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Piwczyński M, Granjon L, Trzeciak P, Carlos Brito J, Oana Popa M, Daba Dinka M, Johnston NP, Boratyński Z. Unraveling phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries in the arid adapted Gerbillus rodents (Muridae: Gerbillinae) by RAD-seq data. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 189:107913. [PMID: 37659480 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107913] [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: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Gerbillus is one of the most speciose genera among rodents, with ca. 51 recognized species. Previous attempts to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Gerbillus mainly relied on the mitochondrial cyt-b marker as a source of phylogenetic information. In this study, we utilize RAD-seq genomic data from 37 specimens representing 11 species to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree for Gerbillus, applying concatenation and coalescence methods. We identified four highly supported clades corresponding to the traditionally recognized subgenera: Dipodillus, Gerbillus, Hendecapleura and Monodia. Only two uncertain branches were detected in the resulting trees, with one leading to diversification of the main lineages in the genus, recognized by quartet sampling analysis as uncertain due to possible introgression. We also examined species boundaries for four pairs of sister taxa, including potentially new species from Morocco, using SNAPP. The results strongly supported a speciation model in which all taxa are treated as separate species. The dating analyses confirmed the Plio-Pleistocene diversification of the genus, with the uncertain branch coinciding with the beginning of aridification of the Sahara at the the Plio-Pleistocene boundary. This study aligns well with the earlier analyses based on the cyt-b marker, reaffirming its suitability as an adequate marker for estimating genetic diversity in Gerbillus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Piwczyński
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, PL-87-100 Toruń, Poland.
| | - Laurent Granjon
- CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Paulina Trzeciak
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, PL-87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - José Carlos Brito
- CIBIO-InBio, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Madalina Oana Popa
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, PL-87-100 Toruń, Poland; "Stejarul" Research Centre for Biological Sciences, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Alexandru cel Bun 6, RO-610004, Piatra Neamţ, Romania
| | - Mergi Daba Dinka
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, PL-87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Nikolas P Johnston
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Zbyszek Boratyński
- CIBIO-InBio, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
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Kang Y, Wang Z, Yao B, An K, Pu Q, Zhang C, Zhang Z, Hou Q, Zhang D, Su J. Environmental and climatic drivers of phenotypic evolution and distribution changes in a widely distributed subfamily of subterranean mammals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163177. [PMID: 37003344 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
How environmental factors shape species morphology and distributions is a key issue in ecology, especially in similar environments. Species of Myospalacinae exhibit widespread distribution spanning the eastern Eurasian steppe and the extreme adaptation to the subterranean environment, providing an excellent opportunity for investigating species responses to environmental changes. At the national scale, we here use geometric morphometric and distributional data to assess the environmental and climatic drivers of morphological evolution and distribution of Myospalacinae species in China. Based on phylogenetic relationships of Myospalacinae species constructed using genomic data in China, we integrate geometric morphometrics and ecological niche models to reveal the interspecific variation of skull morphology, trace the ancestral state, and assess factors influencing interspecific variation. Our approach further allows us to project future distributions of Myospalacinae species throughout China. We found that the interspecific morphology variations were mainly concentrated in the temporal ridge, premaxillary-frontal suture, premaxillary-maxillary suture, and molars, and the skull morphology of the two current species in Myospalacinae followed the ancestral state; temperature and precipitation were important environmental variables influencing skull morphology. Elevation, temperature annual range, and precipitation of warmest quarter were identified as dominant factors affecting the distribution of Myospalacinae species in China, and their suitable habitat area will decrease in the future. Collectively, environmental and climate changes have an effect on skull phenotypes of subterranean mammals, highlighting the contribution of phenotypic differentiation in similar environments in the formation of species phenotypes. Climate change will further shrink their habitats under future climate assumptions in the short-term. Our findings provide new insights into effects of environmental and climate change on the morphological evolution and distribution of species as well as a reference for biodiversity conservation and species management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Kang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Zhicheng Wang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Baohui Yao
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Kang An
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Qiangsheng Pu
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Caijun Zhang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Qiqi Hou
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Degang Zhang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Qilianshan Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Wuwei 733200, China
| | - Junhu Su
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Gansu Qilianshan Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Wuwei 733200, China.
