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Camp CD, Felix ZI, Wooten JA. Evidence of morphological homoplasy among large, semi-aquatic species of Desmognathus. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-bja10087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The salamander family Plethodontidae is replete with instances of repeated homoplasy. We tested for morphological homoplasy in distantly related species of the plethodontid genus Desmognathus that share similar ecologies. Specifically, we compared species that are large and nearly aquatic. Using morphometric analyses, we compared the respective morphologies of four large, nearly aquatic forms, specifically the Black Mountain Salamander (Desmognathus welteri), the Dwarf Black-bellied Salamander (D. folkertsi), and two phylogenetically divergent lineages of the Black-bellied Salamander (D. quadramaculatus). Morphometric analysis uncovered distinct differences among them. However, all of the large-bodied lineages exhibited the same extent of tail-fin development in spite of D. welteri’s closer phylogenetic relationship to smaller, more-terrestrial species than to the other large, nearly aquatic forms we tested. We hypothesize that large body size is also a consequence of aquatic adaptation. These morphological consequences of a nearly aquatic ecology represent another case of homoplasy within this salamander family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos D. Camp
- Department of Biology, Piedmont University, 1021 Central Avenue, Demorest, GA 30535, USA
| | - Zachary I. Felix
- Biology Program, Reinhardt University, 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska, GA 30182, USA
| | - Jessica A. Wooten
- Department of Biology, Piedmont University, 1021 Central Avenue, Demorest, GA 30535, USA
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2
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Schwaner MJ, Hsieh ST, Braasch I, Bradley S, Campos CB, Collins CE, Donatelli CM, Fish FE, Fitch OE, Flammang BE, Jackson BE, Jusufi A, Mekdara PJ, Patel A, Swalla BJ, Vickaryous M, McGowan CP. Future Tail Tales: A Forward-Looking, Integrative Perspective on Tail Research. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:521-537. [PMID: 33999184 PMCID: PMC8680820 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Synopsis Tails are a defining characteristic of chordates and show enormous diversity in function and shape. Although chordate tails share a common evolutionary and genetic-developmental origin, tails are extremely versatile in morphology and function. For example, tails can be short or long, thin or thick, and feathered or spiked, and they can be used for propulsion, communication, or balancing, and they mediate in predator-prey outcomes. Depending on the species of animal the tail is attached to, it can have extraordinarily multi-functional purposes. Despite its morphological diversity and broad functional roles, tails have not received similar scientific attention as, for example, the paired appendages such as legs or fins. This forward-looking review article is a first step toward interdisciplinary scientific synthesis in tail research. We discuss the importance of tail research in relation to five topics: (1) evolution and development, (2) regeneration, (3) functional morphology, (4) sensorimotor control, and (5) computational and physical models. Within each of these areas, we highlight areas of research and combinations of long-standing and new experimental approaches to move the field of tail research forward. To best advance a holistic understanding of tail evolution and function, it is imperative to embrace an interdisciplinary approach, re-integrating traditionally siloed fields around discussions on tail-related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Schwaner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - S T Hsieh
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - I Braasch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - S Bradley
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Guelph, Guelph N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - C B Campos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
| | - C E Collins
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
| | - C M Donatelli
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - F E Fish
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA
| | - O E Fitch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - B E Flammang
- Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - B E Jackson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Longwood University, Farmville, VA 23909, USA
| | - A Jusufi
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
| | - P J Mekdara
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - A Patel
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - B J Swalla
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - M Vickaryous
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Guelph, Guelph N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - C P McGowan
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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3
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Giammona FF. Form and function of the caudal fin throughout the phylogeny of fishes. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:550-572. [PMID: 34114010 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fishes are the longest persisting living vertebrates and as such, display an incredible array of diversity. Variation in the tail, or caudal fin, is often a reflection of a fish's environment, and affects movement, predation, defense, and reproduction. Previous literature has discussed many aspects of caudal fin form and function in particular taxonomic groups; however, no previous work has synthesized these studies in order to detail how the caudal fin is structured, and what purpose this structure serves, throughout the phylogeny of fishes. This review examines the caudal fin throughout the main lineages of fish evolution, and highlights where changes in shape and usage have occurred. Such novelties in form and function tend to have far-reaching evolutionary consequences. Through integration of past and present work, this review creates a coherent picture of caudal fin evolution. Patterns and outliers that demonstrate how form and function of this appendage are intertwined can further inform hypotheses that fill critical gaps in knowledge concerning the caudal fin.
