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Montoya‐Sanhueza G, Bennett NC, Šumbera R. Functional and morphological divergence in the forelimb musculoskeletal system of scratch-digging subterranean mammals (Rodentia: Bathyergidae). J Anat 2024; 245:420-450. [PMID: 38760952 PMCID: PMC11306765 DOI: 10.1111/joa.14058] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Whether the forelimb-digging apparatus of tooth-digging subterranean mammals has similar levels of specialization as compared to scratch-diggers is still unknown. We assessed the scapular morphology and forelimb musculature of all four solitary African mole rats (Bathyergidae): two scratch-diggers, Bathyergus suillus and Bathyergus janetta, and two chisel-tooth diggers, Heliophobius argenteocinereus and Georychus capensis. Remarkable differences were detected: Bathyergus have more robust neck, shoulder, and forearm muscles as compared to the other genera. Some muscles in Bathyergus were also fused and often showing wider attachment areas to bones, which correlate well with its more robust and larger scapula, and its wider and medially oriented olecranon. This suggests that shoulder, elbow, and wrist work in synergy in Bathyergus for generating greater out-forces and that the scapula and proximal ulna play fundamental roles as pivots to maximize and accommodate specialized muscles for better (i) glenohumeral and scapular stabilization, (ii) powerful shoulder flexion, (iii) extension of the elbow and (iv) flexion of the manus and digits. Moreover, although all bathyergids showed a similar set of muscles, Heliophobius lacked the m. tensor fasciae antebrachii (aiding with elbow extension and humeral retraction), and Heliophobius and Georychus lacked the m. articularis humeri (aiding with humeral adduction), indicating deeper morphogenetic differences among digging groups and suggesting a relatively less specialized scratch-digging ability. Nevertheless, Heliophobius and Bathyergus shared some similar adaptations allowing scratch-digging. Our results provide new information about the morphological divergence within this family associated with the specialization to distinct functions and digging behaviors, thus contributing to understand the mosaic of adaptations emerging in phylogenetically and ecologically closer subterranean taxa. This and previous anatomical studies on the Bathyergidae will provide researchers with a substantial basis on the form and function of the musculoskeletal system for future kinematic investigations of digging behavior, as well as to define potential indicators of scratch-digging ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Montoya‐Sanhueza
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
| | - Nigel C. Bennett
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and EntomologyUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
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2
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Pandelis GG, Grundler MC, Rabosky DL. Ecological correlates of cranial evolution in the megaradiation of dipsadine snakes. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:48. [PMID: 37679675 PMCID: PMC10485986 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02157-3] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dipsadine snakes represent one of the most spectacular vertebrate radiations that have occurred in any continental setting, with over 800 species in South and Central America. Their species richness is paralleled by stunning ecological diversity, ranging from arboreal snail-eating and aquatic eel-eating specialists to terrestrial generalists. Despite the ecological importance of this clade, little is known about the extent to which ecological specialization shapes broader patterns of phenotypic diversity within the group. Here, we test how habitat use and diet have influenced morphological diversification in skull shape across 160 dipsadine species using micro-CT and 3-D geometric morphometrics, and we use a phylogenetic comparative approach to test the contributions of habitat use and diet composition to variation in skull shape among species. RESULTS We demonstrate that while both habitat use and diet are significant predictors of shape in many regions of the skull, habitat use significantly predicts shape in a greater number of skull regions when compared to diet. We also find that across ecological groupings, fossorial and aquatic behaviors result in the strongest deviations in morphospace for several skull regions. We use simulations to address the robustness of our results and describe statistical anomalies that can arise from the application of phylogenetic generalized least squares to complex shape data. CONCLUSIONS Both habitat and dietary ecology are significantly correlated with skull shape in dipsadines; the strongest relationships involved skull shape in snakes with aquatic and fossorial lifestyles. This association between skull morphology and multiple ecological axes is consistent with a classic model of adaptive radiation and suggests that ecological factors were an important component in driving morphological diversification in the dipsadine megaradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory G Pandelis
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA.
- Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA.
- Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center, Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, 76019, USA.
