Selectivity and the effect of mass extinctions on disparity and functional ecology

Science Advances, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 7(19)

Опубликована: Май 5, 2021

Fossils reveal that morphological disparity, ecology, and taxonomic richness can remain coupled across nonselective mass extinctions.

Язык: Английский

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Complex macroevolution of pterosaurs

Current Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 33(4), С. 770 - 779.e4

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Why should we compare morphological and molecular disparity?

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(9), С. 2390 - 2410

Опубликована: Июль 24, 2023

Abstract Indices of morphological disparity seek to summarise the highly multivariate variation across groups species within clades, time bins or other groups. Morphological can be quantified using geometric morphometric, outline surface‐based methods. These are most effective when differences relatively modest and there numerous ubiquitous landmarks phase aligned features shape variation. The disparate samples, such as those classes phyla, typically necessitate use discrete characters. Unfortunately, characters often compiled subjectively in a manner reflecting level taxonomic focus intensity taxon sampling. Sampling is variable single data set, especially repurposed amalgamated cladistic matrices. Here, we propose indices molecular analogous disparity. Despite shortcomings discussed here, sequence obtained more objective, automated scalable than data. Comparisons subclades 16 large sets suggest that less susceptible sampling biases Moreover, distance matrices inferred from individual genes tend correlate strongly with each distances all concatenated genes. By contrast, not significantly correlated subclades, comparisons for help give fuller picture their evolution. For example, mammals, Afrotheria have conspicuously high but disparity, suggesting unusually plasticity. Even strikingly, rodents over five times Artiodactyla, despite having only half contrasts differential operation geometric, biomechanical, ontogenetic environmental constraints on form. Given increasing abundance total evidence datasets literature widespread sometimes uncritical repurposing matrices, comparison useful tool understand subclade evolution fully.

Язык: Английский

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Morphological evolution in a time of Phenomics

Опубликована: Янв. 10, 2024

Organismal morphology has been at the core of study biodiversity for millennia before formalization concept evolution. In early to mid-twentieth century, a strong theoretical framework was developed understanding both pattern and process morphological evolution on macroevolutionary scale. The past half century transformational period evolutionary morphology, in quantification novel analytical tools estimating how why diversity changes through time, with marked increase studies apparent 1990s. We are now another inflection point evolution, availability vast amounts high-resolution data sampling extant extinct allowing ‘omics’-scale analysis. Artificial intelligence is already increasing pace phenomic collection even further. This new reality, where ability obtain quickly outpacing analyse it robust, realistic models, brings set challenges, we here present analyses demonstrating these challenges discussing solutions. Fully transitioning into “Omics” era will involve development automate extraction meaningful, comparable morphometric from images, integrate fossil large phylogenetic trees downstream analyses, generate robust models that accurately reflect complexity processes well-suited high-dimensional data. Combined, advancements solidify emerging field phenomics appropriately center around analysis unambiguously critical deep-time

Язык: Английский

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Locomotion and the early Mesozoic success of Archosauromorpha

Royal Society Open Science, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 11(2)

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2024

The Triassic was a time of ecological upheaval as life recovered from the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. Archosauromorphs were key component recovery, diversifying substantially during and encompassing origins dinosaurs, pterosaurs crocodylomorphs. Here, we explore evolution locomotion in Archosauromorpha to test whether dinosaurs show any distinctive locomotory features that might explain their success. We implement geometric morphometrics on limb bone shapes use ratios calculate bipedality cursoriality metrics. find Avemetatarsalia (dinosaurs, relatives) exhibit more variable form than other group, indicating wider range modes. earliest avemetatarsalians bipedal cursorial, increased through with notable diversification shifts following extinction events. This is especially true even though these changes cannot be discriminated stochastic process. By contrast, Pseudosuchia (crocodilians restricted locomotor mode disparity decreasing time, suggesting limited adaptation vulnerability Perhaps greater plasticity gave them competitive advantage changing climates Late Triassic.

Язык: Английский

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Thermal acclimation of tree species in a tropical Andean city: Exploring the role of species origin and thermal niche

American Journal of Botany, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 27, 2025

Abstract Premise The warmer and drier atmospheric conditions of urban environments challenge plant performance to different extents based on a species' ability acclimate the conditions. We evaluated influence species origin thermal niche acclimation leaf traits shifts in occupation functional trait space 10 tree growing two environmentally contrasting sites Bogotá, Colombia. Methods measured six per both used generalized linear models evaluate t ‐tests analyze space. Results Species predicted tolerance morphological Although exotic decreased at site, from origins acclimated consistently. Shifts varied between origins; reduced size exotics increased phenotypic similarity natives. Thermal changes across species. Finally, metrics were uncoupled failed explain capacity studied Conclusions influenced conditions, effect was not related niches. Our results provide crucial information for decision‐makers involved designing peri‐urban green spaces that can withstand climate change.

