Current Zoology,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
66(5), P. 539 - 553
Published: Sept. 22, 2020
Selective
pressures
favor
morphologies
that
are
adapted
to
distinct
ecologies,
resulting
in
trait
partitioning
among
ecomorphotypes.
However,
the
effects
of
these
selective
vary
across
taxa,
especially
because
morphology
is
also
influenced
by
factors
such
as
phylogeny,
body
size,
and
functional
trade-offs.
In
this
study,
we
examine
how
impact
diversification
mammals.
It
has
been
proposed
mammalian
ecomorphotypes
less
pronounced
at
small
sizes
due
biomechanical,
energetic,
environmental
a
"generalist"
plan,
whereas
larger
taxa
exhibit
more
substantial
adaptations.
We
title
Divergence
Hypothesis
(DH)
it
predicts
greater
morphological
divergence
sizes.
test
DH
using
phylogenetic
comparative
methods
postcranial
skeletons
129
species
taxonomically
diverse,
small-to-medium-sized
(<15
kg)
mammals,
which
categorize
either
"tree-dwellers"
or
"ground-dwellers."
some
analyses,
ground-dwellers
tree-dwellers
suggest
between-group
differentiation
sizes,
providing
evidence
for
DH.
trend
neither
particularly
strong
nor
supported
all
analyses.
Instead,
pattern
emerges
from
predictions
DH:
within-group
phenotypic
disparity
increases
with
size
both
tree-dwellers,
driven
outliers
"medium"-sized
Thus,
evolutionary
closely
linked
within-locomotor-group
than
disparity.
discuss
biomechanical
ecological
may
drive
patterns,
emphasize
significant
influences
ecology
on
diversity.
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
9(43)
Published: Oct. 25, 2023
Widely
documented,
megaevolutionary
jumps
in
phenotypic
diversity
continue
to
perplex
researchers
because
it
remains
unclear
whether
these
marked
changes
can
emerge
from
microevolutionary
processes.
Here,
we
tackle
this
question
using
new
approaches
for
modeling
multivariate
traits
evaluate
the
magnitude
and
distribution
of
elaboration
innovation
evolution
bird
beaks.
We
find
that
elaboration,
along
major
axis
change,
is
common
at
both
macro-
scales,
whereas
innovation,
away
more
prominent
scales.
The
change
among
species
beak
shapes
scales
an
emergent
property
across
clades.
Our
analyses
suggest
reorientation
phenotypes
via
a
ubiquitous
route
divergence
arise
through
gradual
alone,
opening
up
further
avenues
explore.
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society,
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: May 21, 2019
Abstract
Arboreal
locomotion
allows
access
to
above-ground
resources
and
might
have
fostered
the
diversification
of
mammals.
Nevertheless,
simple
morphological
measurements
that
consistently
correlate
with
arboreality
remain
indefinable.
As
such,
climbing
habits
many
species
mammals,
living
extinct,
speculative.
We
collected
quantitative
data
on
tendencies
20
murine
rodents,
an
ecologically
morphologically
diverse
clade.
leveraged
Bayesian
phylogenetic
mixed
models
(BPMMs),
incorporating
intraspecific
variation
uncertainty,
determine
which,
if
any,
traits
(17
skeletal
indices)
predict
frequency.
used
ordinal
BPMMs
test
ability
indices
place
48
lack
into
three
qualitative
locomotor
categories
(terrestrial,
general
arboreal).
Only
two
(both
measures
relative
digit
length)
accurately
styles,
manus
length
showing
best
fit.
Manus
has
low
signal,
is
largely
explained
by
ecology
effectively
across
a
multitude
small
including
extinct
species.
Surprisingly,
tail
length,
common
proxy
for
locomotion,
was
poor
predictor
climbing.
In
general,
detailed,
natural
history
data,
such
as
those
presented
here,
are
needed
enhance
our
understanding
evolutionary
ecological
success
clades.
Current Zoology,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
66(5), P. 539 - 553
Published: Sept. 22, 2020
Selective
pressures
favor
morphologies
that
are
adapted
to
distinct
ecologies,
resulting
in
trait
partitioning
among
ecomorphotypes.
However,
the
effects
of
these
selective
vary
across
taxa,
especially
because
morphology
is
also
influenced
by
factors
such
as
phylogeny,
body
size,
and
functional
trade-offs.
In
this
study,
we
examine
how
impact
diversification
mammals.
It
has
been
proposed
mammalian
ecomorphotypes
less
pronounced
at
small
sizes
due
biomechanical,
energetic,
environmental
a
"generalist"
plan,
whereas
larger
taxa
exhibit
more
substantial
adaptations.
We
title
Divergence
Hypothesis
(DH)
it
predicts
greater
morphological
divergence
sizes.
test
DH
using
phylogenetic
comparative
methods
postcranial
skeletons
129
species
taxonomically
diverse,
small-to-medium-sized
(<15
kg)
mammals,
which
categorize
either
"tree-dwellers"
or
"ground-dwellers."
some
analyses,
ground-dwellers
tree-dwellers
suggest
between-group
differentiation
sizes,
providing
evidence
for
DH.
trend
neither
particularly
strong
nor
supported
all
analyses.
Instead,
pattern
emerges
from
predictions
DH:
within-group
phenotypic
disparity
increases
with
size
both
tree-dwellers,
driven
outliers
"medium"-sized
Thus,
evolutionary
closely
linked
within-locomotor-group
than
disparity.
discuss
biomechanical
ecological
may
drive
patterns,
emphasize
significant
influences
ecology
on
diversity.