| | - Michael C Grundler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Daniel L Rabosky
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
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3
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Alhajeri BH, Hasan Z, Alhaddad H. Cranial differences in three-toed jerboas (Dipodinae, Dipodidae, Rodentia) according to recent taxonomic revisions. Curr Zool 2023; 69:475-490. [PMID: 37614925 PMCID: PMC10443611 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent phylogenetic studies amended the taxonomy of three-toed jerboas (subfamily Dipodinae), including raising subspecies to full species. Here, we use geometric morphometrics to compare scaled-shape differences in dipodine crania while considering their revised taxonomy. We sampled Dipus deasyi, D. sagitta halli, D. s. sowerbyi, Jaculus blanfordi blanfordi, J. hirtipes, J. jaculus, J. loftusi, J. orientalis gerboa, J. o. mauritanicus, and Stylodipus andrewsi. Crania were not sexually dimorphic. Common allometry explained some of the shape variation, for example, reduced braincases in larger specimens. Most operational taxonomic unit pairs differed in both size and shape. Dipus and Stylodipus clustered together based on their cranial shape. Jaculus differed from the aforementioned genera by its larger tympanic bulla, broader braincase, larger infraorbital foramen, along with reduced molars and rostra. Jaculus orientalis differed from other Jaculus by its broader face versus reduced cranial vault. Jaculus blanfordi (subgenus Haltomys) resembles members of the subgenus Jaculus more than its consubgener (J. orientalis). Jaculus loftusi, previously considered a synonym of J. jaculus, clearly differed from the latter by its shorter rostrum, smaller infraorbital foramen, and more caudolaterally expanded tympanic bulla. Jaculus hirtipes, another recent synonym of J. jaculus, resembled J. blanfordi more in scaled cranial shape than it did J. jaculus. Dipus sagitta halli and D. s. sowerbyi were indistinguishable, but they clearly differed from D. deasyi (recently raised to full species) with the latter having a larger molar row, more inflated tympanic bulla, and shorter, slenderer rostrum. Ecological explanations for detected cranial shape differences are considered, including diet and habitat (particularly substrate).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bader H Alhajeri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kuwait University, Safat, 13060, Kuwait
| | - Zahraa Hasan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kuwait University, Safat, 13060, Kuwait
| | - Hasan Alhaddad
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kuwait University, Safat, 13060, Kuwait
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4
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Noftz LA, Calede JJM. Multivariate analyses of skull morphology inform the taxonomy and evolution of geomyoid rodents. Curr Zool 2023; 69:456-474. [PMID: 37614926 PMCID: PMC10443661 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Morphological analyses are critical to quantify phenotypic variation, identify taxa, inform phylogenetic relationships, and shed light on evolutionary patterns. This work is particularly important in groups that display great morphological disparity. Such is the case in geomyoid rodents, a group that includes 2 of the most species-rich families of rodents in North America: the Geomyidae (pocket gophers) and the Heteromyidae (kangaroo rats, pocket mice, and their relatives). We assessed variation in skull morphology (including both shape and size) among geomyoids to test the hypothesis that there are statistically significant differences in skull measurements at the family, genus, and species levels. Our sample includes 886 specimens representing all geomyoid genera and 39 species. We used the geometric mean to compare size across taxa. We used 14 measurements of the cranium and lower jaw normalized for size to compare shape among and within taxa. Our results show that skull measurements enable the distinction of geomyoids at the family, genus, and species levels. There is a larger amount of size variation within Geomyidae than within Heteromyidae. Our phylomorphospace analysis shows that the skull shape of the common ancestor of all geomyoids was more similar to the common ancestor of heteromyids than that of geomyids. Geomyid skulls display negative allometry whereas heteromyid skulls display positive allometry. Within heteromyids, dipodomyines, and non-dipodomyines show significantly different allometric patterns. Future analyses including fossils will be necessary to test our evolutionary hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily A Noftz
- Biology Program, The Ohio State University at Marion, 1459 Mount Vernon Avenue, Marion, OH 43302, USA
| | - Jonathan J M Calede
- Biology Program, The Ohio State University at Marion, 1459 Mount Vernon Avenue, Marion, OH 43302, USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 318 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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5
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Kang Y, Wang Z, Yao B, An K, Pu Q, Zhang C, Zhang Z, Hou Q, Zhang D, Su J. Environmental and climatic drivers of phenotypic evolution and distribution changes in a widely distributed subfamily of subterranean mammals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163177. [PMID: 37003344 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
How environmental factors shape species morphology and distributions is a key issue in ecology, especially in similar environments. Species of Myospalacinae exhibit widespread distribution spanning the eastern Eurasian steppe and the extreme adaptation to the subterranean environment, providing an excellent opportunity for investigating species responses to environmental changes. At the national scale, we here use geometric morphometric and distributional data to assess the environmental and climatic drivers of morphological evolution and distribution of Myospalacinae species in China. Based on phylogenetic relationships of Myospalacinae species constructed using genomic data in China, we integrate geometric morphometrics and ecological niche models to reveal the interspecific variation of skull morphology, trace the ancestral state, and assess factors influencing interspecific variation. Our approach further allows us to project future distributions of Myospalacinae species throughout China. We found that the interspecific morphology variations were mainly concentrated in the temporal ridge, premaxillary-frontal suture, premaxillary-maxillary suture, and molars, and the skull morphology of the two current species in Myospalacinae followed the ancestral state; temperature and precipitation were important environmental variables influencing skull morphology. Elevation, temperature annual range, and precipitation of warmest quarter were identified as dominant factors affecting the distribution of Myospalacinae species in China, and their suitable habitat area will decrease in the future. Collectively, environmental and climate changes have an effect on skull phenotypes of subterranean mammals, highlighting the contribution of phenotypic differentiation in similar environments in the formation of species phenotypes. Climate change will further shrink their habitats under future climate assumptions in the short-term. Our findings provide new insights into effects of environmental and climate change on the morphological evolution and distribution of species as well as a reference for biodiversity conservation and species management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Kang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Zhicheng Wang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Baohui Yao
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Kang An
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Qiangsheng Pu
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Caijun Zhang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Qiqi Hou
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Degang Zhang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Qilianshan Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Wuwei 733200, China
| | - Junhu Su
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Qilianshan Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Wuwei 733200, China.