Язык: Английский

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Quantifying the configurational complexity of biological systems in multivariate ‘complexity space’

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 22(222)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

An increasing number of evolutionary studies seek to quantify the morphological complexity organisms, particularly those comprising serially homologous elements at different hierarchical levels organization. Numerous operational frameworks have been proposed for doing this, but most focus on one or multiple conflated aspects what is really a multidimensional concept. Here, we advocate use ‘complexity spaces’: spaces defined by vectors complexity. We explore their application biological systems composed parts and identify three axes which differ: part number, differentiation regularity that differentiation. Such can be constructed To illustrate trilobite body plans (comprising segments varying form), ant colonies differentiated worker polymorphisms form within ‘superorganism’). Many are possible, all distinguish an information-theoretic framework, thereby clarify patterns evolution.

Язык: Английский

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Osteology of the appendicular skeleton of Bagualia alba (Dinosauria, Eusauropoda) from the Lower Jurassic of Patagonia and the macroevolutionary history of early eusauropods

Cladistics, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 41(1), С. 70 - 103

Опубликована: Янв. 30, 2025

Since their origin, sauropodomorphs have undergone numerous anatomical changes from small and bipedal early towards massive-bodied quadrupedal sauropods. However, the timing of these in evolution group is unclear. Here, we describe appendicular skeleton diverging eusauropod Bagualia alba late Early Jurassic Patagonia, Argentina, conduct a morphological disparity analysis based on phylogenetic dataset Sauropoda. The results reveal change morphospace occupation between pre-Toarcian Toarcian-Middle latter Late forms. first shift corresponds with extinction non-sauropodan diversification sauropods, while second Neosauropoda closely related eusauropods (mamenchisaurids, turiasaurians) Jurassic, leading to substantial increase disparity. Finally, found that body mass significantly correlated principal coordinate axis two-thirds random sample optimal trees, which suggests size played role shaping sauropod morphology. In this context, provides insights into Sauropoda, particularly regarding occurred during Middle Jurassic.

Язык: Английский

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Semicircular canals shed light on bottleneck events in the evolution of the Neanderthal clade

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 16(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 20, 2025

Revealing the evolutionary processes which resulted in derived morphologies that characterize Neanderthal clade has been an important task for paleoanthropologists. One critical method to quantify changes morphology of hominin populations is through evaluating morphological phenotypic diversity (i.e., disparity) phylogenetically informative bones as a close proxy neutral processes. The goal this study degree disparity clade. We hypothesize reduction bony labyrinth indicative underlying genetic variation resulting from bottleneck events. apply deformation-based geometric morphometric approach investigate semicircular canal and vestibule shape chronologically broad sample individuals belonging lineage. Our results identify significant after start Marine Isotope Stage 5 supporting our hypothesis late bottleneck, possibly leading Late Pleistocene Neanderthals.

Язык: Английский

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Morphological evolution in a time of phenomics

Paleobiology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 1 - 19

Опубликована: Март 11, 2025

Abstract Organismal morphology was at the core of study biodiversity for millennia before formalization concept evolution. In early to mid-twentieth century, a strong theoretical framework developed understanding both pattern and process morphological evolution, 50 years since founding this journal capture transformational period in quantification analytical tools estimating how diversity changes through time. We are now another inflection point with availability vast amounts high-resolution data sampling extant extinct allowing “omics”-scale analysis. Artificial intelligence is accelerating pace phenomic acquisition even further. This new reality, which ability obtain quickly outpacing analyze it robust, realistic evolutionary models, brings set challenges. Phylogenetic comparative methods have provided insights into processes generating diversity, but reliance on molecular resultant exclusion fossil from most large phylogenetic trees has well-established negative impacts analyses, as we demonstrate examples standard single-rate mode- rate-shift recently described Ornstein-Uhlenbeck climate model. Further development analysis high-dimensional needed, existing can refine our expectations evolution generation under different scenarios, analyses placental skull Cenozoic. Fully transitioning omics era will involve automate extraction meaningful, comparable morphometric images, integrate downstream generate robust models that accurately reflect complexity well-suited data. Combined, these advancements solidify emerging field phenomics appropriately center around deep-time

Язык: Английский

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