1
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Adeola F, Lailvaux S. Bite force, body size, and octopamine mediate mating interactions in the house cricket (Acheta domesticus). J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1494-1502. [PMID: 37737492 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14226] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Mating interactions are rife with conflict because the evolutionary interests of males and females seldom coincide. Intersexual conflict affects sexual selection, yet the proximate factors underlying male coercive ability and female resistance are poorly understood. Male combat outcomes are often influenced by bite force, with superior biters being more likely to achieve victory over poorer biters in a range of species, including crickets. If good performers also achieve mating success through sexual coercion, then bite force might play a role in intersexual conflict as well. We tested the capacity of bite force to influence mating interactions in house crickets both directly by measuring bite forces of males and females and by altering male bite capacity through neuropharmacological manipulation. In addition, the invertebrate neurotransmitter octopamine both mediates aggression and underlies motivation to bite in male house crickets. By blocking octopamine receptors through the application of an antagonist, epinastine, we tested the effects of reduced bite force on male mating success. Our results show that male bite capacity, in combination with body size, influences both the likelihood and the outcomes of mating interactions, whereas treatment of males with epinastine eliminates motivation to mate. Our results suggest a functional role for bite force in affecting both sexual conflict and sexual selection and expand our knowledge of the influence of biogenic amines on reproductive behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadeke Adeola
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Simon Lailvaux
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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2
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Schuett GW, Peterson KH, Powell AR, Taylor JD, Alexander JR, Lappin AK. Female-female aggression in the Gila monster ( Heloderma suspectum). ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221466. [PMID: 37181791 PMCID: PMC10170349 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Historically, the role of aggression in the social lives of animals overwhelmingly focused on males. In recent years, however, female-female aggression in vertebrates, particularly lizards, has received increasing attention. This growing body of literature shows both similarities and differences to aggressive behaviours between males. Here, we document female-female aggression in captive Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum). Based on four unique dyadic trials (eight adult female subjects), we developed a qualitative ethogram. Unexpected and most intriguing were the prevalence and intensity of aggressive acts that included brief and sustained biting, envenomation, and lateral rotation (i.e. rolling of body while holding onto opponent with closed jaws). Given specific behavioural acts (i.e. biting) and the results of bite-force experiments, we postulate that osteoderms (bony deposits in the skin) offer some degree of protection and reduce the likelihood of serious injury during female-female fights. Male-male contests in H. suspectum, in contrast, are more ritualized, and biting is rarely reported. Female-female aggression in other lizards has a role in territoriality, courtship tactics, and nest and offspring guarding. Future behavioural research on aggression in female Gila monsters is warranted to test these and other hypotheses in the laboratory and field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon W. Schuett
- Department of Biology | Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Chiricahua Desert Museum, Rodeo, NM, USA
| | | | - Anthony R. Powell
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - John D. Taylor
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer R. Alexander
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - A. Kristopher Lappin
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA
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3
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Powell AR, Deban SM, Lappin AK. Sustained force production by the jaw-adductor muscles of a megalophagous frog, Ceratophrys cranwelli. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 339:437-445. [PMID: 36855228 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Most frogs have weak jaws that play a relatively minor role in tongue-mediated prey capture. Horned frogs (Ceratophrys spp.), however, follow the projection of a large tongue with a vice-like grip of their jaws to hold and immobilize prey. Prey include relatively large vertebrates, which they may restrain for minutes to possibly hours. High endurance behaviors, such as prolonged biting, require that muscles be capable of sustained force production. The feeding behavior of Ceratophrys suggests that their jaw-adductor muscles may be capable of powering sustained bites for long periods. We examined the capacity for sustained bite force by conducting an in situ experiment during which we measured bite force while bilaterally and supramaximally stimulating the jaw-adductor muscles of euthanized Cranwell's horned frogs (C. cranwelli). Muscles were stimulated for at least 60 min with a series of tetanic trains, with one experiment lasting over 6 h. We found that a significant sustained force develops during the first few minutes of the experiment, and this force is present between tetanic trains when the muscles are not being stimulated. The sustained force persists long after tetanic forces are barely detectable. The observed sustained force phenomenon parallels that observed for the jaw-adductor muscles of alligator lizards (Elgaria), another animal capable of sustained biting. The ability to bite with sustained and significant force by C. cranwelli may be facilitated by a configuration of different muscle fiber types, such as slow tonic fibers, as well as specializations in the muscle fibers that mitigate the effects of fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R Powell
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Stephen M Deban
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - A Kristopher Lappin
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, USA
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4