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6
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Segura V, Flores D, Deferrari G. Comparison of skull growth in two ecosystem modifiers: Beavers Castor canadensis (Rodentia: Castoridae) and muskrats Ondatra zibethicus (Rodentia: Cricetidae). ZOOL ANZ 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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7
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Gomes Rodrigues H, Damette M. Incipient morphological specializations associated with fossorial life in the skull of ground squirrels (Sciuridae, Rodentia). J Morphol 2023; 284:e21540. [PMID: 36533735 PMCID: PMC10107104 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21540] [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: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Anatomical and biological specializations have been studied extensively in fossorial rodents, especially in subterranean species, such as mole-rats or pocket-gophers. Sciurids (i.e., squirrels) are mostly known for their diverse locomotory behaviors, and encompass many arboreal species. They also include less specialized fossorial species, such as ground squirrels that are mainly scratch diggers. The skull of ground squirrels remains poorly investigated in a fossorial context, while it may reflect incipient morphological specializations associated with fossorial life, especially due to the putative use of incisors for digging in some taxa. Here, we present the results of a comparative analysis of the skull of five fossorial sciurid species, and compare those to four arboreal sciurids, one arboreal/fossorial sciurid and one specialized fossorial aplodontiid. The quantification of both cranial and mandibular shapes, using three dimensional geometric morphometrics, reveals that fossorial species clearly depart from arboreal species. Fossorial species from the Marmotini tribe, and also Xerini to a lesser extent, show widened zygomatic arches and occipital plate on the cranium, and a wide mandible with reduced condyles. These shared characteristics, which are present in the aplodontiid species, likely represent fossorial specializations rather than relaxed selection on traits related to the ancestral arboreal condition of sciurids. Such cranial and mandibular configurations combined with proodont incisors might also be related to the frequent use of incisors for digging (added to forelimbs), especially in Marmotini evolving in soft to hard soil conditions. This study provides some clues to understand the evolutionary mechanisms shaping the skull of fossorial rodents, in relation to the time spent underground and to the nature of the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helder Gomes Rodrigues
- Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie-Paris (CR2P), UMR CNRS 7207, CP38, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Mathilde Damette
- Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie-Paris (CR2P), UMR CNRS 7207, CP38, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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8
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Graboski R, Arredondo JC, Grazziotin FG, Guerra-Fuentes RA, Da Silva AAA, Prudente ALC, Pinto RR, Rodrigues MT, Bonatto SL, Zaher H. Revealing the cryptic diversity of the widespread and poorly known South American blind snake genus Amerotyphlops (Typhlopidae: Scolecophidia) through integrative taxonomy. Zool J Linn Soc 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac059] [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]
Abstract
Abstract
Morphological stasis is generally associated with relative constancy in ecological pressures throughout time, producing strong stabilizing selection that retains similar shared morphology. Although climate and vegetation are commonly the main key factors driving diversity and phenotypic diversification in terrestrial vertebrates, fossorial organisms have their morphology mostly defined by their fossorial lifestyle. Among these secretive fossorial organisms, blind snakes of the South American genus Amerotyphlops are considered poorly studied when compared to other taxa. Here, we evaluate the cryptic diversity of Amerotyphlops using phylogenetic and multivariate approaches. We based our phylogenetic analysis on a molecular dataset composed of 12 gene fragments (eight nuclear and four mitochondrial) for 109 species of Typhlopidae. The multivariate analysis was implemented using 36 morphological variables for 377 specimens of Amerotyphlops. Additionally, we contrast our phylogenetic result with the morphological variation found in cranial, external and hemipenial traits. Our phylogenetic results recovered with strong support the following monophyletic groups within Amerotyphlops: (1) a clade formed by A. tasymicris and A. minuisquamus; (2) a clade composed of A. reticulatus; (3) a north-eastern Brazilian clade including A. yonenagae, A. arenensis, A. paucisquamus and A. amoipira; and (4) a clade composed of A. brongersmianus and a complex of cryptic species. Based on these results we describe four new species of Amerotyphlops from north-eastern and south-eastern Brazil, which can be distinguished from the morphologically similar species, A. brongersmianus and A. arenensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Graboski
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Nazaré, Caixa Postal 42494, CEP 04218-070, São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho , Avenida 24 A, Bela Vista, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo , Brazil
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Coordenação de Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi , Avenida Perimetral, Terra Firme, Caixa Postal 399, CEP 66077-530, Belém, Pará , Brazil
| | - Juan C Arredondo
- Colecciones Biológicas de la Universidad CES (CBUCES), Facultad de Ciencias y Biotecnología, Universidad CES , Calle 10A, Medellín , Colombia
| | - Felipe G Grazziotin
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan , Avenida Vital Brasil, Butantã, São Paulo - SP, 05503-900 , Brazil
| | - Ricardo Arturo Guerra-Fuentes
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Coordenação de Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi , Avenida Perimetral, Terra Firme, Caixa Postal 399, CEP 66077-530, Belém, Pará , Brazil
- Faculdade de Ciências Naturais, Campus Universitário do Tocantins-Cametá, Universidade Federal do Pará, Travessa Padre Antônio Franco , 2617, Bairro da Matinha, CEP 68400-000 Cametá, Pará , Brazil
| | - Ariane A A Da Silva
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Programa de Coleções e Acervos Científicos , Avenida André de Araújo, CEP 69060-000, Manaus, Amazonas , Brazil
| | - Ana L C Prudente
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Coordenação de Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi , Avenida Perimetral, Terra Firme, Caixa Postal 399, CEP 66077-530, Belém, Pará , Brazil
| | - Roberta R Pinto
- Laboratório de Diversidade de Anfíbios e Répteis, Museu de Arqueologia e Ciências Naturais da Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco , Recife , Brazil
| | - Miguel T Rodrigues
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia , Caixa Postal 11.461, CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, SP , Brazil
| | - Sandro L Bonatto
- Laboratório de Biologia Genômica e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul , Avenida Ipiranga, CEP 90619-900, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil
| | - Hussam Zaher
