1
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Tse YT, Miller CV, Pittman M. Morphological disparity and structural performance of the dromaeosaurid skull informs ecology and evolutionary history. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:39. [PMID: 38622512 PMCID: PMC11020771 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02222-5] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-avialan theropod dinosaurs had diverse ecologies and varied skull morphologies. Previous studies of theropod cranial morphology mostly focused on higher-level taxa or characteristics associated with herbivory. To better understand morphological disparity and function within carnivorous theropod families, here we focus on the Dromaeosauridae, 'raptors' traditionally seen as agile carnivorous hunters.We applied 2D geometric morphometrics to quantify skull shape, performed mechanical advantage analysis to assess the efficiency of bite force transfer, and performed finite element analysis to examine strain distribution in the skull during biting. We find that dromaeosaurid skull morphology was less disparate than most non-avialan theropod groups. Their skulls show a continuum of form between those that are tall and short and those that are flat and long. We hypothesise that this narrower morphological disparity indicates developmental constraint on skull shape, as observed in some mammalian families. Mechanical advantage indicates that Dromaeosaurus albertensis and Deinonychus antirrhopus were adapted for relatively high bite forces, while Halszkaraptor escuilliei was adapted for high bite speed, and other dromaeosaurids for intermediate bite forces and speeds. Finite element analysis indicates regions of high strain are consistent within dromaeosaurid families but differ between them. Average strain levels do not follow any phylogenetic pattern, possibly due to ecological convergence between distantly-related taxa.Combining our new morphofunctional data with a re-evaluation of previous evidence, we find piscivorous reconstructions of Halszkaraptor escuilliei to be unlikely, and instead suggest an invertivorous diet and possible adaptations for feeding in murky water or other low-visibility conditions. We support Deinonychus antirrhopus as being adapted for taking large vertebrate prey, but we find that its skull is relatively less resistant to bite forces than other dromaeosaurids. Given the recovery of high bite force resistance for Velociraptor mongoliensis, which is believed to have regularly engaged in scavenging behaviour, we suggest that higher bite force resistance in a dromaeosaurid taxon may reflect a greater reliance on scavenging rather than fresh kills.Comparisons to the troodontid Gobivenator mongoliensis suggest that a gracile rostrum like that of Velociraptor mongoliensis is ancestral to their closest common ancestor (Deinonychosauria) and the robust rostra of Dromaeosaurus albertensis and Deinonychus antirrhopus are a derived condition. Gobivenator mongoliensis also displays a higher jaw mechanical advantage and lower resistance to bite force than the examined dromaeosaurids, but given the hypothesised ecological divergence of troodontids from dromaeosaurids it is unclear which group, if either, represents the ancestral condition. Future work extending sampling to troodontids would therefore be invaluable and provide much needed context to the origin of skull form and function in early birds. This study illustrates how skull shape and functional metrics can discern non-avialan theropod ecology at lower taxonomic levels and identify variants of carnivorous feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuen Ting Tse
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Case Vincent Miller
- Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael Pittman
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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2
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Ali Alkhalaf Z, Sghaireen MG, Ganji KK, Alam MK, Issrani R, Mohammed Alsaleh R, Almegren SZ, Gamal Salloum M. Unveiling the Influence of the Curve of Spee on Bite Force and Chewing Ability: A Comparative Study. Int J Clin Pract 2024; 2024:6533841. [PMID: 38420595 PMCID: PMC10901573 DOI: 10.1155/2024/6533841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim To investigate the impact of the curve of Spee (CS) accentuation on bite force, chewing ability, and additionally, other factors that influence chewing ability and bite force such as restorations, caries, gender, habits, and TMJ problems. Materials and Methods 231 participants (118 male and 113 female, mean age = ±27.96 years) were recruited for this cross-section study. Participants completed a data collection sheet in which age, gender, Angle's classification of malocclusion, overjet, overbite, TMJ problems, habits, restorations, and caries experience were recorded. Two examiners made a lower impression, chewing ability test and measured the bite force for each participant. Measurement of the CS was obtained digitally from the poured dental cast, and the categorization was as follows: flat (<1 mm), normal (1-2 mm), or deep (>2 mm). Results The mean