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Schüßler D, Blanco MB, Guthrie NK, Sgarlata GM, Dammhahn M, Ernest R, Evasoa MR, Hasiniaina A, Hending D, Jan F, le Pors B, Miller A, Olivieri G, Rakotonanahary AN, Rakotondranary SJ, Rakotondravony R, Ralantoharijaona T, Ramananjato V, Randrianambinina B, Raoelinjanakolona NN, Rasoazanabary E, Rasoloarison RM, Rasolofoson DW, Rasoloharijaona S, Rasolondraibe E, Roberts SH, Teixeira H, van Elst T, Johnson SE, Ganzhorn JU, Chikhi L, Kappeler PM, Louis EE, Salmona J, Radespiel U. Morphological variability or inter-observer bias? A methodological toolkit to improve data quality of multi-researcher datasets for the analysis of morphological variation. Am J Biol Anthropol 2024; 183:60-78. [PMID: 37607125 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The investigation of morphological variation in animals is widely used in taxonomy, ecology, and evolution. Using large datasets for meta-analyses has dramatically increased, raising concerns about dataset compatibilities and biases introduced by contributions of multiple researchers. MATERIALS AND METHODS We compiled morphological data on 13 variables for 3073 individual mouse lemurs (Cheirogaleidae, Microcebus spp.) from 25 taxa and 153 different sampling locations, measured by 48 different researchers. We introduced and applied a filtering pipeline and quantified improvements in data quality (Shapiro-Francia statistic, skewness, and excess kurtosis). The filtered dataset was then used to test for genus-wide sexual size dimorphism and the applicability of Rensch's, Allen's, and Bergmann's rules. RESULTS Our pipeline reduced inter-observer bias (i.e., increased normality of data distributions). Inter-observer reliability of measurements was notably variable, highlighting the need to reduce data collection biases. Although subtle, we found a consistent pattern of sexual size dimorphism across Microcebus, with females being the larger (but not heavier) sex. Sexual size dimorphism was isometric, providing no support for Rensch's rule. Variations in tail length but not in ear size were consistent with the predictions of Allen's rule. Body mass and length followed a pattern contrary to predictions of Bergmann's rule. DISCUSSION We highlighted the usefulness of large multi-researcher datasets for testing ecological hypotheses after correcting for inter-observer biases. Using genus-wide tests, we outlined generalizable patterns of morphological variability across all mouse lemurs. This new methodological toolkit aims to facilitate future large-scale morphological comparisons for a wide range of taxa and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Schüßler
- Institute of Biology and Chemistry, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany
| | | | - Nicola K Guthrie
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Mamy Rina Evasoa
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alida Hasiniaina
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- School for International Training, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | - Fabien Jan
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | | | - Alex Miller
- Perth Zoo, South Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Gillian Olivieri
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | - Romule Rakotondravony
- Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar
| | - Tantely Ralantoharijaona
- Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar
| | - Veronarindra Ramananjato
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Blanchard Randrianambinina
- Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar
| | - Nancia N Raoelinjanakolona
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | - Rodin M Rasoloarison
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - David W Rasolofoson
- Groupe d'Etude et de Recherche sur les Primates de Madagascar (GERP), Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Solofonirina Rasoloharijaona
- Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar
| | - Emmanuel Rasolondraibe
- Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar
| | | | - Helena Teixeira
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- UMR ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, La Réunion, France
| | - Tobias van Elst
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Steig E Johnson
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jörg U Ganzhorn
- Animal Ecology and Conservation, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lounès Chikhi
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, IRD, CNRS, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Peter M Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Anthropology/Sociobiology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Edward E Louis
- Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MBP), Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Jordi Salmona
- Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, IRD, CNRS, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Ute Radespiel
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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2
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McQueen A, Barnaby R, Symonds MRE, Tattersall GJ. Birds are better at regulating heat loss through their legs than their bills: implications for body shape evolution in response to climate. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230373. [PMID: 37990562 PMCID: PMC10663788 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Endotherms use their appendages-such as legs, tails, ears and bills-for thermoregulation by controlling blood flow to near-surface blood vessels, conserving heat when it is cold, and dissipating heat in hot conditions. Larger appendages allow greater heat dissipation, and appendage sizes vary latitudinally according to Allen's rule. However, little is known about the relative importance of different appendages for thermoregulation. We investigate physiological control of heat loss via bird bills and legs using infrared thermography of wild birds. Our results demonstrate that birds are less able to regulate heat loss via their bills than their legs. In cold conditions, birds lower their leg surface temperature to below that of their plumage surface, retaining heat at their core. In warm conditions, birds increase their leg surface temperature to above that of their plumage surface, expelling heat. By contrast, bill surface temperature remains approximately 2°C warmer than the plumage surface, indicating consistent heat loss under almost all conditions. Poorer physiological control of heat loss via bird bills likely entails stronger selection for shorter bills in cold climates. This could explain why bird bills show stronger latitudinal size clines than bird legs, with implications for predicting shape-shifting responses to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra McQueen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Ryan Barnaby