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Nazaré, Caixa Postal 42494, CEP 04218-070, São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
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Scarpitti EA, Calede JJM. Ecological correlates of the morphology of the auditory bulla in rodents: Application to the fossil record. J Anat 2022; 240:647-668. [PMID: 34747041 PMCID: PMC8930836 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
For rodents, hearing is essential to survival. It enables predator evasion, prey detection, and conspecific recognition; it is also likely to be constrained by the physical environment. The resulting hypothetical link between tympanic bulla morphology and ecology has never been investigated across a broad array of rodent species before. Such link may enable the determination of the ecological affinities of many fossil species only known from partial skulls. In this study, we used geometric morphometrics to quantify the shape of the auditory bulla of 197 specimens representing 91 species from 17 families of extant rodents across four different locomotory modes. We used landmarks and semi-landmarks on the ventral and lateral views of the skull to capture morphological characteristics of the bulla and external auditory meatus (EAM). Our results demonstrate an association between bullar morphology and locomotion in rodents. Bullar shape enables the correct classification of 76% of the species in our training set. Fossorial taxa, in particular, show a characteristic morphology including an asymmetric bulla with a dorsally located and laterally expanded EAM that has a small opening diameter. A phylogenetically informed flexible discriminant analysis shows a weak phylogenetic effect on tympanic morphology. There is no evidence for differences in bullar hypertrophy across locomotory categories. The application of this approach to select fossil rodents from the Oligo-Miocene shows broad agreements with prior studies and yields new locomotory inferences for 14 fossil species, including the first proposed locomotion for members of the family Florentiamyidae. Such results call for the timing of burrowing diversification in rodents to be reevaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan J. M. Calede
- School of Earth SciencesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal BiologyThe Ohio State UniversityMarionOhioUSA
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10
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Schlis‐Elias MC, Malaney JL. Island biogeography predicts skull gigantism and shape variation in meadow voles
Microtus pennsylvanicus
through ecological release and allometry. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mariah C. Schlis‐Elias
- Snyder Museum of Zoology and Dept of Biology, Austin Peay State Univ. Clarksville TN USA
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Dept of BioScience Albuquerque NM USA
| | - Jason L. Malaney
- Snyder Museum of Zoology and Dept of Biology, Austin Peay State Univ. Clarksville TN USA
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Dept of BioScience Albuquerque NM USA
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11
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Cardini A, de Jong YA, Butynski TM. Can morphotaxa be assessed with photographs? Estimating the accuracy of two-dimensional cranial geometric morphometrics for the study of threatened populations of African monkeys. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 305:1402-1434. [PMID: 34596361 PMCID: PMC9298422 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The classification of most mammalian orders and families is under debate and the number of species is likely greater than currently recognized. Improving taxonomic knowledge is crucial, as biodiversity is in rapid decline. Morphology is a source of taxonomic knowledge, and geometric morphometrics applied to two dimensional (2D) photographs of anatomical structures is commonly employed for quantifying differences within and among lineages. Photographs are informative, easy to obtain, and low cost. 2D analyses, however, introduce a large source of measurement error when applied to crania and other highly three dimensional (3D) structures. To explore the potential of 2D analyses for assessing taxonomic diversity, we use patas monkeys (Erythrocebus), a genus of large, semi-terrestrial, African guenons, as a case study. By applying a range of tests to compare ventral views of adult crania measured both in 2D and 3D, we show that, despite inaccuracies accounting for up to one-fourth of individual shape differences, results in 2D almost perfectly mirror those in 3D. This apparent paradox might be explained by the small strength of covariation in the component of shape variance related to measurement error. A rigorous standardization of photographic settings and the choice of almost coplanar landmarks are likely to further improve the correspondence of 2D to 3D shapes. 2D geometric morphometrics is, thus, appropriate for taxonomic comparisons of patas ventral crania. Although it is too early to generalize, our results corroborate similar findings from previous research in mammals, and suggest that 2D shape analyses are an effective heuristic tool for morphological investigation of small differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cardini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Yvonne A de Jong
- Eastern Africa Primate Diversity and Conservation Program and Lolldaiga Hills Research Programme, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Thomas M Butynski
- Eastern Africa Primate Diversity and Conservation Program and Lolldaiga Hills Research Programme, Nanyuki, Kenya
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12
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Alhajeri BH. A morphometric comparison of the cranial shapes of Asian dwarf hamsters (Phodopus, Cricetinae, Rodentia). ZOOL ANZ 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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13
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Kang Y, Su J, Yao B, Wang C, Zhang D, Ji W. Interspecific skull variation at a small scale: The genus
Eospalax
exhibits functional morphological variations related to the exploitation of ecological niche. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Kang
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education) College of Grassland Science Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
- Gansu Agricultural University‐Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
| | - Junhu Su
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education) College of Grassland Science Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
- Gansu Agricultural University‐Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
| | - Baohui Yao
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education) College of Grassland Science Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
- Gansu Agricultural University‐Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
| | - Chan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education) College of Grassland Science Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
- Gansu Agricultural University‐Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
| | - Degang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education) College of Grassland Science Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
- Gansu Agricultural University‐Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
| | - Weihong Ji
- Gansu Agricultural University‐Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity Gansu Agricultural University Lanzhou China
