High phenotypic plasticity at the dawn of the eosauropterygian radiation

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11, P. e15776 - e15776

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

The initial radiation of Eosauropterygia during the Triassic biotic recovery represents a key event in dominance reptiles secondarily adapted to marine environments. Recent studies on Mesozoic reptile disparity highlighted that eosauropterygians had their greatest morphological diversity Middle Triassic, with co-occurrence Pachypleurosauroidea, Nothosauroidea and Pistosauroidea, mostly along margins Tethys Ocean. However, these previous quantitatively analysed as whole without focussing taxa, thus limiting our understanding diversification morphospace occupation Triassic. Our multivariate morphometric analyses highlight clearly distinct colonization ecomorphospace by three clades, no evidence whole-body convergent evolution exception peculiar pistosauroid Wangosaurus brevirostris, which appears phenotypically much more similar nothosauroids. This global pattern is driven craniodental differences inferred feeding specializations. We also reveal noticeable regional among nothosauroids pachypleurosauroids latter likely experienced remarkable eastern Pelsonian. results demonstrate high phenotypic plasticity characterizing pelagic plesiosaurians was already present ancestors, casting particularly adaptable animals.

Language: Английский

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A macroevolutionary common-garden experiment reveals differentially evolvable bone organization levels in slow arboreal mammals

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: Sept. 28, 2023

Abstract Eco-morphological convergence, i.e., similar phenotypes evolved in ecologically convergent taxa, naturally reproduces a common-garden experiment since it allows researchers to keep ecological factors constant, studying intrinsic evolutionary drivers. The latter may result differential evolvability that, among individual anatomical parts, causes mosaic evolution. Reconstructing the morphology of humerus and femur slow arboreal mammals, we addressed mosaicism at different bone spatial scales. We compared convergence strength, using as indicator evolvability, between external shape inner structure, with former expected be less evolvable involved evolution, due constraints. identify several structural traits, while only loosely follows this trend, find confirmation for our assumption measures magnitude. suggest that future macroevolutionary reconstructions based on should include traits better detect effects vertebrate diversification.

Language: Английский

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Divergence time and environmental similarity predict the strength of morphological convergence in stick and leaf insects

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 9, 2023

Abstract Independent evolution of similar traits in lineages inhabiting environments (convergent evolution) is often taken as evidence for adaptation by natural selection, and used to illustrate the predictability evolution. Yet convergence rarely perfect. Environments may not be they appear (e.g., habitats scored same heterogenous organisms). And can evolve different ways even when submitted environmental challenges, because responses selection are contingent upon available genetic variation independent differ alleles, backgrounds, developmental mechanisms responsible phenotypes question. Both impediments predicted increase length time separating two increases, making it difficult discern their relative importance. We quantified similarity extent show how habitat divergence each contribute observed patterns morphological stick leaf insects (order Phasmatodea). Dozens phasmid independently colonized habitats, repeatedly evolving parallel directions on a 26-trait morphospace, though magnitude direction these shifts varied. Lineages converging towards more ended up closer did closely related lineages, followed trajectories arrive there. Remarkably, after accounting similarity, we that reduced at constant rate across than 60 million years separation, suggesting contingency predictable, given sufficient spans time. Significance statement Phasmids (stick insects) exemplify extraordinary power shape organismal phenotypes. The animals themselves charismatic champions crypsis masquerade; our characterization adaptive radiation reveals dozens instances convergence, adapted changes body forms. Our findings conditions experienced organisms – closeness invaded niches elapsed since divergence, both predict strength convergence. an evolutionary process surprisingly have been tens millions years.