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Püffel F, Johnston R, Labonte D. A biomechanical model for the relation between bite force and mandibular opening angle in arthropods. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221066. [PMID: 36816849 PMCID: PMC9929505 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bite forces play a key role in animal ecology: they affect mating behaviour, fighting success, and the ability to feed. Although feeding habits of arthropods have a significant ecological and economical impact, we lack fundamental knowledge on how the morphology and physiology of their bite apparatus controls bite performance, and its variation with mandible gape. To address this gap, we derived a biomechanical model that characterizes the relationship between bite force and mandibular opening angle from first principles. We validate this model by comparing its geometric predictions with morphological measurements on the muscoloskeletal bite apparatus of Atta cephalotes leaf-cutter ants, using computed tomography (CT) scans obtained at different mandible opening angles. We then demonstrate its deductive and inductive utility with three examplary use cases: Firstly, we extract the physiological properties of the leaf-cutter ant mandible closer muscle from in vivo bite force measurements. Secondly, we show that leaf-cutter ants are specialized to generate extraordinarily large bite forces, equivalent to about 2600 times their body weight. Thirdly, we discuss the relative importance of morphology and physiology in determining the magnitude and variation of bite force. We hope that a more detailed quantitative understanding of the link between morphology, physiology, and bite performance will facilitate future comparative studies on the insect bite apparatus, and help to advance our knowledge of the behaviour, ecology and evolution of arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Püffel
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Richard Johnston
- School of Engineering, Materials Research Centre, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - David Labonte
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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5
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Bite Performance of Captive Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) Improves after Reintroduction. J HERPETOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1670/21-085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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6
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Deeming DC. Inter‐relationships among body mass, body dimensions, jaw musculature and bite force in reptiles. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. C. Deeming
- Joseph Banks Laboratories Department of Life Sciences School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Lincoln Lincoln UK
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7
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Rühr PT, Blanke A. forceX
and
forceR
: a mobile setup and R package to measure and analyse a wide range of animal closing forces. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter T. Rühr
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1 Bonn Germany
| | - Alexander Blanke
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1 Bonn Germany
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8
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Isip JE, Jones MEH, Cooper N. Clade-wide variation in bite-force performance is determined primarily by size, not ecology. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212493. [PMID: 35193399 PMCID: PMC8864353 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Performance traits are tightly linked to the fitness of organisms. However, because studies of variation in performance traits generally focus on just one or several closely related species, we are unable to draw broader conclusions about how and why these traits vary across clades. One important performance trait related to many aspects of an animal's life history is bite-force. Here, we use a clade-wide phylogenetic comparative approach to investigate relationships between size, head dimensions and bite-force among lizards and tuatara (lepidosaurs), using the largest bite-force dataset collated to date for any taxonomic group. We test four predictions: that bite-force will be greater in larger species, and for a given body size, bite-force will be greatest in species with acrodont tooth attachment, herbivorous diets, and non-burrowing habits. We show that bite-force is strongly related to body and head size across lepidosaurs and, as predicted, larger species have the greatest bite-forces. Contrary to our other predictions, tooth attachment, diet and habit have little predictive power when accounting for size. Herbivores bite more forcefully simply because they are larger. Our results also highlight priorities for future sampling to further enhance our understanding of broader evolutionary patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin E. Isip
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum London, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK,Department of Life Sciences (Silwood Park), Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - Marc E. H. Jones
- Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Anatomy Building, University College London, Gower Street, London WCIE 6BT, UK,Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Natalie Cooper
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum London, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
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9
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Tan WC, Measey J, Vanhooydonck B, Herrel A. The relationship between bite force, morphology, and diet in southern African agamids. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:126. [PMID: 34154535 PMCID: PMC8215774 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01859-w] [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: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many animals display morphological and behavioural adaptations to the habitats in which they live and the resources they exploit. Bite force is an important whole-organism performance trait that allows an increase in dietary breadth, the inclusion of novel prey in the diet, territory and predatory defence, and is important during mating in many lizards.
Methods Here, we study six species of southern African agamid lizards from three habitat types (ground-dwelling, rock-dwelling, and arboreal) to investigate whether habitat use constrains head morphology and bite performance. We further tested whether bite force and head morphology evolve as adaptations to diet by analysing a subset of these species for which diet data were available.