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Matthew R. E. Symonds
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Glenn J. Tattersall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2S 3A1
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3
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Liu P, Lou Y, Yao J, Wang L, Møller AP, Sun Y. Variation in bill surface area is associated with local climatic factors across populations of the plain laughingthrush. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10535. [PMID: 37780534 PMCID: PMC10534077 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have found that avian bill and tarsus morphology may have evolved in response to climatic conditions, and these organs play important roles in thermoregulation and water retention in extreme environments. Here, we examined whether bill surface area and tarsus length were associated with climatic conditions in the plain laughingthrush, Garrulax davidi, which mainly occurs in north China and occupies several climatic zones from east to west. We measured bill surface area and tarsus length in 321 adults from 11 populations, almost encompassing all habitat types of the species. We analyzed the relationships among these morphological traits and local climatic factors. Bill surface area was positively correlated with maximum temperature, indicating that bill surface area tended to be larger in hotter environments. Furthermore, we found a negative relationship among bill surface area and winter precipitation, indicating that bill surface area tended to be larger in arid areas. However, we did not find any relationships between tarsus length and climatic factors. These results suggest that local climates may shape the evolution of bill morphology divergence, and summer seems to be the critical season for thermoregulation in this temperate zone passerine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Liu
- School of Life Science and TechnologyLongdong UniversityQingyangChina
| | - Yingqiang Lou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of ScienceBeijingChina
| | - Jingxiao Yao
- School of Life Science and TechnologyLongdong UniversityQingyangChina
| | - Linghui Wang
- School of Life Science and TechnologyLongdong UniversityQingyangChina
| | - Anders Pape Møller
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris–Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTechUniversité Paris–SaclayOrsay CedexFrance
| | - Yuehua Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation BiologyInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of ScienceBeijingChina
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4
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Lu CW, Huang ST, Cheng SJ, Lin CT, Hsu YC, Yao CT, Dong F, Hung CM, Kuo HC. Genomic architecture underlying morphological and physiological adaptation to high elevation in a songbird. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:2234-2251. [PMID: 36748940 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Organisms often acquire physiological and morphological modifications to conquer ecological challenges when colonizing new environments which lead to their adaptive evolution. However, deciphering the genomic mechanism of ecological adaptation is difficult because ecological environments are often too complex for straightforward interpretation. Thus, we examined the adaptation of a widespread songbird-the rufous-capped babbler (Cyanoderma ruficeps)-to a relatively simple system: distinct environments across elevational gradients on the mountainous island of Taiwan. We focused on the genomic sequences of 43 birds from five populations to show that the Taiwan group split from its sister group in mainland China around 1-2 million years ago (Ma) and colonized the montane habitats of Taiwan at least twice around 0.03-0.22 Ma. The montane and lowland Taiwan populations diverged with gene flow between them, suggesting strong selection associated with different elevations. We found that the montane babblers had smaller beaks than the lowland ones, consistent with Allen's rule, and identified candidate genes-COL9A1 and SOX11-underlying the beak size changes. We also found that altitudinally divergent mutations were mostly located in noncoding regions and tended to accumulate in chromosomal inversions and autosomes. The altitudinally divergent mutations might regulate genes related to haematopoietic, metabolic, immune, auditory and vision functions, as well as cerebrum morphology and plumage development. The results reveal the genomic bases of morphological and physiological adaptation in this species to the low temperature, hypoxia and high UV light environment at high elevation. These findings improve our understanding of how ecological adaptation drives population divergence from the perspective of genomic architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Wei Lu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ting Huang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shun-Jen Cheng
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Tau Lin
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Cheng Hsu
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Te Yao
- Division of Zoology, Endemic Species Research Institute, Nantou, Taiwan
| | - Feng Dong
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chih-Ming Hung
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Chih Kuo
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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5
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Sebastianelli M, Lukhele SM, Nwankwo EC, Hadjioannou L, Kirschel ANG. Continent-wide patterns of song variation predicted by classical rules of biogeography. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:2448-2462. [PMID: 36124660 PMCID: PMC9826498 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Physiological constraints related to atmospheric temperature pose a limit to body and appendage size in endothermic animals. This relationship has been summarised by two classical principles of biogeography: Bergmann's and Allen's rules. Body size may also constrain other phenotypic traits important in ecology, evolution and behaviour, and such effects have seldom been investigated at a continental scale. Through a multilevel-modelling approach, we demonstrate that continent-wide morphology of related African barbets follows predictions of Bergmann's rule, and that body size mirrors variation in song pitch, an acoustic trait important in species recognition and sexual selection. Specifically, effects on song frequency in accordance with Bergmann's rule dwarf those of acoustic adaptation at a continental scale. Our findings suggest that macroecological patterns of body size can influence phenotypic traits important in ecology and evolution, and provide a baseline for further studies on the effects of environmental change on bird song.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Alexander N. G. Kirschel