maximum bite force (MBF) was 468.722 N for participants with flat CS, 389.822 N for normal CS, 647.08 N for deep CS, and 384.667 N for reverse CS. The average MBF was higher for participants with deep CS (p < 0.05). MBF force was higher in males. However, BMI was not significantly related to MBF values. Participants with normal and flat CS have comparable chewing capacity (p > 0.05). Also, a significant difference in bite force and chewing ability was found between the three categories of CS (p < 0.05). Conclusion Bite force variations across various CS types were linked to gender and habits. Chewing ability showed no differences concerning gender, habits, TMJ problems, caries, or restorations, emphasizing CS's significant impact on bite force while showcasing the unchanged nature of chewing ability amidst diverse factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Ali Alkhalaf
- Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Ghazi Sghaireen
- Department of Prosthetic Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kiran Kumar Ganji
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Periodontology & Oral Implantology, Sharad Pawar Dental College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education & Research, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, India
| | - Mohammad Khursheed Alam
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Research Analytics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
- Center for Transdisciplinary Research (CFTR), Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil lnternational University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rakhi Issrani
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Research Analytics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Raghad Mohammed Alsaleh
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sultana Zamil Almegren
- Department of Periodontology and Oral Implantology, Ministry of Health, Dental Clinics Complex West of Riyadh, Laban, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Gamal Salloum
- Department of Substitutive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry & Pharmacy, Buraydah Private Colleges, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
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3
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Donihue CM, Herrel A, Taverne M, Foufopoulos J, Pafilis P. The Evolution of Diet and Morphology in Insular Lizards: Insights from a Replicated Island Introduction Experiment. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1788. [PMID: 37889735 PMCID: PMC10251849 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Resource-limited environments may drive the rapid evolution of phenotypic traits and ecological preferences optimizing the exploitation of resources. Very small islands are often characterized by reduced food availability, seasonal fluctuations in resources and strong unpredictability. These features may drive the evolution of phenotypic traits such as high bite forces, allowing animals to exploit a wider variety of the available resources. They may also lead to more generalist dietary patterns in response to food scarcity. However, the lack of predators and competitors on such small islands often also leads to high densities and the evolution of strong sexual dimorphism, which may also drive the evolution of bite force. Here, we take advantage of a unique replicated introduction experiment to test whether lizards introduced into very small islands alter their feeding ecology and use different resources, resulting in the evolution of a large body size, large head size and large bite forces. Our results show that three years after their introduction, the island lizards were larger and had greater bite forces and more pronounced sexual dimorphism. However, the diets were only marginally different between animals from the source population on a very large nearby island and those on the islets. Moreover, distinct differences in diet between animals on the different islets were observed, suggesting that the local environment is a strong driver of resource use. Overall, lizards with absolutely and relatively (adjusted for body size) large bite forces did eat larger and harder prey. Taken together, our data suggest that intraspecific competition is an important driver of the rapid evolution of bite force, which may allow these lizards to exploit the scarce and fluctuating resources on the islets. Whether or not lizards will evolve to include other types of food such as plants in their diet, facilitated by their large bite forces, remains to be explored in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M. Donihue
- Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Anthony Herrel
- UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Bâtiment d’Anatomie Comparée, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France; (A.H.); (M.T.)
- Department of Biology, Functional Morphology, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maxime Taverne
- UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Bâtiment d’Anatomie Comparée, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France; (A.H.); (M.T.)