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Samuels JX, Calede JJM, Hunt, Jr. RM. The earliest dipodomyine heteromyid in North America and the phylogenetic relationships of geomorph rodents. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14693. [PMID: 36915658 PMCID: PMC10007967 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14693] [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: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Dipodomyine heteromyids (kangaroo rats and mice) are a diverse group of arid-adapted ricochetal rodents of North America. Here, a new genus and species of a large dipodomyine is reported from early Miocene-aged deposits of the John Day Formation in Oregon that represents the earliest record of the subfamily. The taxon is known from a single specimen consisting of a nearly complete skull, dentary, partial pes, and caudal vertebra. The specimen is characterized by a mosaic of ancestral and highly derived cranial features of heteromyids. Specifically, the dental morphology and some cranial characteristics are similar to early heteromyids, but other aspects of morphology, including the exceptionally inflated auditory bullae, are more similar to known dipodomyines. This specimen was included in a phylogenetic analysis comprising 96 characters and the broadest sampling of living and extinct geomorph rodents of any morphological phylogenetic analysis to date. Results support the monophyly of crown-group Heteromyidae exclusive of Geomyidae and place the new taxon within Dipodomyinae. The new heteromyid is the largest known member of the family. Analyses suggest that large body size evolved several times within Heteromyidae. Overall, the morphology of the new heteromyid supports a mosaic evolution of the open-habitat adaptations that characterize kangaroo rats and mice, with the inflation of the auditory bulla appearing early in the group, and bipedality/ricochetal locomotion appearing later. We hypothesize that cooling and drying conditions in the late Oligocene and early Miocene favored adaptations for life in more open habitats, resulting in increased locomotor specialization in this lineage over time from a terrestrial ancestor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua X. Samuels
- Department of Geosciences, Don Sundquist Center of Excellence in Paleontology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States of America
| | - Jonathan J.-M. Calede
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University—Marion, Marion, OH, United States of America
| | - Robert M. Hunt, Jr.
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska—Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States of America
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Dashti Z, Alhaddad H, Alhajeri BH. Skull variation in populations of the Indian gerbil Tatera indica (Gerbillinae, Rodentia) sampled across its broad geographic range. VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/vz.72.e90474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Populations of broadly distributed species often exhibit geographic structuring, which is sometimes reflected in phenotype. The monotypic Indian gerbil (Tatera indica) is an example of a widely distributed species, with its range encompassing much of Asia. This study aims to determine if T. indica populations exhibit marked variation in skull morphology—this structure is particularly adaptable and thus could be amenable to show such variation. Furthermore, the potential drivers of skull variation are examined, including the role of climate and geography. To achieve these goals, 21 linear measurements were measured on the skulls of 509 specimens, coming from 111 different localities, across this species wide range. The specimens were then assigned into one of four broad geographic groups (≈ populations) based on their geographic proximity, and the overall and the pairwise differences in the 21 skull measurements among these groups were assessed. Specimens from Pakistan significantly differed from those belonging to the West Iran, East Iran, and India populations, which in turn did not significantly differ from each other. Pairwise bioclimatic and geographic distances between the localities explained a significant, yet small amount of variation in the measurements. Thus, while the Pakistani T. indica population was distinct in skull measurements, both climatic and non-climatic spatial factors seem not to account largely for its distinctiveness (from the other populations).