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences Massey University Auckland New Zealand
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14
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Interactions of Soil and Vegetation Determine Habitat for Southeastern Pocket Gopher (Geomys pinetis). AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2020. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-184.2.205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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15
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Marcy AE, Guillerme T, Sherratt E, Rowe KC, Phillips MJ, Weisbecker V. Australian Rodents Reveal Conserved Cranial Evolutionary Allometry across 10 Million Years of Murid Evolution. Am Nat 2020; 196:755-768. [PMID: 33211559 DOI: 10.1086/711398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAmong vertebrates, placental mammals are particularly variable in the covariance between cranial shape and body size (allometry), with rodents being a major exception. Australian murid rodents allow an assessment of the cause of this anomaly because they radiated on an ecologically diverse continent notably lacking other terrestrial placentals. Here, we use 3D geometric morphometrics to quantify species-level and evolutionary allometries in 38 species (317 crania) from all Australian murid genera. We ask whether ecological opportunity resulted in greater allometric diversity compared with other rodents or whether conserved allometry suggests intrinsic constraints and/or stabilizing selection. We also assess whether cranial shape variation follows the proposed rule of craniofacial evolutionary allometry (CREA), whereby larger species have relatively longer snouts and smaller braincases. To ensure we could differentiate parallel versus nonparallel species-level allometric slopes, we compared the slopes of rarefied samples across all clades. We found exceedingly conserved allometry and CREA-like patterns across the 10-million-year split between Mus and Australian murids. This could support both intrinsic-constraint and stabilizing-selection hypotheses for conserved allometry. Large-bodied frugivores evolved faster than other species along the allometric trajectory, which could suggest stabilizing selection on the shape of the masticatory apparatus as body size changes.
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16
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Feijó A, Ge D, Wen Z, Xia L, Yang Q. Divergent adaptations in resource‐use traits explain how pikas thrive on the roof of the world. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Feijó
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Deyan Ge
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Zhixin Wen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Lin Xia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Qisen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
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17
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Guillerme T, Puttick MN, Marcy AE, Weisbecker V. Shifting spaces: Which disparity or dissimilarity measurement best summarize occupancy in multidimensional spaces? Ecol Evol 2020; 10:7261-7275. [PMID: 32760527 PMCID: PMC7391566 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidimensional analysis of traits are now common in ecology and evolution and are based on trait spaces in which each dimension summarizes the observed trait combination (a morphospace or an ecospace). Observations of interest will typically occupy a subset of this space, and researchers will calculate one or more measures to quantify how organisms inhabit that space. In macroevolution and ecology, these measures called disparity or dissimilarity metrics are generalized as space occupancy measures. Researchers use these measures to investigate how space occupancy changes through time, in relation to other groups of organisms, or in response to global environmental changes. However, the mathematical and biological meaning of most space occupancy measures is vague with the majority of widely used measures lacking formal description. Here, we propose a broad classification of space occupancy measures into three categories that capture changes in size, density, or position. We study the behavior of 25 measures to changes in trait space size, density, and position on simulated and empirical datasets. We find that no measure describes all of trait space aspects but that some are better at capturing certain aspects. Our results confirm the three broad categories (size, density, and position) and allow us to relate changes in any of these categories to biological phenomena. Because the choice of space occupancy measures is specific to the data and question, we introduced https://tguillerme.shinyapps.io/moms/moms, a tool to both visualize and capture changes in space occupancy for any measurement. https://tguillerme.shinyapps.io/moms/moms is designed to help workers choose the right space occupancy measures, given the properties of their trait space and their biological question. By providing guidelines and common vocabulary for space occupancy analysis, we hope to help bridging the gap in multidimensional research between ecology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Guillerme
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLDAustralia
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesThe University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | | | - Ariel E. Marcy
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLDAustralia
| | - Vera Weisbecker
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandSt. LuciaQLDAustralia
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityAdelaideSAAustralia
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18
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Maina JN, Igbokwe CO. Comparative morphometric analysis of lungs of the semifossorial giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) and the subterranean Nigerian mole rat (Cryptomys foxi). Sci Rep 2020; 10:5244. [PMID: 32251351 PMCID: PMC7090082 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61873-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lungs of the rodent species, the African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) and the Nigerian mole rat (Cryptomys foxi) were investigated. Significant morphometric differences exist between the two species. The volume of the lung per unit body mass was 2.7 times larger; the respiratory surface area 3.4 times greater; the volume of the pulmonary capillary blood 2 times more; the harmonic mean thickness of the blood-gas (tissue) barrier (τht) ~29% thinner and; the total pulmonary morphometric diffusing capacity (DLo2) for O2 2.3 times more in C. foxi. C. gambianus occupies open burrows that are ventilated with air while C. foxi lives in closed burrows. The less morphometrically specialized lungs of C. gambianus may be attributed to its much larger body mass (~6 times more) and possibly lower metabolic rate and its semifossorial life whereas the 'superior' lungs of C. foxi may largely be ascribed to the subterranean hypoxic and hypercapnic environment it occupies. Compared to other rodents species that have been investigated hitherto, the τht was mostly smaller in the lungs of the subterranean species and C. foxi has the highest mass-specific DLo2. The fossorial- and the subterranean rodents have acquired various pulmonary structural specializations that relate to habitats occupied.