| | - Johannes Foufopoulos
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - Panayiotis Pafilis
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece;
- Zoological Museum, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
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4
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Püffel F, Johnston R, Labonte D. A biomechanical model for the relation between bite force and mandibular opening angle in arthropods. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221066. [PMID: 36816849 PMCID: PMC9929505 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bite forces play a key role in animal ecology: they affect mating behaviour, fighting success, and the ability to feed. Although feeding habits of arthropods have a significant ecological and economical impact, we lack fundamental knowledge on how the morphology and physiology of their bite apparatus controls bite performance, and its variation with mandible gape. To address this gap, we derived a biomechanical model that characterizes the relationship between bite force and mandibular opening angle from first principles. We validate this model by comparing its geometric predictions with morphological measurements on the muscoloskeletal bite apparatus of Atta cephalotes leaf-cutter ants, using computed tomography (CT) scans obtained at different mandible opening angles. We then demonstrate its deductive and inductive utility with three examplary use cases: Firstly, we extract the physiological properties of the leaf-cutter ant mandible closer muscle from in vivo bite force measurements. Secondly, we show that leaf-cutter ants are specialized to generate extraordinarily large bite forces, equivalent to about 2600 times their body weight. Thirdly, we discuss the relative importance of morphology and physiology in determining the magnitude and variation of bite force. We hope that a more detailed quantitative understanding of the link between morphology, physiology, and bite performance will facilitate future comparative studies on the insect bite apparatus, and help to advance our knowledge of the behaviour, ecology and evolution of arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Püffel
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Richard Johnston
- School of Engineering, Materials Research Centre, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - David Labonte
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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5
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Li H, Chen S, Jiang J, He B, Zhang M. Exploring sexual differences in external morphology and limb muscles of
Hylarana guentheri
(Anura: Ranidae) during non‐breeding season. ACTA ZOOL-STOCKHOLM 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/azo.12448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- College of Life Sciences Sichuan Normal University Chengdu China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
| | - Shunde Chen
- College of Life Sciences Sichuan Normal University Chengdu China
| | - Jianping Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
| | - Bing He
- College of Life Sciences Sichuan Normal University Chengdu China
| | - Meihua Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China
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6
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Dickinson E, Young MW, Granatosky MC. In vivo
bite force in lovebirds (
Agapornis roseicollis
, Psittaciformes) and their relative biting performance among birds. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Dickinson
- Department of Anatomy, College of Osteopathic Medicine New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury NY USA
| | - M. W. Young
- Department of Anatomy, College of Osteopathic Medicine New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury NY USA
| | - M. C. Granatosky
- Department of Anatomy, College of Osteopathic Medicine New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury NY USA
- Center for Biomedical Innovation New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine Old Westbury NY USA
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7
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Kraus A, Lövy M, Mikula O, Okrouhlík J, Bennett NC, Herrel A, Šumbera R. Bite force in the strictly subterranean rodent family of African mole‐rats (Bathyergidae): the role of digging mode, social organisation, and ecology. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Kraus
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Matěj Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Jan Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Nigel C. Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant UMR 7179 MECADEV C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., Bâtiment d’Anatomie Comparée Paris France
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
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8
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Rühr PT, Blanke A. forceX
and
forceR
: a mobile setup and R package to measure and analyse a wide range of animal closing forces. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter T. Rühr
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1 Bonn Germany
| | - Alexander Blanke
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1 Bonn Germany
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9
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Jowers MJ, Simone Y, Herrel A, Cabezas MP, Xavier R, Holden M, Boistel R, Murphy JC, Santin M, Caut S, Auguste RJ, van der Meijden A, Andreone F, Ineich I. The Terrific Skink bite force suggests insularity as a likely driver to exceptional resource use. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4596. [PMID: 35301350 PMCID: PMC8930981 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08148-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural history museum collections hold extremely rare, extinct species often described from a single known specimen. On occasions, rediscoveries open new opportunities to understand selective forces acting on phenotypic traits. Recent rediscovery of few individuals of Bocourt´s Terrific Skink Phoboscincus bocourti, from a small and remote islet in New Caledonia allowed to genetically identify a species of land crab in its diet. To explore this further, we CT- and MRI-scanned the head of the holotype, the only preserved specimen dated to about 1870, segmented the adductor muscles of the jaw and bones, and estimated bite force through biomechanical models. These data were compared with those gathered for 332 specimens belonging to 44 other skink species. Thereafter we recorded the maximum force needed to generate mechanical failure of the exoskeleton of a crab specimen. The bite force is greater than the prey hardness, suggesting that predation on hard-shelled crabs may be an important driver of performance. The high bite force seems crucial to overcome low or seasonal variations in resource availability in these extreme insular environments. Phoboscincus bocourti appears to be an apex predator in a remote and harsh environment and the only skink known to predate on hard-shelled land crabs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Jowers