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Species differentiation in two closely related Neotropical rodents across a transition zone between ecoregions. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00306-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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6
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López-Antoñanzas R, Mitchell J, Simões TR, Condamine FL, Aguilée R, Peláez-Campomanes P, Renaud S, Rolland J, Donoghue PCJ. Integrative Phylogenetics: Tools for Palaeontologists to Explore the Tree of Life. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:1185. [PMID: 36009812 PMCID: PMC9405010 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The modern era of analytical and quantitative palaeobiology has only just begun, integrating methods such as morphological and molecular phylogenetics and divergence time estimation, as well as phenotypic and molecular rates of evolution. Calibrating the tree of life to geological time is at the nexus of many disparate disciplines, from palaeontology to molecular systematics and from geochronology to comparative genomics. Creating an evolutionary time scale of the major events that shaped biodiversity is key to all of these fields and draws from each of them. Different methodological approaches and data employed in various disciplines have traditionally made collaborative research efforts difficult among these disciplines. However, the development of new methods is bridging the historical gap between fields, providing a holistic perspective on organismal evolutionary history, integrating all of the available evidence from living and fossil species. Because phylogenies with only extant taxa do not contain enough information to either calibrate the tree of life or fully infer macroevolutionary dynamics, phylogenies should preferably include both extant and extinct taxa, which can only be achieved through the inclusion of phenotypic data. This integrative phylogenetic approach provides ample and novel opportunities for evolutionary biologists to benefit from palaeontological data to help establish an evolutionary time scale and to test core macroevolutionary hypotheses about the drivers of biological diversification across various dimensions of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel López-Antoñanzas
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution (ISE-M, UMR 5554, CNRS/UM/IRD/EPHE), Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France
- Departamento de Paleobiología, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jonathan Mitchell
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University Institute of Technology, 410 Neville Street, Beckley, WV 25801, USA
| | - Tiago R. Simões
- Museum of Comparative Zoology & Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Fabien L. Condamine
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution (ISE-M, UMR 5554, CNRS/UM/IRD/EPHE), Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Robin Aguilée
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, UMR 5174, CNRS/IRD, 31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Pablo Peláez-Campomanes
- Departamento de Paleobiología, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sabrina Renaud
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR 5558, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jonathan Rolland
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, UMR 5174, CNRS/IRD, 31077 Toulouse, France
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Dashti Z, Alhaddad H, Alhajeri BH. A geometric morphometric analysis of geographic variation in the Cape Short-eared gerbil, Desmodillus auricularis (Rodentia: Gerbillinae). MAMMALIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2022-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The genus Desmodillus is monospecific, consisting of only the Cape short-eared gerbil (Desmodillus auricularis). Despite being widely distributed across southern Africa, previous studies did not find evidence of intraspecific phenotypic geographic differentiation. The objectives of this study is to use geometric morphometrics to investigate if and how the skull of D. auricularis varies spatially. It examines the covariation of skull morphology with broad spatial (latitude and longitude) and climatic variables, based on a sample of 580 specimens from southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa). The results did not support the differentiation of D. auricularis populations into distinct geographically isolated phenotypic groups. However, there is strong evidence for clinal variation in skull morphology; the most prominent pattern being a decrease in size from the west (closest to the South Atlantic coast) to the east (towards the continent’s interior). Shape variation was not localized in any skull region and seem to be driven mostly by size (allometry), although it also covaried significantly with latitude and longitude. Statistically significant skull shape sexual dimorphism was also detected, with males having larger crania than females. Spatial clinal variation in skull morphology was mostly associated with differences in the aridity of the habitats relative to their distance from the coast as evidenced by precipitation-related bioclimatic variables—annual precipitation (BIO12), precipitation of driest month (BIO14), and precipitation of driest quarter (BIO17)—covarying the most with skull morphology. This could be driven by either the climate influencing local resources available to populations or by the climate directly instigating phenotypic climatic adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Dashti
- Department of Biological Sciences , Kuwait University , Safat 13060 , Kuwait
| | - Hasan Alhaddad
- Department of Biological Sciences , Kuwait University , Safat 13060 , Kuwait
| | - Bader H. Alhajeri
- Department of Biological Sciences , Kuwait University , Safat 13060 , Kuwait
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Alhajeri BH. Geometric differences between the crania of Australian hopping mice (Notomys, Murinae, Rodentia). AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/am20067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Half of the ten Australian hopping mice (Notomys) species have become extinct following the European colonisation of Australia, and most of the rest are threatened. This makes the study of their present diversity paramount. Although recent molecular phylogenies improved our understanding of the relationships among the species, detailed interspecific phenotypic comparisons are still lacking. This is the aim of the present study. Geometric morphometric methods were used to compare the crania of all five extant species (N. alexis, N. aquillo, N. cervinus, N. fuscus, and N. mitchellii) along with the extinct N. longicaudatus. Although previous work (based on traditional approaches) find intragenerically conserved crania, the present study discovers significant differences in cranial size and shape among Notomys species, with the ventral view being more distinct than the dorsal view. There was no evidence of sexual dimorphism in cranial size nor shape, and only a weak allometric effect. Most aspects of cranial shape differed among the species. The extant species pair that differed in cranial shape the most was N. aquilo – N. cervinus, differing in the foramen magnum, tympanic bulla, orbit, incisive foramen, and rostrum, along with cranial width, potentially a consequence of N. cervinus’ phylogenetic position, and N. aquilo’s s ecological uniqueness.