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Affiliation(s)
- John N Maina
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Campus, Kingsway, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa.
| | - Casmir O Igbokwe
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Campus, Kingsway, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa
- Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
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19
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Sansalone G, Colangelo P, Loy A, Raia P, Wroe S, Piras P. Impact of transition to a subterranean lifestyle on morphological disparity and integration in talpid moles (Mammalia, Talpidae). BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:179. [PMID: 31510915 PMCID: PMC6739959 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1506-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the mechanisms promoting or constraining morphological diversification within clades is a central topic in evolutionary biology. Ecological transitions are of particular interest because of their influence upon the selective forces and factors involved in phenotypic evolution. Here we focused on the humerus and mandibles of talpid moles to test whether the transition to the subterranean lifestyle impacted morphological disparity and phenotypic traits covariation between these two structures. RESULTS Our results indicate non-subterranean species occupy a significantly larger portion of the talpid moles morphospace. However, there is no difference between subterranean and non-subterranean moles in terms of the strength and direction of phenotypic integration. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that the transition to a subterranean lifestyle significantly reduced morphological variability in talpid moles. However, this reduced disparity was not accompanied by changes in the pattern of traits covariation between the humerus and the mandible, suggesting the presence of strong phylogenetic conservatism within this pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Sansalone
- Form, Evolution and Anatomy Research Laboratory, Zoology, School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351 Australia
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, Largo San Leonardo Murialdo 1, I-00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Colangelo
- National Research Council, Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems, Via Salaria km 29.300, 00015 Monterotondo (Rome), Italy
| | - Anna Loy
- Environmetrics Lab, Dipartimento STAT, Università del Molise, I-86090 Pesche, Italy
| | - Pasquale Raia
- Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Resources, L.go San Marcellino 10, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Stephen Wroe
- Form, Evolution and Anatomy Research Laboratory, Zoology, School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351 Australia
| | - Paolo Piras
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cardiovascolari,Respiratorie, Nefrologiche, Anestesiologiche e Geriatriche, “Sapienza”, Università di Roma, Via del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica, Sapienza, Università di Roma, Via Eudossiana 18, 00100 Rome, Italy
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20
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Postnatal development of the largest subterranean mammal (Bathyergus suillus): Morphology, osteogenesis, and modularity of the appendicular skeleton. Dev Dyn 2019; 248:1101-1128. [DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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21
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Durão AF, Ventura J, Muñoz-Muñoz F. Comparative post-weaning ontogeny of the mandible in fossorial and semi-aquatic water voles. Mamm Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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22
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Sherratt E, Sanders KL, Watson A, Hutchinson MN, Lee MSY, Palci A. Heterochronic Shifts Mediate Ecomorphological Convergence in Skull Shape of Microcephalic Sea Snakes. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 59:616-624. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icz033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Morphological variation among the viviparous sea snakes (Hydrophiinae), a clade of fully aquatic elapid snakes, includes an extreme “microcephalic” ecomorph that has a very small head atop a narrow forebody, while the hind body is much thicker (up to three times the forebody girth). Previous research has demonstrated that this morphology has evolved at least nine times as a consequence of dietary specialization on burrowing eels, and has also examined morphological changes to the vertebral column underlying this body shape. The question addressed in this study is what happens to the skull during this extreme evolutionary change? Here we use X-ray micro-computed tomography and geometric morphometric methods to characterize cranial shape variation in 30 species of sea snakes. We investigate ontogenetic and evolutionary patterns of cranial shape diversity to understand whether cranial shape is predicted by dietary specialization, and examine whether cranial shape of microcephalic species may be a result of heterochronic processes. We show that the diminutive cranial size of microcephalic species has a convergent shape that is correlated with trophic specialization to burrowing prey. Furthermore, their cranial shape is predictable for their size and very similar to that of juvenile individuals of closely related but non-microcephalic sea snakes. Our findings suggest that heterochronic changes (resulting in pedomorphosis) have driven cranial shape convergence in response to dietary specializations in sea snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Sherratt
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Kate L Sanders
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Amy Watson
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Mark N Hutchinson
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Michael S Y Lee
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Alessandro Palci
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5042, Australia
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23