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal. .,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Yuri Simone
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179 CNRS/MNHN, 57 Rue Cuvier, Case postale 55, 75231, Paris Cedex 5, France.,Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Campus Ledeganck, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - M Pilar Cabezas
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel Xavier
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Magaly Holden
- Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive (UMR CNRS 5175), École Pratique des Hautes Études, Biogéographie et Écologie des Vertébrés, Campus CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Renaud Boistel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179 CNRS/MNHN, 57 Rue Cuvier, Case postale 55, 75231, Paris Cedex 5, France
| | - John C Murphy
- Science and Education, Field Museum, 1400 Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL, 60605, USA
| | - Mathieu Santin
- Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Centre for NeuroImaging Research, ICM (Brain and Spine Institute), Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Stephane Caut
- ANIMAVEG Conservation, 58 Avenue Allende, 94800, Villejuif, France
| | - Renoir J Auguste
- Department of Life Science, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Arie van der Meijden
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Franco Andreone
- Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Via G. Giolitti, 36, 10123, Turin, Italy
| | - Ivan Ineich
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, École Pratique des Hautes Études, CNRS, Université des Antilles, CP 30, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
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10
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Erazmus KR, Luiselli L, Burke RL. Salad with Clams: Prey Choice of an Intentionally Carnivorous Turtle. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2021. [DOI: 10.1656/045.028.0412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Luca Luiselli
- Institute for Development, Ecology, Conservation, and Cooperation, via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, I-00144 Rome, Italy
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11
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Velasco-Hogan A, Huang W, Serrano C, Kisailus D, Meyers MA. Tooth structure, mechanical properties, and diet specialization of Piranha and Pacu (Serrasalmidae): A comparative study. Acta Biomater 2021; 134:531-545. [PMID: 34428562 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between diet, bite performance, and tooth structure is a topic of common interest for ecologists, biologists, materials scientists, and engineers. The highly specialized group of biters found in Serrasalmidae offers a unique opportunity to explore their functional diversity. Surprisingly, the piranha, whose teeth have a predominantly cutting function and whose main diet is soft flesh, is capable of exerting a greater bite force than a similarly sized pacu, who feeds on a hard durophagous diet. Herein, we expand our understanding of diet specialization in the Serrasalmidae family by investigating the influence of elemental composition and hierarchical structure on the local mechanical properties, stress distribution, and deformation mechanics of teeth from piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) and pacu (Colossoma macropomum). Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses combined with nanoindentation and finite element simulations are used to probe the hierarchical features to uncover the structure-property relationships in piranha and pacu teeth. We show that the pacu teeth support a durophagous diet through its broad cusped-shaped teeth, thicker-irregular enameloid, interlocking interface of the dentin-enameloid junction, and increased hardness of the cuticle layer due to the larger concentrations of iron present. Comparatively, the piranha teeth are well suited for piercing due to their conical-shape which we report as having the greatest stiffness at the tip and evenly distributed enameloid. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The hierarchical structure and local mechanical properties of the piranha and pacu teeth are characterized and related to their feeding habits. Finite element models of the anterior teeth are generated to map local stress distribution under compressive loading. Bioinspired designs from the DEJ interface are developed and 3D printed. The pacu teeth are hierarchically structured and have local mechanical properties more suitable to a durophagous diet than the piranha. The findings here can provide insight into the design and fabrication of layered materials with suture interfaces for applications that require compressive loading conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Velasco-Hogan
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, United States
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, United States
| | - Carlos Serrano
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, United States
| | - David Kisailus
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, United States
| | - Marc A Meyers
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, United States; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, United States; Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego, United States.