Results Overall, both jaw length and its out-lever are excellent predictors of bite performance across all six species. Rock-dwelling species have a flatter head relative to their size than other species, possibly as an adaptation for crevice use. However, even when correcting for jaw length and jaw out-lever length, rock-dwelling species bite harder than ground-dwelling species. Diet analyses demonstrate that body and head size are not directly related to diet, although greater in-levers for jaw closing (positively related to bite force) are associated to an increase of hard prey in the diet. Ground-dwelling species consume more ants than other species. Conclusions Our results illustrate the role of head morphology in driving bite force and demonstrate how habitat use impacts head morphology but not bite force in these agamids. Although diet is associated with variation in head morphology it is only partially responsible for the observed differences in morphology and performance. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-021-01859-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- W C Tan
- Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113, Bonn, Germany. .,Institut für Zoologie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Poppelsdorfer Schloss, Bonn, Germany. .,Laboratoire EBI Ecologie and Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers, UFR Sciences Fondamentales et Appliquées, Poitiers, France. .,Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. .,Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179 C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., Bâtiment d'Anatomie Comparée, 55 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - J Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - B Vanhooydonck
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - A Herrel
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium.,Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179 C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., Bâtiment d'Anatomie Comparée, 55 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
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10
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Information content of ultraviolet-reflecting colour patches and visual perception of body coloration in the Tyrrhenian wall lizard Podarcis tiliguerta. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03023-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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11
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Krings W, Neumann C, Neiber MT, Kovalev A, Gorb SN. Radular force performance of stylommatophoran gastropods (Mollusca) with distinct body masses. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10560. [PMID: 34006949 PMCID: PMC8131350 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89892-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The forces exerted by the animal's food processing structures can be important parameters when studying trophic specializations to specific food spectra. Even though molluscs represent the second largest animal phylum, exhibiting an incredible biodiversity accompanied by the establishment of distinct ecological niches including the foraging on a variety of ingesta types, only few studies focused on the biomechanical performance of their feeding organs. To lay a keystone for future research in this direction, we investigated the in vivo forces exerted by the molluscan food gathering and processing structure, the radula, for five stylommatophoran species (Gastropoda). The chosen species and individuals have a similar radular morphology and motion, but as they represent different body mass classes, we were enabled to relate the forces to body mass. Radular forces were measured along two axes using force transducers which allowed us to correlate forces with the distinct phases of radular motion. A radular force quotient, AFQ = mean Absolute Force/bodymass0.67, of 4.3 could be determined which can be used further for the prediction of forces generated in Gastropoda. Additionally, some specimens were dissected and the radular musculature mass as well as the radular mass and dimensions were documented. Our results depict the positive correlation between body mass, radular musculature mass, and exerted force. Additionally, it was clearly observed that the radular motion phases, exerting the highest forces during feeding, changed with regard to the ingesta size: all smaller gastropods rather approached the food by a horizontal, sawing-like radular motion leading to the consumption of rather small food particles, whereas larger gastropods rather pulled the ingesta in vertical direction by radula and jaw resulting in the tearing of larger pieces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencke Krings
- Department of Mammalogy and Palaeoanthropology, Center of Natural History (CeNak), Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany. .,Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Charlotte Neumann
- Department of Mammalogy and Palaeoanthropology, Center of Natural History (CeNak), Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marco T Neiber
- Department of Animal Diversity, Center of Natural History (CeNak), Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Kovalev
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Stanislav N Gorb
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118, Kiel, Germany
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12
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Tse YT, Calede JJM. Quantifying the link between craniodental morphology and diet in the Soricidae using geometric morphometrics. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Dietary adaptations have often been associated with heightened taxonomic diversity. Yet, one of the most species-rich mammalian families, the Soricidae, is often considered to be ecologically and morphologically relatively homogenous. Here, we use geometric morphometrics to capture skull and dentary morphology in a broad sample of shrew species and test the hypothesis that morphological variation among shrew species reflects adaptations to food hardness. Our analyses demonstrate that morphology is associated with dietary ecology. Species that consume hard food items are larger and have specific morphological adaptions including an anteroposteriorly expanded parietal, an anteroposteriorly short and dorsoventrally tall rostrum, a mediolaterally wide palate, buccolingually wide cheek teeth, a large coronoid process and a dorsoventrally short jaw joint. The masseter muscle does not appear to play an important role in the strong bite force of shrews and the dentary is a better indicator of ecology than the skull. Our phylogenetic flexible discriminant function analysis suggests that the evolutionary history of shrews has shaped their morphology, canalizing dietary adaptations and enabling functional equivalence whereby different morphologies achieve similar dietary performances. Our work makes possible future studies of niche partitioning among sympatric species as well as the investigation of the diet of extinct soricids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuen Ting Tse
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan J M Calede
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University at Marion, Marion, Ohio, OH, USA
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13