Language: Английский

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Limited convergence in the postcranium of aquatic Crocodylomorpha

Palaeontology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 66(6)

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

Abstract Thalattosuchia (Early Jurassic to Early Cretaceous) and Dyrosauridea (Late Cretaceous Eocene) are crocodylomorph archosaurs which diversified in fluvial marine environments endured extinction events (i.e. Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary for Thalattosuchia; Cretaceous–Palaeogene Dyrosauridea). Their postcrania remain globally undervalued anatomical descriptions diagnoses, shrouding the locomotive adaptations that possibly underpinned their radiations longevity. We thoroughly surveyed postcranial morphology of Thalattosuchia, recreated girdles three‐dimensions using tens high‐precisions 3D scans, analysed shape geometric morphometrics. have clearly distinct postcrania, even when found within similar environments, suggesting existence clade‐specific features limiting strength evolutionary convergence. Moreover, range morphologies evolved by dyrosaurids thalattosuchians is large compared extant crocodylians, making latter unsatisfactory functional analogues every group extinct crocodylomorphs. Our work reveals previously unsuspected potential anatomy as an abundant source phylogenetic taxonomic characters assess relationships Crocodylomorpha. Incorporation therefore appears crucial fully ecology, disparity,

Language: Английский

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Skull evolution and lineage diversification in endemic Malagasy carnivorans

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 29, 2024

Abstract Madagascar is one of the world’s foremost biodiversity hotspots with more than 90% its species endemic to island. Malagasy carnivorans are only four extant terrestrial mammalian clades Madagascar. Although there eight species, these exhibit remarkable phenotypic and ecological diversity that often hypothesized have diversified through an adaptive radiation. Here, we investigated evolution skull in tested if they exhibited characteristics convergence We found their disparity exceeds any other feliform family, as skulls vary widely strikingly capture a large amount morphological variation across all feliforms. also evidence shared zones cranial shape between euplerid subclades felids, herpestids, viverrids. Lastly, contrary predictions radiation, do not rapid lineage diversification marginally faster rates mandibular evolution, lesser extent compared These results reveal exceptional necessary generate striking evolved after dispersal isolation on

Language: Английский

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Carrion converging: Skull shape is predicted by feeding ecology in vultures

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 18, 2023

Abstract The link between skull shape and dietary ecology in birds at macroevolutionary scales has recently been called into question by analyses of 3D that reveal cranial anatomy is mainly influenced other factors such as allometry. It still unknown whether this form-function disconnect also exists smaller evolutionary scales, for example within specialized ecological guilds. Vultures are a diverse guild 23 extant species two families (Accipitridae Cathartidae) exhibit phenotypic convergence result highly-specialized feeding ecology. the only known obligate scavengers among vertebrates usually grouped together under single category, but diet there three distinct, species-specific strategies termed ripper, gulper, scrapper. We use three-dimensional geometric morphometrics to quantify relative contributions ecology, allometry, phylogeny on vulture shape, along with several non-vulture raptors similar size, range Families show clear separation phylogenetic signal comparatively weak ( K mult = 0.33). Taking account influence phylogeny, not significantly correlated either size or type, examples strong, significant parallel evolution across groups. Furthermore, performs strongly predicting discriminant function analysis. These findings highlight importance detailed assessment behavior studies ecomorphology, rather than broader categories alone, can be readily inferred from form given appropriate information.

Language: Английский

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Carrion converging: Skull shape predicts feeding ecology in vultures

Journal of Zoology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 322(2), P. 113 - 125

Published: Nov. 21, 2023

Abstract The link between skull shape and dietary ecology in birds at macroevolutionary scales has recently been called into question by analyses of 3D that reveal cranial anatomy is mainly influenced other factors such as allometry. It still unknown whether this form‐function disconnect also exists smaller evolutionary scales, for example within specialized ecological guilds. Vultures are a diverse guild 23 extant species two families (Accipitridae Cathartidae) exhibit convergence result highly feeding ecology. the only known obligate scavengers among vertebrates usually grouped together under single category, but diet there three distinct, species‐specific strategies termed ripper, gulper, scrapper. We use three‐dimensional geometric morphometrics to quantify relative contributions ecology, allometry, phylogeny on vulture shape, along with several non‐vulture raptors similar size, range Families show clear separation phylogenetic signal comparatively weak ( K mult = 0.33). Taking account influence phylogeny, not significantly correlated either size or type, examples strong, significant parallel evolution across groups. Furthermore, performs strongly predicting discriminant function analysis. These findings highlight importance detailed assessment behavior studies ecomorphology, rather than broader categories alone, can be readily inferred from form given appropriate information.

Language: Английский

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