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of CyprusNicosiaCyprus,University of California Los AngelesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA,Edward Grey Institute, Department of ZoologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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6
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Lee C, Fu Y, Yeh C, Yeung CKL, Hung H, Yao C, Shaner PL, Li S. Morphological variations in a widely distributed Eastern Asian passerine cannot be consistently explained by ecogeographic rules. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:15249-15260. [PMID: 34765175 PMCID: PMC8571641 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecogeographic rules that describe quantitative relationships between morphologies and climate might help us predict how morphometrics of animals was shaped by local temperature or humidity. Although the ecogeographic rules had been widely tested in animals of Europe and North America, they had not been fully validated for species in regions that are less studied. Here, we investigate the morphometric variation of a widely distributed East Asian passerine, the vinous-throated parrotbill (Sinosuthora webbiana), to test whether its morphological variation conforms to the prediction of Bergmann's rule, Allen's rules, and Gloger's rule. We at first described the climatic niche of S. webbiana from occurrence records (n = 7838) and specimen records (n = 290). The results of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) suggested that the plumage coloration of these parrotbills was darker in wetter/warmer environments following Gloger's rule. However, their appendage size (culmen length, beak volume, tarsi length) was larger in colder environments, the opposite of the predictions of Allen's rule. Similarly, their body size (wing length) was larger in warmer environments, the opposite of the predictions of Bergmann's rule. Such disconformity to both Bergmann's rule and Allen's rule suggests that the evolution of morphological variations is likely governed by multiple selection forces rather than dominated by thermoregulation. Our results suggest that these ecogeographic rules should be validated prior to forecasting biological responses to climate change especially for species in less-studied regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun‐Cheng Lee
- School of Life ScienceNational Taiwan Normal UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yuchen Fu
- School of Life ScienceNational Taiwan Normal UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chia‐fen Yeh
- School of Life ScienceNational Taiwan Normal UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | | | - Hsin‐yi Hung
- School of Life ScienceNational Taiwan Normal UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chiou‐Ju Yao
- Department of BiologyNational Museum of Natural ScienceTaichungTaiwan
| | | | - Shou‐Hsien Li
- School of Life ScienceNational Taiwan Normal UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
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7
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Zhao W, Zhao Y, Guo R, Qi Y, Wang X, Li N. Age and annual growth rate cause spatial variation in body size in Phrynocephalus przewalskii (Agamid). Ecol Evol 2020; 10:14189-14195. [PMID: 33391709 PMCID: PMC7771167 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether or not biogeographic rules dealing with spatial patterns of animal body sizes are valid for ectotherms is controversial. As the ectotherms grow all their lives, we explored the role of age and annual growth rate in body size variation in Phrynocephalus przewalskii in northern China. Morphological data were collected from 11 populations across a broad geographic gradient. Correlations between age, sex, climatic factors, and body size were analyzed using generalized linear model (GLM) and generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). GLM analysis indicated that the general body size of both sexes and the appendage size of females increased significantly with increasing temperature; however, the coefficient of determination was very small. GLMM analysis indicated that body size only correlated with age, whereas appendage size was affected by age, temperature, rainfall, and sunshine. Annual growth rates were positively correlated with temperature. We concluded that body size variation was mainly caused by age structure and plasticity of the growth rate in P. przewalskii and did not follow Bergmann's rule; however, females followed Allen's rule. Future studies to investigate the effect of energy restriction are needed to further understand the relationship between growth rate and body size. We also suggest that further studies on thermal advantage and sexual selection may be helpful to understand appendage size variation in P. przewalskii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhao
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental PollutionSchool of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Yangyang Zhao
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental PollutionSchool of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Rui Guo
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental PollutionSchool of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
- College of life sciencesHainan Normal UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Yue Qi
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental PollutionSchool of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Xiaoning Wang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental PollutionSchool of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Na Li
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental PollutionSchool of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
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8