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Calede JJM, Samuels JX, Chen M. Locomotory adaptations in entoptychine gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) and the mosaic evolution of fossoriality. J Morphol 2019; 280:879-907. [PMID: 31006903 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Pocket gophers (family Geomyidae) are the dominant burrowing rodents in North America today. Their fossil record is also incredibly rich; in particular, entoptychine gophers, a diverse extinct subfamily of the Geomyidae, are known from countless teeth and jaws from Oligocene and Miocene-aged deposits of the western United States and Mexico. Their postcranial remains, however, are much rarer and little studied. Yet, they offer the opportunity to investigate the locomotion of fossil gophers, shed light on the evolution of fossoriality, and enable ecomorphological comparisons with contemporaneous rodents. We present herein a quantitative study of the cranial and postcranial remains of eight different species of entoptychine gophers as well as many contemporary rodent species. We find a range of burrowing capabilities within Entoptychinae, including semifossorial scratch-digging animals and fossorial taxa with cranial adaptations to burrowing. Our results suggest the repeated evolution of chisel-tooth digging across genera. Comparisons between entoptychine gophers and contemporaneous rodent taxa show little ecomorphological overlap and suggest that the succession of burrowing rodent taxa on the landscape may have had more to do with habitat partitioning than competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J M Calede
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University at Marion, Marion, Ohio
| | - Joshua X Samuels
- Department of Geosciences, Don Sundquist Center of Excellence in Paleontology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
| | - Meng Chen
- Nanjing University, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Centre for Research and Education on Biological Evolution and Environment, Qixia District, Nanjing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
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24
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Gray JA, Sherratt E, Hutchinson MN, Jones MEH. Changes in ontogenetic patterns facilitate diversification in skull shape of Australian agamid lizards. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:7. [PMID: 30621580 PMCID: PMC6325775 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1335-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Morphological diversity among closely related animals can be the result of differing growth patterns. The Australian radiation of agamid lizards (Amphibolurinae) exhibits great ecological and morphological diversity, which they have achieved on a continent-wide scale, in a relatively short period of time (30 million years). Amphibolurines therefore make an ideal study group for examining ontogenetic allometry. We used two-dimensional landmark-based geometric morphometric methods to characterise the postnatal growth patterns in cranial shape of 18 species of amphibolurine lizards and investigate the associations between cranial morphology, and life habit and phylogeny. RESULTS For most amphibolurine species, juveniles share a similar cranial phenotype, but by adulthood crania are more disparate in shape and occupy different sub-spaces of the total shape space. To achieve this disparity, crania do not follow a common post-natal growth pattern; there are differences among species in both the direction and magnitude of change in morphospace. We found that these growth patterns among the amphibolurines are significantly associated with ecological life habits. The clade Ctenophorus includes species that undergo small magnitudes of shape change during growth. They have dorsoventrally deep, blunt-snouted skulls (associated with terrestrial lifestyles), and also dorsoventrally shallow skulls (associated with saxicolous lifestyles). The sister clade to Ctenophorus, which includes the bearded dragon (Pogona), frill-neck lizard (Chlamydosaurus), and long-nosed dragon (Gowidon), exhibit broad and robust post-orbital regions and differing snout lengths (mainly associated with scansorial lifestyles). CONCLUSIONS Australian agamids show great variability in the timing of development and divergence of growth trajectories which results in a diversity of adult cranial shapes. Phylogenetic signal in cranial morphology appears to be largely overwritten by signals that reflect life habit. This knowledge about growth patterns and skull shape diversity in agamid lizards will be valuable for placing phylogenetic, functional and ecological studies in a morphological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimi A. Gray
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Room 205E, Darling Building North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005 Australia
| | - Emma Sherratt
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Room 205E, Darling Building North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005 Australia
- South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA 5000 Australia
| | - Mark N. Hutchinson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Room 205E, Darling Building North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005 Australia
- South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA 5000 Australia
| | - Marc E. H. Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Room 205E, Darling Building North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005 Australia
- South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA 5000 Australia
- Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD UK
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25
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Kubiak BB, Maestri R, de Almeida TS, Borges LR, Galiano D, Fornel R, de Freitas TRO. Evolution in action: soil hardness influences morphology in a subterranean rodent (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno B Kubiak
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões – Campus de Frederico Westphalen, Av. Assis Brasil, Frederico Westphalen – RS, Brazil
| | - Renan Maestri
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
| | - Thamara S de Almeida
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
| | - Leandro R Borges
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
| | - Daniel Galiano
- Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, Campus Realeza, Rua Edmundo Gaievisk, Realeza, PR, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Fornel
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Regional do Alto Uruguai e das Missões – Campus de Erechim, Av. Sete de Setembro, Erechim – RS, Brazil
| | - Thales R O de Freitas
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
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26
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Lineages of Tuco-Tucos (Ctenomyidae: Rodentia) from Midwest and Northern Brazil: Late Irradiations of Subterranean Rodents Towards the Amazon Forest. J MAMM EVOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-018-9450-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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27