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Onley IR, Moseby KE, Austin JJ, Sherratt E. Morphological variation in skull shape and size across extinct and extant populations of the greater stick-nest rat (Leporillus conditor): implications for translocation. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/am21047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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10
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Alhajeri BH. Desmodilliscus braueri crania compared to Pachyuromys duprasi (Desmodilliscini, Gerbillinae, Rodentia). MAMMALIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2021-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Molecular phylogenies support the monophyly of Desmodilliscus braueri and Pachyuromys duprasi as a clade basally split from all other gerbillines. While this monophyly supports their placement in a single tribe (Desmodilliscini), no morphological synapomorphies exist among desmodilliscines. This study compares the scale-independent cranial shapes of these two species using geometric morphometrics to determine how they differ and/or converge. Tribal synapomorphies, should they exist, may appear as interspecifically invariable cranial regions. No such invariable cranial regions were detected. The two species significantly differed in cranial size and shape. A small part of shape variation was allometric, with a weak unique allometric effect. No sexual size nor shape dimorphism was found. The sister taxa greatly differed in almost all cranial features, with Pachyuromys (when compared to Desmodilliscus) having a larger-sized cranium, with a larger bulla and suprameatal triangle, a more posteriorly placed palatine foramina, and more anteriorly shifted (and reduced) rostral cranial structures, due to being crowded by the hypertrophied bulla. Cranial variation patterns are consistent with the literature. The extreme morphological divergence among these species is explained by the distant divergence time and ecological differences. Absence of cranial shape synapomorphies does not preclude synapomorphies in other craniodental morphological features (e.g., detailed morphology of the dentition and cranial foramina) or in other morphological structures, such as the postcranial skeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bader H. Alhajeri
- Department of Biological Sciences , Kuwait University , Safat, 13060 , Kuwait
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11
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Taylor MC, Travouillon KJ, Andrew ME, Fleming PA, Warburton NM. Keeping an ear out: size relationship of the tympanic bullae and pinnae in bandicoots and bilbies (Marsupialia: Peramelemorphia). Curr Zool 2021; 68:251-264. [PMID: 35592340 PMCID: PMC9113346 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bandicoots and bilbies (Order Peramelemorphia) occupy a broad range of habitats across Australia and New Guinea, from open, arid deserts to dense forests. This once diverse group has been particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and introduced eutherian predators, and numerous species extinctions and range retractions have occurred. Understanding reasons for this loss requires greater understanding of their biology. Morphology of the pinnae and tympanic bullae varies markedly among species. As hearing is important for both predator avoidance and prey location, the variability in ear morphology could reflect specialization and adaptation to specific environments, and therefore be of conservation relevance. We measured 798 museum specimens representing 29 species of Peramelemorphia. Controlling for phylogenetic relatedness and head length, pinna surface area was weakly negatively correlated with average precipitation (rainfall being our surrogate measure of vegetation productivity/complexity), and there were no environmental correlates with effective diameter (pinna width). Controlling for phylogenetic relatedness and skull length, tympanic bulla volume was negatively correlated with precipitation. Species that inhabited drier habitats, which would be open and allow sound to carry further with less obstruction, had relatively larger pinnae and tympanic bullae. In contrast, species from higher rainfall habitats, where sounds would be attenuated and diffused by dense vegetation, had the smallest pinnae and bullae, suggesting that low-frequency hearing is not as important in these habitats. Associations with temperature did not reach statistical significance. These findings highlight linkages between hearing traits and habitat that can inform conservation and management strategies for threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa C Taylor
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
- Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia
| | - Kenny J Travouillon
- Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia
| | - Margaret E Andrew
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Patricia A Fleming
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Natalie M Warburton
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