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Dutel H, Gröning F, Sharp AC, Watson PJ, Herrel A, Ross CF, Jones MEH, Evans SE, Fagan MJ. Comparative cranial biomechanics in two lizard species: impact of variation in cranial design. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.234831. [PMID: 33504585 PMCID: PMC7970069 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.234831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cranial morphology in lepidosaurs is highly disparate and characterised by the frequent loss or reduction of bony elements. In varanids and geckos, the loss of the postorbital bar is associated with changes in skull shape, but the mechanical principles underlying this variation remain poorly understood. Here, we sought to determine how the overall cranial architecture and the presence of the postorbital bar relate to the loading and deformation of the cranial bones during biting in lepidosaurs. Using computer-based simulation techniques, we compared cranial biomechanics in the varanid Varanus niloticus and the teiid Salvator merianae, two large, active foragers. The overall strain magnitude and distribution across the cranium were similar in the two species, despite lower strain gradients in V. niloticus. In S. merianae, the postorbital bar is important for resistance of the cranium to feeding loads. The postorbital ligament, which in varanids partially replaces the postorbital bar, does not affect bone strain. Our results suggest that the reduction of the postorbital bar impaired neither biting performance nor the structural resistance of the cranium to feeding loads in V. niloticus. Differences in bone strain between the two species might reflect demands imposed by feeding and non-feeding functions on cranial shape. Beyond variation in cranial bone strain related to species-specific morphological differences, our results reveal that similar mechanical behaviour is shared by lizards with distinct cranial shapes. Contrary to the situation in mammals, the morphology of the circumorbital region, calvaria and palate appears to be important for withstanding high feeding loads in these lizards. Summary:In vivo measurements and computer-based simulations of the cranial mechanics of two large lizards indicate that similar mechanical behaviour is shared by lizards with distinct cranial architecture, and show the importance of the postorbital bar in resisting the feeding loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Dutel
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK .,Department of Engineering, Medical and Biological Engineering Research Group, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Flora Gröning
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Alana C Sharp
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK.,Centre for Integrative Anatomy, Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Anatomy Building, Gower Street, London, WCIE 6BT, UK
| | - Peter J Watson
- Department of Engineering, Medical and Biological Engineering Research Group, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Anthony Herrel
- UMR 7179 MECADEV, MNHN - CNRS, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Callum F Ross
- Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, 1027 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Marc E H Jones
- Centre for Integrative Anatomy, Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Anatomy Building, Gower Street, London, WCIE 6BT, UK
| | - Susan E Evans
- Centre for Integrative Anatomy, Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Anatomy Building, Gower Street, London, WCIE 6BT, UK
| | - Michael J Fagan
- Department of Engineering, Medical and Biological Engineering Research Group, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
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14
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Dong CM, Rankin KJ, McLean CA, Stuart-Fox D. Maternal reproductive output and F1 hybrid fitness may influence contact zone dynamics. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:680-694. [PMID: 33580546 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The outcome of secondary contact between divergent lineages or species may be influenced by both the reproductive traits of parental species and the fitness of offspring; however, their relative contributions have rarely been evaluated, particularly in longer-lived vertebrate species. We performed pure and reciprocal laboratory crosses between Ctenophorus decresii (tawny dragon) and C. modestus (swift dragon) to examine how parental reproductive traits and ecologically relevant offspring fitness traits may explain contact zone dynamics in the wild. The two species meet in a contact zone of post-F1 hybrids with asymmetric backcrossing and predominantly C. modestus mtDNA haplotypes. We found no evidence for reduced parental fecundity or offspring fitness for F1 hybrid crosses. However, maternal reproductive strategy differed between species, irrespective of the species of their mate. Ctenophorus modestus females had higher fecundity and produced more and larger clutches with lower embryonic mortality. Parental species also influenced sex ratios and offspring traits, with C. modestus ♀ × C. decresii ♂ hybrids exhibiting higher trait values for more fitness measures (growth rate, sprint speed, bite force) than offspring from all other pairings. Together, these patterns are consistent with the prevalence of C. modestus mtDNA in the contact zone, and asymmetric backcrossing likely reflects fitness effects that manifest in the F2 generation. Our results highlight how parental species can influence multiple offspring traits in different ways, which together may combine to influence offspring fitness and shape contact zone dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Dong
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.,Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Katrina J Rankin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Claire A McLean
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.,Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Devi Stuart-Fox
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
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15
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Brock KM, Baeckens S, Donihue CM, Martín J, Pafilis P, Edwards DL. Trait differences among discrete morphs of a color polymorphic lizard, Podarcis erhardii. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10284. [PMID: 33194436 PMCID: PMC7649010 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Color polymorphism defies evolutionary expectations as striking phenotypic variation is maintained within a single species. Color and other traits mediate social interactions, and stable polymorphism within a population is hypothesized to be related to correlational selection of other phenotypic traits among color morphs. Here, we report on a previously unknown throat color polymorphism in the Aegean Wall Lizard (Podarcis erhardii) and examine morph-correlated differences in traits important to social behavior and communication: maximum bite force capacity and chemical signal profile. We find that both sexes of P. erhardii have three color morphs: orange, yellow, and white. Moreover, orange males are significantly larger and tend to bite harder than yellow and white males. Although the established color polymorphism only partially matches the observed intraspecific variation in chemical signal signatures, the chemical profile of the secretions of orange males is significantly divergent from that of white males. Our findings suggest that morph colors are related to differences in traits that are crucial for social interactions and competitive ability, illustrating the need to look beyond color when studying polymorphism evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinsey M Brock
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States of America.,Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Group, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States of America
| | - Simon Baeckens
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.,Department of Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Colin M Donihue
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - José Martín
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Panayiotis Pafilis
- Department of Zoology and Marine Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, Greece.,Zoological Museum, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Danielle L Edwards
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States of America
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16
