes in time, using the cover of darkness to travel safely where their suppressors (large carnivores) are more active. We however observed fox nocturnality to be flexible, with responses depending on the activity levels but also the composition of apex predators. High human activity modified the top-down temporal suppression of mesopredators by large carnivores. The use of time by predators can have demographic and trophic consequences. Prey accessibility and susceptibility can be temporally variable. As such, the ecosystem services and the ecological roles of predators may be affected by human time use as well as that of intraguild competitors. Temporal interactions should not be overlooked when evaluating human use and conservation priorities in protected areas.
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Park SY, Bacelar CE, Holmqvist K. Dog eye movements are slower than human eye movements. J Eye Mov Res 2020; 12:10.16910/jemr.12.8.4. [PMID: 33828775 PMCID: PMC7881887 DOI: 10.16910/jemr.12.8.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Eye movement of a species reflects the visual behavior strategy that it has adapted to during its evolution. What are eye movements of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) like? Investigations of dog eye movements per se have not been done, despite the increasing number of visuo-cognitive studies in dogs using eye-tracking systems. To fill this gap, we have recorded dog eye movements using a video-based eye-tracking system, and compared the dog data to that of humans. We found dog saccades follow the systematic relationships between saccade metrics previously shown in humans and other animal species. Yet, the details of the relationships, and the quantities of each metric of dog saccades and fixations differed from those of humans. Overall, dog saccades were slower and fixations were longer than those of humans. We hope our findings contribute to existing comparative analyses of eye movement across animal species, and also to improvement of algorithms used for classifying eye movement data of dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soon Young Park
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Catarina Espanca Bacelar
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Austria
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Weyna A, Dubielzig RR, Hennelly L. The relative importance of phylogeny and habitat in determining the presence and prominence of a granula iridica in hooved mammals. Vet Ophthalmol 2020; 23:472-479. [PMID: 32012413 DOI: 10.1111/vop.12742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between phylogeny and amount of shade in a species' habitat regarding the presence or absence of an iridal granula iridica (GI) in a large sample of Artiodactyl and Perissodactyl clades and using online resources. METHODS The Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW) archives were searched for glass slide material from Artiodactyl (even-toed) and Perissodactyl (odd-toed) ungulates. The slides were examined, and the presence or absence of the GI was noted. The phylogenetic tree of the ungulate species was inferred using TimeTree (http://www.timetree.org), and the habitat data are derived from Animal Diversity Web (https://animaldiversity.org/). We assessed the probability of the presence of GI occurring given the amount of shade in a species' environment using phylogenetic logistic regression. RESULTS Forty-eight artiodactyl species were able to be evaluated and tabulated. Nine perissodactyl species were able to be evaluated. The phylogenetic logistic regression showed that the probability of GI presence was lower in artiodactyl species that inhabited shaded environments (βshaded = -1.774). Arctiodacyl species inhabiting a nonshaded environment were slightly more probable to have the GI present (βnonshaded = 0.023), with species inhabitating ambiguously shaded environments having a high probability of GI presence (βambiguous = 2.214). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the GI may be a common morphological feature to shade the pupil in nonshaded environments, and, in its absence, increase the amount of light reaching the retina to improve vision in shaded environments for hooved mammals. Further research on the functional optics of the GI and studies that include additional ungulate species would further elucidate phylogenetic and ecological factors influencing the occurrence of GI in hooved mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisia Weyna
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Richard R Dubielzig
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Lauren Hennelly
- Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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Age-related macular degeneration: A two-level model hypothesis. Prog Retin Eye Res 2019; 76:100825. [PMID: 31899290 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.100825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Age-related diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are of growing importance in a world where population ageing has become a dominant global trend. Although a wide variety of risk factors for AMD have been identified, age itself remains by far the most important risk factor, making it an urgent priority to understand the connections between underlying ageing mechanisms and pathophysiology of AMD. Ageing is both multicausal and variable, so that differences between individuals in biological ageing processes are the focus of a growing number of pathophysiological studies seeking to explain how ageing contributes to chronic, age-related conditions. The aim of this review is to integrate the available knowledge on the pathophysiology of AMD within the framework of the biology of ageing. One highly significant feature of biological ageing is systemic inflammation, which arises as a second-level response to a first level of molecular damage involving oxidative stress, mutations etc. Combining these insights, the various co-existing pathophysiological explanations in AMD arrange themselves according to a two-level hypothesis. Accordingly, we describe how AMD can be considered the consequence of age-related random accumulation of molecular damage at the ocular level and the subsequent systemic inflammatory host response thereof. We summarize evidence and provide original data to enlighten where evidence is lacking. Finally, we discuss how this two-level hypothesis provides a foundation for thoughts and future studies in prevention, prognosis, and intervention.
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50
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Coimbra JP, Alagaili AN, Bennett NC, Mohammed OB, Manger PR. Unusual topographic specializations of retinal ganglion cell density and spatial resolution in a cliff-dwelling artiodactyl, the Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana). J Comp Neurol 2019; 527:2813-2825. [PMID: 31045240 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24709] [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: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) occurs in information-rich visual habitats including the edges of cliffs and escarpments. In addition to needing enhanced spatial resolution to find food and detect predators, enhanced visual sampling of the lower visual field would be advantageous for the control of locomotion in such precarious terrains. Using retinal wholemounts and stereology, we sought to measure how the ganglion cell density varies across the retina of the Nubian ibex to reveal which portions of its surroundings are sampled with high resolution. We estimated a total of ~1 million ganglion cells in the Nubian ibex retinal ganglion cell layer. Topographic variations of ganglion cell density reveal a temporal area, a horizontal streak, and a dorsotemporal extension, which are topographic retinal features also found in other artiodactyls. In contrast to savannah-dwelling artiodactyls, the horizontal streak of the Nubian ibex appears loosely organized possibly reflecting a reduced predation risk in mountainous habitats. Estimates of spatial resolving power (~17 cycles/degree) for the temporal area would be reasonable to facilitate foraging in the frontal visual field. Embedded in the dorsotemporal extension, we also found an unusual dorsotemporal area not yet reported in any other mammal. Given its location and spatial resolving power (~6 cycles/degree), this specialization enhances visual sampling toward the lower visual field, which would be advantageous for visually guided locomotion. This study expands our understanding of the retinal organization in artiodactyls and offers insights on the importance of vision for the Nubian ibex ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Paulo Coimbra
- School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Abdulaziz N Alagaili
- KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nigel C Bennett
- KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Osama B Mohammed
- KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Paul R Manger
- School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa
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