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d' Hiriart S, Teta P, Cueto GR. Geographic patterns of skull variation in two species of cavies of the genus Microcavia (Rodentia, caviidae). AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2021; 93:e20190429. [PMID: 34133528 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120190429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We study the geographical variation of the skull in the cavies Microcavia australis and M. maenas and its association with environmental variables. We tested four hypotheses previously proposed to explain the geographic patterns of morphological variation i) heat conservation; ii) heat dissipation; iii) primary productivity and iv) seasonality. We used 16 cranial measurements taken from 180 individuals. We analyzed the spatial variation in cranial morphology through Generalized Additive Models. Both species showed a north-south clinal gradient in skull size (increasing towards colder, less seasonal environments, with lower summer rainfalls in M. australis and towards warmer and seasonal environments in M. maenas). Microcavia australis presented greater ecomorphological variability than M. maenas, in agreement with its wider distribution and occurrence in more diverse environments. Also, the length of tympanic bullae in M. australis was larger towards its northern distributional range (associated to smaller skulls), and smaller to the south (associated to larger skulls). Overall, the distributional range of both species coincided with unproductive environments, where temperature represents a limiting factor and, together with rainfall, might determine the observed morphological patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía d' Hiriart
- División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia", Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470, (C1405DJR) Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Teta
- División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia", Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470, (C1405DJR) Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gerardo R Cueto
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Guiraldes 2160, (C1428EGA) Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Alhajeri BH. A morphometric comparison of the cranial shapes of Asian dwarf hamsters (Phodopus, Cricetinae, Rodentia). ZOOL ANZ 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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14
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Perez DM, Gardner JL, Medina I. Climate as an Evolutionary Driver of Nest Morphology in Birds: A Review. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.566018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian nests are critical for successful reproduction in birds. Nest microclimate can affect egg development, chick growth and fledgling success, suggesting that nest building behavior should be under strong selective pressure to nesting conditions. Given that the internal microclimate of the nest is critical for avian fitness, it is expected that nest morphology is shaped by the local environment. Here we review the relationship between nest morphology and climate across species’ distributions. We collate growing evidence that supports a link between environmental conditions and particular nest traits, within species and across species. We discuss the degree to which phenotypic plasticity in nesting behavior can contribute to observed variation in nest traits, the role of phylogenetic history in determining nest morphology, and which nest traits are likely to be influenced by climatic conditions. Finally, we identify gaps in our understanding of the evolution of nest morphology and suggest topics for future research. Overall, we argue that nests are part of the extended phenotype of a bird, they play a crucial role in their reproductive success, and may be an important factor in determining which species will be able to persist in the face of ongoing climate change.
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A Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Geographic Mandibular Variation in the Dwarf Gerbil Gerbillus nanus (Gerbillinae, Rodentia). J MAMM EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-020-09530-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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16
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Marcy AE, Guillerme T, Sherratt E, Rowe KC, Phillips MJ, Weisbecker V. Australian Rodents Reveal Conserved Cranial Evolutionary Allometry across 10 Million Years of Murid Evolution. Am Nat 2020; 196:755-768. [PMID: 33211559 DOI: 10.1086/711398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAmong vertebrates, placental mammals are particularly variable in the covariance between cranial shape and body size (allometry), with rodents being a major exception. Australian murid rodents allow an assessment of the cause of this anomaly because they radiated on an ecologically diverse continent notably lacking other terrestrial placentals. Here, we use 3D geometric morphometrics to quantify species-level and evolutionary allometries in 38 species (317 crania) from all Australian murid genera. We ask whether ecological opportunity resulted in greater allometric diversity compared with other rodents or whether conserved allometry suggests intrinsic constraints and/or stabilizing selection. We also assess whether cranial shape variation follows the proposed rule of craniofacial evolutionary allometry (CREA), whereby larger species have relatively longer snouts and smaller braincases. To ensure we could differentiate parallel versus nonparallel species-level allometric slopes, we compared the slopes of rarefied samples across all clades. We found exceedingly conserved allometry and CREA-like patterns across the 10-million-year split between Mus and Australian murids. This could support both intrinsic-constraint and stabilizing-selection hypotheses for conserved allometry. Large-bodied frugivores evolved faster than other species along the allometric trajectory, which could suggest stabilizing selection on the shape of the masticatory apparatus as body size changes.