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Nguyen A, Balaban JP, Azizi E, Talmadge RJ, Lappin AK. Fatigue resistant jaw muscles facilitate long-lasting courtship behaviour in the southern alligator lizard ( Elgaria multicarinata). Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201578. [PMID: 32962547 PMCID: PMC7542809 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) exhibits a courtship behaviour during which the male firmly grips the female's head in his jaws for many hours at a time. This extreme behaviour counters the conventional wisdom that reptilian muscle is incapable of powering high-endurance behaviours. We conducted in situ experiments in which the jaw-adductor muscles of lizards were stimulated directly while bite force was measured simultaneously. Fatigue tests were performed by stimulating the muscles with a series of tetanic trains. Our results show that a substantial sustained force gradually develops during the fatigue test. This sustained force persists after peak tetanic forces have declined to a fraction of their initial magnitude. The observed sustained force during in situ fatigue tests is consistent with the courtship behaviour of these lizards and probably reflects physiological specialization. The results of molecular analysis reveal that the jaw muscles contain masticatory and tonic myosin fibres. We propose that the presence of tonic fibres may explain the unusual sustained force properties during mate-holding behaviour. The characterization of muscle properties that facilitate extreme performance during specialized behaviours may reveal general mechanisms of muscle function, especially when done in light of convergently evolved systems exhibiting similar performance characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allyn Nguyen
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - Jordan P Balaban
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Emanuel Azizi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Robert J Talmadge
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - A Kristopher Lappin
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
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17
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Taverne M, King-Gillies N, Krajnović M, Lisičić D, Mira Ó, Petricioli D, Sabolić I, Štambuk A, Tadić Z, Vigliotti C, Wehrle B, Herrel A. Proximate and ultimate drivers of variation in bite force in the insular lizards Podarcis melisellensis and Podarcis sicula. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Bite force is a key performance trait in lizards because biting is involved in many ecologically relevant tasks, including foraging, fighting and mating. Several factors have been suggested to impact bite force in lizards, such as head morphology (proximate factors), or diet, intraspecific competition and habitat characteristics (ultimate factors). However, these have been generally investigated separately and mostly at the interspecific level. Here we tested which factors drive variation in bite force at the population level and to what extent. Our study includes 20 populations of two closely related lacertid species, Podarcis melisellensis and Podarcis sicula, which inhabit islands in the Adriatic. We found that lizards with more forceful bites have relatively wider and taller heads, and consume more hard prey and plant material. Island isolation correlates with bite force, probably by driving resource availability. Bite force is only poorly explained by proxies of intraspecific competition. The linear distance from a large island and the proportion of difficult-to-reduce food items consumed are the ultimate factors that explain most of the variation in bite force. Our findings suggest that the way in which morphological variation affects bite force is species-specific, probably reflecting the different selective pressures operating on the two species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Taverne
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Nina King-Gillies
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Maria Krajnović
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Duje Lisičić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Óscar Mira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Donat Petricioli
- D.I.I.V. Ltd, for Marine, Freshwater and Subterranean Ecology, Sali, Croatia
| | - Iva Sabolić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anamaria Štambuk
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Zoran Tadić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Chloé Vigliotti
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Beck Wehrle
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
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18
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Jenkins KM, Shaw JO. Bite force data suggests relationship between acrodont tooth implantation and strong bite force. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9468. [PMID: 32656000 PMCID: PMC7333653 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Extant and extinct reptiles exhibit numerous combinations of tooth implantation and attachment. Tooth implantation ranges from those possessing roots and lying within a socket (thecodonty), to teeth lying against the lingual wall of the jawbone (pleurodonty), to teeth without roots or sockets that are attached to the apex of the marginal jawbones (acrodonty). Attachment may be ligamentous (gomphosis) or via fusion (ankylosis). Generally speaking, adaptative reasonings are proposed as an underlying driver for evolutionary changes in some forms of tooth implantation and attachment. However, a substantiated adaptive hypothesis is lacking for the state of acrodont ankylosis that is seen in several lineages of Lepidosauria, a clade that is plesiomorphically pleurodont. The convergent evolution of acrodont ankylosis in several clades of lepidosaurs suggests a selective pressure shaped the evolution of the trait. We hypothesize that acrodont ankylosis as seen in Acrodonta and Sphenodon punctatus, is an adaptation either resulting from or allowing for a stronger bite force. We analyzed bite force data gathered from the literature to show that those taxa possessing acrodont dentition possess a stronger bite force on average than those taxa with pleurodont dentition. Dietary specialists with pleurodont dentition may also possess relatively high bite forces, though body size may also play a role in their ability to bite hard. Furthermore, our results have implications for the evolution of acrodont ankylosis and potential behaviors related to strong bite force that influenced the evolution of acrodonty within Acrodonta and Rhynchocephalia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey M Jenkins
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America
| | - Jack O Shaw
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, United States of America
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19
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Jansen van Vuuren L, Jansen van Vuuren WA, Broadbent JM, Duncan WJ, Waddell JN. Development of a bite force transducer for measuring maximum voluntary bite forces between individual opposing tooth surfaces. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020; 109:103846. [PMID: 32543410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.103846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Bite forces are studied in order to understand a wide range of factors pertaining to the mastication system. Various strain gauge transducers have been employed to measure bite forces, with several descriptions of these available in the literature; unfortunately, many reports provide insufficient detail to enable accurate reproduction. The aim of this project was to develop a bite force transducer with the capability of measuring maximum voluntary bite forces between individual opposing tooth surfaces. Furthermore, in an attempt to address the issue of vague device descriptions in the available literature, a detailed account of the transducer development has been included. A novel strain gauge transducer was designed and built. Bite forces of forty individuals were measured to verify the capabilities and clinical application of the device.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Jansen van Vuuren
- Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Otago University, New Zealand.