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12
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Ramírez-Fráncel LA, García-Herrera LV, Losada-Prado S, Reinoso-Flórez G, Lim BK, Sánchez F, Sánchez-Hernández A, Guevara G. Skull Morphology, Bite Force, and Diet in Insectivorous Bats from Tropical Dry Forests in Colombia. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10101012. [PMID: 34681111 PMCID: PMC8533215 DOI: 10.3390/biology10101012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In Neotropical bats, studies on bite force have focused mainly on differences in trophic ecology, and little is known about whether factors other than body size generate interspecific differences in bite force amongst insectivorous bats and, consequently, in their diets. We tested if bite force is related to skull morphology and also to diet in an assemblage of Neotropical insectivorous bats from tropical dry forests in the inter-Andean central valley in Colombia. It is predicted that the preference of prey types among insectivorous species is based on bite force and cranial characteristics. We also evaluated whether skull morphology varies depending on the species and sex. Cranial measurements and correlations between morphological variation and bite force were examined for 10 insectivorous bat species. We calculated the size-independent mechanical advantage for the mandibular (jaw) lever system. In all species, bite force increased with length of the skull and the jaw more than other cranial measurements. Obligate insectivorous species were morphologically different from the omnivorous Noctilio albiventris, which feeds primarily on insects, but also consumes fish and fruits. Our results show that bite force and skull morphology are closely linked to diets in Neotropical insectivorous bats and, consequently, these traits are key to the interactions within the assemblage and with their prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leidy Azucena Ramírez-Fráncel
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas & Grupo de Investigación en Zoología (GIZ), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Elena, Ibagué 730006, Colombia;
- Programa para la Conservación de los Murciélagos de Colombia PCMCo, Bogotá 110911, Colombia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +57-321-409-2272
| | - Leidy Viviana García-Herrera
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas & Grupo de Investigación en Zoología (GIZ), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Elena, Ibagué 730006, Colombia;
- Programa para la Conservación de los Murciélagos de Colombia PCMCo, Bogotá 110911, Colombia
| | - Sergio Losada-Prado
- Departamento de Biología & Grupo de Investigación en Zoología (GIZ), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Elena, Ibagué 730006, Colombia; (S.L.-P.); (G.R.-F.); (G.G.)
| | - Gladys Reinoso-Flórez
- Departamento de Biología & Grupo de Investigación en Zoología (GIZ), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Elena, Ibagué 730006, Colombia; (S.L.-P.); (G.R.-F.); (G.G.)
| | - Burton K. Lim
- Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, Canada;
| | - Francisco Sánchez
- Grupo de Investigación ECOTONOS, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio 500002, Colombia;
| | - Alfonso Sánchez-Hernández
- Departamento de Matemáticas y Estadística, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Elena, Ibagué 730006, Colombia;
| | - Giovany Guevara
- Departamento de Biología & Grupo de Investigación en Zoología (GIZ), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Altos de Santa Elena, Ibagué 730006, Colombia; (S.L.-P.); (G.R.-F.); (G.G.)
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13
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Butterfield TG, Herrel A, Olson ME, Contreras-Garduño J, Macip-Ríos R. Morphology of the limb, shell and head explain the variation in performance and ecology across 14 turtle taxa (12 species). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Given that morphology directly influences the ability of an organism to utilize its habitat and dietary resources, it also influences fitness. Comparing the relationship between morphology, performance and ecology is fundamental to understand how organisms evolve to occupy a wide range of habitats and diets. In turtles, studies have documented important relationships between morphology, performance and ecology, but none was field based or considered limb, shell and head morphology simultaneously. We compared the morphology, performance and ecology of 14 turtle taxa (12 species) in Mexico that range in their affinity to water and in their diet. We took linear measurements of limb, shell and head variables. We measured maximum swimming speed, maximum bite force and how often turtles were encountered on land, and we used stable isotopes to assess trophic position. We used these data to test the following three hypotheses: (1) morphology, performance and ecology covary; (2) limb and shell variables, like hand length, are correlated with swimming speed and the percentage of time spent on land; and (3) head variables, such as head width, are correlated with bite force and stable isotopes. We find support for these hypotheses and provide the first evidence that morphology influences performance and ecology in turtles in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taggert G Butterfield
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad de Posgrado, edificio D, Ciudad Universitaria, CDMX, México, Mexico
| | - Anthony Herrel
- UMR 7179 CNRS/MNHN, Département Adaptations du Vivant, 55 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris Cedex 5, France
| | - Mark E Olson
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad de Posgrado, edificio D, Ciudad Universitaria, CDMX, México, Mexico
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México (CDMX), Mexico, Mexico