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Tavares WC, Pessôa LM, Seuánez HN. Changes in Ontogenetic Allometry and their Role in the Emergence of Cranial Morphology in Fossorial Spiny Rats (Echimyidae, Hystricomorpha, Rodentia). J MAMM EVOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-018-9433-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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28
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Morgan CC, Verzi DH, Olivares AI, Vieytes EC. Craniodental and forelimb specializations for digging in the South American subterranean rodent Ctenomys (Hystricomorpha, Ctenomyidae). Mamm Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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29
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Garland K, Marcy A, Sherratt E, Weisbecker V. Out on a limb: bandicoot limb co-variation suggests complex impacts of development and adaptation on marsupial forelimb evolution. Evol Dev 2017; 19:69-84. [PMID: 28224708 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Marsupials display far less forelimb diversity than placentals, possibly because of the laborious forelimb-powered climb to the pouch performed by most marsupial neonates. This is thought to result in stronger morphological integration (i.e., higher co-variance) within the marsupial forelimb skeleton, and lower integration between marsupial fore- and hind limbs, compared to other mammals. Possible mechanisms for this constraint are a fundamental developmental change in marsupial limb patterning, or alternatively more immediate perinatal biomechanical and metabolic requirements. In the latter case, peramelid marsupials (bandicoots), which have neonates that climb very little, should show lower within-limb and higher between-limb integration, compared to other marsupials. We tested this in four peramelid species and the related bilby, using partial correlation analyses of between-landmark linear measurements of limb bones, and Procrustes-based two-block partial least-squares analysis (2B-PLS) of limb bone shapes using the same landmarks. We find extensive between-limb integration in partial correlation analyses of only bone lengths, consistent with a reduction of a short-term biomechanical/allocation constraint in peramelid forelimbs. However, partial correlations of bone proportions and 2B-PLS reveal extensive shape divergence between correlated bone pairs. This result contradicts expectations of developmental constraints or serial homology, instead suggesting a function-driven integration pattern. Comparing visualizations from cross-species principal components analysis and 2B-PLS, we tentatively identify selection for digging and half-bounding as the main driver of bandicoot limb integration patterning. This calls for further assessments of functional versus developmental limb integration in marsupials with a more strenuous neonatal climb to the pouch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Garland
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, , 4072, Australia
| | - Ariel Marcy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, , 4072, Australia
| | - Emma Sherratt
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Vera Weisbecker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, , 4072, Australia
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30
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Marcy AE, Hadly EA, Sherratt E, Garland K, Weisbecker V. Getting a head in hard soils: Convergent skull evolution and divergent allometric patterns explain shape variation in a highly diverse genus of pocket gophers (Thomomys). BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:207. [PMID: 27724858 PMCID: PMC5057207 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0782-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background High morphological diversity can occur in closely related animals when selection favors morphologies that are subject to intrinsic biological constraints. A good example is subterranean rodents of the genus Thomomys, one of the most taxonomically and morphologically diverse mammalian genera. Highly procumbent, tooth-digging rodent skull shapes are often geometric consequences of increased body size. Indeed, larger-bodied Thomomys species tend to inhabit harder soils. We used geometric morphometric analyses to investigate the interplay between soil hardness (the main extrinsic selection pressure on fossorial mammals) and allometry (i.e. shape change due to size change; generally considered the main intrinsic factor) on crania and humeri in this fast-evolving mammalian clade. Results Larger Thomomys species/subspecies tend to have more procumbent cranial shapes with some exceptions, including a small-bodied species inhabiting hard soils. Counter to earlier suggestions, cranial shape within Thomomys does not follow a genus-wide allometric pattern as even regional subpopulations differ in allometric slopes. In contrast, humeral shape varies less with body size and with soil hardness. Soft-soil taxa have larger humeral muscle attachment sites but retain an orthodont (non-procumbent) cranial morphology. In intermediate soils, two pairs of sister taxa diverge through differential modifications on either the humerus or the cranium. In the hardest soils, both humeral and cranial morphology are derived through large muscle attachment sites and a high degree of procumbency. Conclusions Our results show that conflict between morphological function and intrinsic allometric patterning can quickly and differentially alter the rodent skeleton, especially the skull. In addition, we found a new case of convergent evolution of incisor procumbency among large-, medium-, and small-sized species inhabiting hard soils. This occurs through different combinations of allometric and non-allometric changes, contributing to shape diversity within the genus. The strong influence of allometry on cranial shape appears to confirm suggestions that developmental change underlies mammalian cranial shape divergences, but this requires confirmation from ontogenetic studies. Our findings illustrate how a variety of intrinsic processes, resulting in species-level convergence, could sustain a genus-level range across a variety of extrinsic environments. This might represent a mechanism for observations of genus-level niche conservation despite species extinctions in mammals. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0782-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel E Marcy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia. .,Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305-5020, CA, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Hadly
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305-5020, CA, USA
| | - Emma Sherratt
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Kathleen Garland
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Vera Weisbecker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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