| | - W A Jansen van Vuuren
- Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Otago University, New Zealand
| | - J M Broadbent
- Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Otago University, New Zealand
| | - W J Duncan
- Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Otago University, New Zealand
| | - J N Waddell
- Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Otago University, New Zealand
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20
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Jones MEH, Pistevos JCA, Cooper N, Lappin AK, Georges A, Hutchinson MN, Holleley CE. Reproductive phenotype predicts adult bite-force performance in sex-reversed dragons (Pogona vitticeps). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 333:252-263. [PMID: 32061035 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Sex-related differences in morphology and behavior are well documented, but the relative contributions of genes and environment to these traits are less well understood. Species that undergo sex reversal, such as the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), offer an opportunity to better understand sexually dimorphic traits because sexual phenotypes can exist on different chromosomal backgrounds. Reproductively female dragons with a discordant sex chromosome complement (sex reversed), at least as juveniles, exhibit traits in common with males (e.g., longer tails and greater boldness). However, the impact of sex reversal on sexually dimorphic traits in adult dragons is unknown. Here, we investigate the effect of sex reversal on bite-force performance, which may be important in resource acquisition (e.g., mates and/or food). We measured body size, head size, and bite force of the three sexual phenotypes in a colony of captive animals. Among adults, we found that males (ZZm) bite more forcefully than either chromosomally concordant females (ZWf) or sex-reversed females (ZZf), and this difference is associated with having relatively larger head dimensions. Therefore, adult sex-reversed females, despite apparently exhibiting male traits as juveniles, do not develop the larger head and enhanced bite force of adult male bearded dragons. This pattern is further illustrated in the full sample by a lack of positive allometry of bite force in sex-reversed females that is observed in males. The results reveal a close association between reproductive phenotype and bite force performance, regardless of sex chromosome complement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc E H Jones
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Vertebrates, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer C A Pistevos
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement CRIOBE - USR 3278: PSL Université Paris: EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Papetoai, Moorea, Polynésie Française
| | - Natalie Cooper
- Vertebrates, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | | | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Mark N Hutchinson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Vertebrates, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Clare E Holleley
- Institute for Applied Ecology, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Australian National Wildlife Collection, National Research Collections Australia CSIRO, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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21
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Jansen van Vuuren L, Broadbent JM, Duncan WJ, Waddell JN. Maximum voluntary bite force, occlusal contact points and associated stresses on posterior teeth. J R Soc N Z 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2019.1691612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ludwig Jansen van Vuuren
- Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Oral Rehabilitation, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan M. Broadbent
- Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Oral Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Warwick J. Duncan
- Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Oral Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - John N. Waddell
- Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Oral Rehabilitation, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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22
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Gray JA, Sherratt E, Hutchinson MN, Jones MEH. Evolution of cranial shape in a continental‐scale evolutionary radiation of Australian lizards. Evolution 2019; 73:2216-2229. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jaimi A. Gray
- School of Biological Science, Thomas BuildingUniversity of Auckland Auckland 1142 New Zealand
| | - Emma Sherratt
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
- South Australian Museum Kintore Avenue Adelaide South Australia 5000 Australia
| | - Mark N. Hutchinson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
- South Australian Museum Kintore Avenue Adelaide South Australia 5000 Australia
| | - Marc E. H. Jones
- Earth SciencesNatural History Museum London SW7 5BD United Kingdom
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23
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Law CJ, Mehta RS. Dry versus wet and gross: Comparisons between the dry skull method and gross dissection in estimations of jaw muscle cross-sectional area and bite forces in sea otters. J Morphol 2019; 280:1706-1713. [PMID: 31513299 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Bite force is a measure of feeding performance used to elucidate links between animal morphology, ecology, and fitness. Obtaining live individuals for in vivo bite-force measurements or freshly deceased specimens for bite force modeling is challenging for many species. Thomason's dry skull method for mammals relies solely on osteological specimens and, therefore, presents an advantageous approach that enables researchers to estimate and compare bite forces across extant and even extinct species. However, how accurately the dry skull method estimates physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) of the jaw adductor muscles and theoretical bite force has rarely been tested. Here, we use an ontogenetic series of southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) to test the hypothesis that skeletomuscular traits estimated from the dry skull method accurately predicts test traits derived from dissection-based biomechanical modeling. Although variables from these two methods exhibited strong positive relationships across ontogeny, we found that the dry skull method overestimates PCSA of the masseter and underestimates PCSA of the temporalis. Jaw adductor in-levers for both jaw muscles and overall bite force are overestimated. Surprisingly, we reveal that sexual dimorphism in craniomandibular shape affects temporalis PCSA estimations; the dry skull method predicted female temporalis PCSA well but underestimates male temporalis PCSA across ontogeny. These results highlight the importance of accounting for sexual dimorphism and other intraspecific variation when using the dry skull method. Together, we found the dry skull method provides an underestimation of bite force over ontogeny and that the underlying anatomical components driving bite force may be misrepresented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris J Law