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Ercoli MD, Álvarez A, Youlatos D, Moyano SR, Candela AM. Tracing the Paleobiology of Paedotherium and Tremacyllus (Pachyrukhinae, Notoungulata), the Latest Sciuromorph South American Native Ungulates – Part II: Orbital, Auditory, and Occipito-Cervical Regions. J MAMM EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-020-09518-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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18
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Nokelainen O, Sreelatha LB, Brito JC, Campos JC, Scott-Samuel NE, Valkonen JK, Boratyński Z. Camouflage in arid environments: the case of Sahara-Sahel desert rodents. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.20007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ossi Nokelainen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland; e-mail:
| | - Lekshmi B. Sreelatha
- CIBIO-InBIO Associate Laboratory, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal; e-mail:
| | - José Carlos Brito
- CIBIO-InBIO Associate Laboratory, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal; e-mail:
| | - João C. Campos
- CIBIO-InBIO Associate Laboratory, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal; e-mail:
| | | | - Janne K. Valkonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland; e-mail:
| | - Zbyszek Boratyński
- CIBIO-InBIO Associate Laboratory, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal; e-mail:
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Feijó A, Ge D, Wen Z, Xia L, Yang Q. Divergent adaptations in resource‐use traits explain how pikas thrive on the roof of the world. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Feijó
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Deyan Ge
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Zhixin Wen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Lin Xia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Qisen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
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Alhajeri BH, Porto LMV, Maestri R. Habitat productivity is a poor predictor of body size in rodents. Curr Zool 2020; 66:135-143. [PMID: 32440273 PMCID: PMC7233619 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoz037] [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: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The “resource availability hypothesis” predicts occurrence of larger rodents in more productive habitats. This prediction was tested in a dataset of 1,301 rodent species. We used adult body mass as a measure of body size and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as a measure of habitat productivity. We utilized a cross-species approach to investigate the association between these variables. This was done at both the order level (Rodentia) and at narrower taxonomic scales. We applied phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) to correct for phylogenetic relationships. The relationship between body mas and NDVI was also investigated across rodent assemblages. We controlled for spatial autocorrelation using generalized least squares (GLS) analysis. The cross-species approach found extremely low support for the resource availability hypothesis. This was reflected by a weak positive association between body mass and NDVI at the order level. We find a positive association in only a minority of rodent subtaxa. The best fit GLS model detected no significant association between body mass and NDVI across assemblages. Thus, our results do not support the view that resource availability plays a major role in explaining geographic variation in rodent body size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bader H Alhajeri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kuwait University, Safat, 13060, Kuwait
| | - Lucas M V Porto
- Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Renan Maestri
- Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil
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Dianat M, Darvish J, Aliabadian M, Siahsarvie R, Krystufek B, Nicolas V. Systematics and evolution of the libyan jird based on molecular and morphometric data. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Malahat Dianat
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad Iran
| | - Jamshid Darvish
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad Iran
| | - Mansour Aliabadian
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad Iran
| | - Roohollah Siahsarvie
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad Iran
- Rodentology Research Department, Institute of Applied Zoology, Faculty of Sciences Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Mashhad Iran
| | | | - Violaine Nicolas
- Institut de Systematique, Evolution, Biodiversite, ISYEB‐UMR 7205‐CNRS, MNHN, UPMC EPHE, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universites Paris France
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22
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Kohli BA, Rowe RJ. Beyond guilds: the promise of continuous traits for mammalian functional diversity. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brooks A Kohli
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Rebecca J Rowe
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
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Tavares WC, Vozniak JH, Pessôa LM. Evolution of Appendicular Specializations for Fossoriality in Euryzygomatomyine Spiny Rats across Different Brazilian Biomes (Echimyidae, Hystricognathi, Rodentia). J MAMM EVOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-019-09459-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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