| | - Jorge Contreras-Garduño
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad de Posgrado, edificio D, Ciudad Universitaria, CDMX, México, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo Macip-Ríos
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad de Posgrado, edificio D, Ciudad Universitaria, CDMX, México, Mexico
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14
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Butterfield T, Olson M, Beck D, Macip-Ríos R. Morphology, Performance, and Ecology of Three Sympatric Turtles in a Tropical Dry Forest. COPEIA 2020. [DOI: 10.1643/ce-18-165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Taggert Butterfield
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, CDMX, 04510, Mexico; (TB) . Send reprint requests to TB
| | - Mark Olson
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, CDMX, 04510, Mexico; (TB) . Send reprint requests to TB
| | - Daniel Beck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Central Washington University, 400 E University Way, Ellensburg, Washington 98926
| | - Rodrigo Macip-Ríos
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, CDMX, 04510, Mexico; (TB) . Send reprint requests to TB
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15
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Shi B, Wang Y, Gong L, Chang Y, Liu T, Zhao X, Lin A, Feng J, Jiang T. Correlation of skull morphology and bite force in a bird-eating bat ( Ia io; Vespertilionidae). Front Zool 2020; 17:8. [PMID: 32206076 PMCID: PMC7082990 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-020-00354-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Genetic and ecological factors influence morphology, and morphology is compatible with function. The morphology and bite performance of skulls of bats show a number of characteristic feeding adaptations. The great evening bat, Ia io (Thomas, 1902), eats both insects and birds (Thabah et al. J Mammal 88: 728-735, 2007), and as such, it is considered to represent a case of dietary niche expansion from insects to birds. How the skull morphology or bite force in I. io are related to the expanded diet (that is, birds) remains unknown. We used three-dimensional (3D) geometry of the skulls and measurements of bite force and diets from I. io and 13 other species of sympatric or closely related bat species to investigate the characteristics and the correlation of skull morphology and bite force to diets. Results Significant differences in skull morphology and bite force among species and diets were observed in this study. Similar to the carnivorous bats, bird-eaters (I. io) differed significantly from insectivorous bats; I. io had a larger skull size, taller crania, wider zygomatic arches, shorter but robust mandibles, and larger bite force than the insectivores. The skull morphology of bats was significantly associated with bite force whether controlling for phylogeny or not, but no significant correlations were found between diets and the skulls, or between diets and residual bite force, after controlling for phylogeny. Conclusions These results indicated that skull morphology was independent of diet, and phylogeny had a greater impact on skull morphology than diet in these species. The changes in skull size and morphology have led to variation in bite force, and finally different bat species feeding on different foods. In conclusion, I. io has a larger skull size, robust mandibles, shortened dentitions, longer coronoid processes, expanded angular processes, low condyles, and taller cranial sagittal crests, and wider zygomatic arches that provide this species with mechanical advantages; their greater bite force may help them use larger and hard-bodied birds as a dietary component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biye Shi
- 1Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China.,2Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China
| | - Yuze Wang
- 1Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China.,2Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China
| | - Lixin Gong
- 1Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China.,2Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China
| | - Yang Chang
- 1Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China.,2Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China
| | - Tong Liu
- 1Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China.,2Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China
| | - Xin Zhao
- 1Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China.,2Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China
| | - Aiqing Lin
- 1Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China.,2Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China
| | - Jiang Feng
- 1Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China.,2Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China.,3College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, 2888 Xincheng Street, Changchun, 130118 China
| | - Tinglei Jiang
- 1Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China.,2Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117 China
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Puga y Colmenares MC, Ramírez-Bautista A, Cruz-Elizalde R, García-Rosales A, Hernández-Salinas U. Feeding Ecology and Its Relationship with Head Structures in Two Populations of the Lizard Sceloporus minor (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) from Northern Mexico. COPEIA 2019. [DOI: 10.1643/ch-19-182] [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)
- María Concepción Puga y Colmenares
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Km 4.5 Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo, 42184, Mineral de La Reforma, Hidalgo, México
| | - Aurelio Ramírez-Bautista
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Km 4.5 Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo, 42184, Mineral de La Reforma, Hidalgo, México