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Rita S Mehta
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
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24
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The importance of strength and stamina varies with ownership status in sand fiddler crab contests for breeding burrows. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2635-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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25
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Bels V, Paindavoine AS, Zghikh LN, Paulet E, Pallandre JP, Montuelle SJ. Feeding in Lizards: Form–Function and Complex Multifunctional System. FEEDING IN VERTEBRATES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-13739-7_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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26
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Feeding in Crocodylians and Their Relatives: Functional Insights from Ontogeny and Evolution. FEEDING IN VERTEBRATES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-13739-7_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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27
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Higgins BA, Law CJ, Mehta RS. Eat whole and less often: ontogenetic shift reveals size specialization on kelp bass by the California moray eel, Gymnothorax mordax. Oecologia 2018; 188:875-887. [PMID: 30229354 PMCID: PMC6208710 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4260-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Despite the importance of predation in many ecosystems, gaps remain in our understanding of nocturnal marine predators. Although the kelp forests of Southern California are some of the most well-studied ecosystems, California morays, Gymnothorax mordax, are predominately nocturnal predators that have remained largely unstudied and their predatory effects on the kelp forest ecosystem are unknown. We use a multi-year data set to examine the dietary breadth of G. mordax and to determine the functional role of this predator. We also quantify bite force to examine the potential performance limitations of morays in exploiting prey. Stomach content analyses and linear selectivity index values indicate that G. mordax specializes on kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus. Average size of kelp bass consumed varies across years, suggesting that morays respond to fluctuations in prey size availability. The scaling relationship of kelp bass standard length and moray head length reveals an ontogenetic shift, where maximum prey size increases with moray size and small prey are dropped from the diet of larger individuals. Moray bite force exhibited strong positive allometry with moray head size, suggesting that larger morays exhibit greater bite forces for their head and body size. However, we found no relationship between prey size and bite force, suggesting that a disproportional increase in bite force does not facilitate the consumption of disproportionately larger prey. Our results indicate that while G. mordax of Catalina Island is a dietary specialist, it is capable of exhibiting functional shifts in prey size and species based on their abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Higgins
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Coastal Biology, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.
| | - Chris J Law
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Coastal Biology, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Rita S Mehta
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Coastal Biology, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
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28
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Ligon RA, McGraw KJ. A chorus of color: hierarchical and graded information content of rapid color change signals in chameleons. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Russell A Ligon
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Kevin J McGraw
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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29
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Lappin AK, Wilcox SC, Moriarty DJ, Stoeppler SAR, Evans SE, Jones MEH. Bite force in the horned frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli) with implications for extinct giant frogs. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11963. [PMID: 28931936 PMCID: PMC5607344 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11968-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Of the nearly 6,800 extant frog species, most have weak jaws that play only a minor role in prey capture. South American horned frogs (Ceratophrys) are a notable exception. Aggressive and able to consume vertebrates their own size, these “hopping heads” use a vice-like grip of their jaws to restrain and immobilize prey. Using a longitudinal experimental design, we quantified the ontogenetic profile of bite-force performance in post-metamorphic Ceratophrys cranwelli. Regression slopes indicate positive allometric scaling of bite force with reference to head and body size, results that concur with scaling patterns across a diversity of taxa, including fish and amniotes (lizards, tuatara, turtles, crocodylians, rodents). Our recovered scaling relationship suggests that exceptionally large individuals of a congener (C. aurita) and extinct giant frogs (Beelzebufo ampinga, Late Cretaceous of Madagascar) probably could bite with forces of 500 to 2200 N, comparable to medium to large-sized mammalian carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kristopher Lappin
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, 91768, USA.