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Zamora‐Camacho FJ, Aragón P. Failed predator attacks have detrimental effects on antipredatory capabilities through developmental plasticity inPelobates cultripestoads. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro Aragón
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN‐CSIC) Madrid Spain
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5
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Frequency and Ecology of Tail Loss in Populations of the Georgetown Salamander (Eurycea naufragia). J HERPETOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1670/17-178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Clarke GS, Phillips BL, Shine R. Clipping the Tail Fin Enables Cohort Identification of Small Anuran Tadpoles. COPEIA 2019. [DOI: 10.1643/ce-18-128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory S. Clarke
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (GSC) ; and (RS) . Send reprint requests to RS
| | | | - Richard Shine
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (GSC) ; and (RS) . Send reprint requests to RS
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Bliss MM, Cecala KK. Terrestrial Salamanders Alter Antipredator Behavior Thresholds Following Tail Autotomy. HERPETOLOGICA 2017. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-16-00059.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M. Bliss
- Department of Biology, University of the South, Sewanee, TN 37383, USA
| | - Kristen K. Cecala
- Department of Biology, University of the South, Sewanee, TN 37383, USA
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Gillis G, Higham TE. Consequences of lost endings: caudal autotomy as a lens for focusing attention on tail function during locomotion. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:2416-22. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.124024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Autotomy has evolved in many animal lineages as a means of predator escape, and involves the voluntary shedding of body parts. In vertebrates, caudal autotomy (or tail shedding) is the most common form, and it is particularly widespread in lizards. Here, we develop a framework for thinking about how tail loss can have fitness consequences, particularly through its impacts on locomotion. Caudal autotomy is fundamentally an alteration of morphology that affects an animal's mass and mass distribution. These morphological changes affect balance and stability, along with the performance of a range of locomotor activities, from running and climbing to jumping and swimming. These locomotor effects can impact on activities critical for survival and reproduction, including escaping predators, capturing prey and acquiring mates. In this Commentary, we first review work illustrating the (mostly) negative effects of tail loss on locomotor performance, and highlight what these consequences reveal about tail function during locomotion. We also identify important areas of future study, including the exploration of new behaviors (e.g. prey capture), increased use of biomechanical measurements and the incorporation of more field-based studies to continue to build our understanding of the tail, an ancestral and nearly ubiquitous feature of the vertebrate body plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Gillis
- Department of Biology, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - Timothy E. Higham
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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10
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Segev O, Polevikove A, Blank L, Goedbloed D, Küpfer E, Gershberg A, Koplovich A, Blaustein L. Effects of Tail Clipping on Larval Performance and Tail Regeneration Rates in the Near Eastern Fire Salamander, Salamandra infraimmaculata. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128077. [PMID: 26065683 PMCID: PMC4466261 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tail-tip clipping is a common technique for collecting tissue samples from amphibian larvae and adults. Surprisingly, studies of this invasive sampling procedure or of natural tail clipping--i.e., bites inflicted by predators including conspecifics--on the performance and fitness of aquatic larval stages of urodeles are scarce. We conducted two studies in which we assessed the effects of posterior tail clipping (~30 percent of tail) on Near Eastern fire salamander (Salamandra infraimmaculata) larvae. In a laboratory study, we checked regeneration rates of posterior tail-tip clipping at different ages. Regeneration rates were hump-shaped, peaking at the age of ~30 days and then decreasing. This variation in tail regeneration rates suggests tradeoffs in resource allocation between regeneration and somatic growth during early and advanced development. In an outdoor artificial pond experiment, under constant larval densities, we assessed how tail clipping of newborn larvae affects survival to, time to, and size at metamorphosis. Repeated measures ANOVA on mean larval survival per pond revealed no effect of tail clipping. Tail clipping had correspondingly no effect on larval growth and development expressed in size (mass and snout-vent length) at, and time to, metamorphosis. We conclude that despite the given variation in tail regeneration rates throughout larval ontogeny, clipping of 30% percent of the posterior tail area seems to have no adverse effects on larval fitness and survival. We suggest that future use of this imperative tool for the study of amphibian should take into account larval developmental stage during the time of application and not just the relative size of the clipped tail sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ori Segev
- Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Antonina Polevikove
- Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Lior Blank
- Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
| | - Daniel Goedbloed
- Technical University of Braunschweig, Zoological Institute, Braunschweig, 38106, Germany
| | - Eliane Küpfer
- Technical University of Braunschweig, Zoological Institute, Braunschweig, 38106, Germany
| | - Anna Gershberg
- Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Avi Koplovich
- Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Leon Blaustein
- Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
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Effect of temperature, photoperiod, and feeding on the rate of tail regeneration in a semiaquatic plethodontid salamander. J Therm Biol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2013.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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