| | - Raciel Cruz-Elizalde
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Km 4.5 Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo, 42184, Mineral de La Reforma, Hidalgo, México
| | - Aaron García-Rosales
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Km 4.5 Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo, 42184, Mineral de La Reforma, Hidalgo, México
| | - Uriel Hernández-Salinas
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Durango, Sigma 119, Fraccionamiento 20 de Noviembre II, Durango, Durango 34220, México;
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Huby A, Lowie A, Herrel A, Vigouroux R, Frédérich B, Raick X, Kurchevski G, Godinho AL, Parmentier E. Functional diversity in biters: the evolutionary morphology of the oral jaw system in pacus, piranhas and relatives (Teleostei: Serrasalmidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Serrasalmid fishes form a highly specialized group of biters that show a large trophic diversity, ranging from pacus able to crush seeds to piranhas capable of cutting flesh. Their oral jaw system has been hypothesized to be forceful, but variation in bite performance and morphology with respect to diet has not previously been investigated. We tested whether herbivorous species have higher bite forces, larger jaw muscles and more robust jaws than carnivorous species. We measured in vivo and theoretical bite forces in 27 serrasalmid species. We compared the size of the adductor mandibulae muscle, the jaw mechanical advantages, the type of jaw occlusion, and the size and shape of the lower jaw. We also examined the association between bite performance and functional morphological traits of the oral jaw system. Contrary to our predictions, carnivorous piranhas deliver stronger bites than their herbivorous counterparts. The size of the adductor mandibulae muscle varies with bite force and muscles are larger in carnivorous species. Our study highlights an underestimated level of functional morphological diversity in a fish group of exclusive biters. We provide evidence that the trophic specialization towards carnivory in piranhas results from changes in the configuration of the adductor mandibulae muscle and the lower jaw shape, which have major effects on bite performance and bite strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Huby
- Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Aurélien Lowie
- Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Anthony Herrel
- UMR7179 MNHN/CNRS, National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France
- Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Régis Vigouroux
- HYDRECO GUYANE, Laboratory Environment of Petit Saut, Kourou, French Guiana
| | - Bruno Frédérich
- Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Xavier Raick
- Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Gregório Kurchevski
- Fish Passage Center, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Eric Parmentier
- Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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18
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Interspecific size- and sex-related variation in the cranium of European brown frogs (Genus Rana). ZOOMORPHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00435-019-00441-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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19
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Erazmus KR, Figueras MP, Luiselli L, Burke RL. Do diets vary over large spatial or temporal ranges? A test using interannual and interpopulation data on Diamondback Terrapin ( Malaclemys terrapin) diets. CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Animal diets may vary spatially or temporally as resource availability vary. Diets of species with extensive geographic ranges often span multiple habitats, thus their diets may vary accordingly. Temporal diet variation is rarely explored because most diet studies are short term; this is problematic for long-lived species where individuals may persist as prey availability changes. We analyzed diet variation in Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin (Schoepf, 1793)), which inhabits nearly 70 000 km of United States Atlantic coastline, spanning 16.5°N latitude and 27.4°W longitude and four Köppen climatic zones, and Bermuda. We explored spatially or temporally Diamondback Terrapin diet variation, including populations from Atlantic salt marshes, an Everglades mangrove swamp, the Texas Gulf Coast, and a Caribbean golf course pond. We found remarkably high levels of similarity, indicating that although diets vary according to local prey availability, they are broadly similar at lower taxonomic resolution. Even short-term studies may be sufficient to accurately characterize diets of Diamondback Terrapins. These results are surprising given the geographic range sampled in this study and indicate that Diamondback Terrapin diets are conservative, reflecting local prey availability. Such diets apparently allow Diamondback Terrapins to exploit their extensive range and may allow Diamondback terrapin populations to persist as local prey species wax and wane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh Rose Erazmus
- Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549-1000, USA
- Biology Department, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT 06825, USA
| | | | - Luca Luiselli
- Institute for Development, Ecology, Conservation and Cooperation, via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, I-00144 Rome, Italy
- Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
- Department of Zoology, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | - Russell L. Burke
- Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549-1000, USA
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