| | - Sean C Wilcox
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, 91768, USA.,Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - David J Moriarty
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, 91768, USA
| | - Stephanie A R Stoeppler
- Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, 91768, USA
| | - Susan E Evans
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marc E H Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.,South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
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30
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31
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Broeckhoven C, de Kock C, Mouton PLFN. Sexual dimorphism in osteoderm expression and the role of male intrasexual aggression. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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32
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Deban SM, Richardson JC. A peculiar mechanism of bite-force enhancement in lungless salamanders revealed by a new geometric method for modeling muscle moments. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:3588-3597. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.165266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Desmognathine salamanders possess unusual morphological features for lungless salamanders that have been proposed to aid in burrowing and biting, including well-ossified jaws and skull and a pair of robust ligaments connecting the atlas to the mandible. We evaluated the function of these and other peculiar desmognathine cranial features in biting by examining the morphology, mechanics, and in-vivo biting performance of the large Desmognathus quadramaculatus. We estimated theoretical biting force using a novel geometric method that we describe. Results provide quantitative evidence to bolster earlier conclusions that the unsual atlanto-mandibular ligaments couple ventral head flexion, a unique desmognathine behavior, with biting performance. Our analysis also reveals that the ligaments not only transmit, but also amplify the force of head flexion when acting together with the unusual stalked occipital condyles, enlarged atlas, and massive quadratopectoralis muscles. The geometric model predicts that this mechanism contributes five times the biting force of the three jaw levator muscles combined and predicts maximum biting force in D. quadramaculatus matches or exceeds forces reported for similarly sized lizards. In-vivo biting performance we measured was several times greater in D. quadramaculatus than another plethodontid salamander, Pseudotriton ruber, which lacks the unusual morphology and mechanism of desmognathines. The effective biting mechanism of D. quadramaculatus we describe is an emergent property of many of the distinguishing morphological features of desmognathine salamanders and likely plays an important role in their natural history given that desmognathines use biting in feeding, defense, and even courtship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M. Deban
- Department of Integrative Biology, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, Science Center 110, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33620, USA
| | - Jason C. Richardson
- Department of Integrative Biology, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, Science Center 110, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 33620, USA
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33
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Weihmann T, Reinhardt L, Weißing K, Siebert T, Wipfler B. Fast and Powerful: Biomechanics and Bite Forces of the Mandibles in the American Cockroach Periplaneta americana. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141226. [PMID: 26559671 PMCID: PMC4641686 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowing the functionality and capabilities of masticatory apparatuses is essential for the ecological classification of jawed organisms. Nevertheless insects, especially with their outstanding high species number providing an overwhelming morphological diversity, are notoriously underexplored with respect to maximum bite forces and their dependency on the mandible opening angles. Aiming for a general understanding of insect biting, we examined the generalist feeding cockroach Periplaneta americana, characterized by its primitive chewing mouth parts. We measured active isometric bite forces and passive forces caused by joint resistance over the entire mandibular range with a custom-built 2D force transducer. The opening angle of the mandibles was quantified by using a video system. With respect to the effective mechanical advantage of the mandibles and the cross-section areas, we calculated the forces exerted by the mandible closer muscles and the corresponding muscle stress values. Comparisons with the scarce data available revealed close similarities of the cockroaches' mandible closer stress values (58 N/cm2) to that of smaller specialist carnivorous ground beetles, but strikingly higher values than in larger stag beetles. In contrast to available datasets our results imply the activity of faster and slower muscle fibres, with the latter becoming active only when the animals chew on tough material which requires repetitive, hard biting. Under such circumstances the coactivity of fast and slow fibres provides a force boost which is not available during short-term activities, since long latencies prevent a specific effective employment of the slow fibres in this case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Weihmann
- Dept. of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Reinhardt
- Science of Motion, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Kevin Weißing
- Entomology Group, Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie mit Phyletischem Museum, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Tobias Siebert
- Institute of Sport and Motion Science, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Benjamin Wipfler
- Entomology Group, Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie mit Phyletischem Museum, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
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34
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Donihue CM, Brock KM, Foufopoulos J, Herrel A. Feed or fight: testing the impact of food availability and intraspecific aggression on the functional ecology of an island lizard. Funct Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Colin M. Donihue
- Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies 370 Prospect St New Haven Connecticut06511 USA
| | - Kinsey M. Brock
- School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Michigan 440 Church St. Ann Arbor Michigan48109 USA
| | - Johannes Foufopoulos
- School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Michigan 440 Church St. Ann Arbor Michigan48109 USA
| | - Anthony Herrel
- UMR7179 CNRS/MNHN 75005 Paris France
- Ghent University Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35 B‐9000 Gent Belgium
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