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LaBarbera K, Marsh KJ, Hayes KRR, Hammond TT. Context-dependent effects of relative temperature extremes on bill morphology in a songbird. R Soc Open Sci 2020; 7:192203. [PMID: 32431895 PMCID: PMC7211890 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.192203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Species increasingly face environmental extremes. Morphological responses to changes in average environmental conditions are well documented, but responses to environmental extremes remain poorly understood. We used museum specimens to investigate relationships between a thermoregulatory morphological trait, bird bill surface area (SA) and a measure of short-term relative temperature extremity (RTE), which quantifies the degree that temperature maxima or minima diverge from the 5-year norm. Using a widespread, generalist species, Junco hyemalis, we found that SA exhibited different patterns of association with RTE depending on the overall temperature regime and on precipitation. While thermoregulatory function predicts larger SA at higher RTE, we found this only when the RTE existed in an environmental context that opposed it: atypically cold minimum temperature in a warm climate, or atypically warm maximum temperature in a cool climate. When environmental context amplified the RTE, we found a negative relationship between SA and RTE. We also found that the strength of associations between SA and RTE increased with precipitation. Our results suggest that trait responses to environmental variation may qualitatively differ depending on the overall environmental context, and that environmental change that extremifies already-extreme environments may produce responses that cannot be predicted from observations in less-extreme contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie LaBarbera
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
| | - Kyle J. Marsh
- Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive, Ste #11, Petaluma, CA 94954, USA
| | - Kia R. R. Hayes
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
| | - Talisin T. Hammond
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
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Huffman MA, Kumara R, Kawamoto Y, Jayaweera PM, Bardi M, Nahallage CAD. What makes a long tail short? Testing Allen's rule in the toque macaques of Sri Lanka. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23113. [PMID: 32096278 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Allen's rule (1877) predicts ecogeographical anatomical variation in appendage proportions as a function of body temperature regulation. This phenomenon has been tested in a variety of animal species. In macaques, relative tail length (RTL) is one of the most frequently measured appendages to test Allen's rule. These studies have relied on museum specimens or the invasive and time-consuming capturing of free-ranging individuals. To augment sample size and lessen these logistical limitations, we designed and validated a novel noninvasive technique using digitalized photographs processed using LibreCAD, an open-source 2D-computer-aided design (CAD) application. This was used to generate pixelated measurements to calculate an RTL equivalent, the Tail to Trunk Index (TTI) = (tail [tail base to anterior tip] pixel count/trunk [neck to tail base] pixel count). The TTI of 259 adult free-ranging toque macaques (Macaca sinica) from 36 locations between 7 and 2,087 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.) was used in the analysis. Samples were collected from all three putative subspecies (M. s. sinica, aurifrons, and opisthomelas), at locations representing all altitudinal climatic zones where they are naturally distributed. These data were used to test whether toque macaque tail length variation across elevation follows Allen's rule, predicting that RTL decreases with increasing elevation and lower temperature. Our results strongly supported this prediction. There was also a statistically significant, negative correlation between elevation and annual average temperature. The best predictor for the TTI index was elevation. Significant subspecies differences in RTL are linked in part to their ecological and altitudinal niche separation, but overall the variation is seen as the species' adaptation to climate. The method developed for the quick morphometric assessment of relative body proportions, applicable for use on unhabituated free-ranging animals, widens the range of materials available for research studying morphological characteristics and their evolution in primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Huffman
- Department of Ecology and Social Behavior, Primate Research Institute, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan
| | - Raveendra Kumara
- Department of Anthropology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Yoshi Kawamoto
- Laboratory of Wildlife Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan.,Center for Human Evolution Modeling Research, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan
| | - Prasad M Jayaweera
- Department of Computer Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Massimo Bardi
- Department of Psychology, Randolph-Mason College, Ashland, Virginia
| | - Charmalie A D Nahallage
- Department of Anthropology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
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10
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Savell KRR. Evolvability in human postcranial traits across ecogeographic regions. Am J Phys Anthropol 2020; 172:110-122. [PMID: 31912894 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Though recent quantitative genetic analyses have indicated that directional selection appears to be acting on limb lengths and measures of body size in modern humans, these studies assume equal evolvability across modern human groups. However, differences in trait covariance structure due to ancient migration patterns and/or selection may limit the evolvability of populations further from Africa. This study therefore explores patterns of human evolvability across ecogeographic regions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mean evolvability, respondability, conditional evolvability, and autonomy were calculated from variance-covariance matrices of limb length and body size measures representing 14 human groups spanning four ecogeographic regions. Measures of evolvability were compared across groups and regions, and the minimum sample size, inaccuracy, and bias were calculated for each. RESULTS When compared between regions, humans demonstrate significant differences between indices of evolvability across regions. Despite the relatively recent evolution of modern humans, several measures of evolvability show a strong negative correlation with latitude across regions, demonstrating a reduction in genetic variance that is potentially reflective of human migration and/or response to selection. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the importance of establishing patterns of evolvability prior to additional quantitative genetic analyses, and emphasize the influence of sample size on the accuracy of estimated evolvability measures. These findings also suggest that while modern human groups share similar covariance structures, there is evidence for emergent differentiation in evolvability and respondability between human groups across ecogeographic regions, further complicating our ability to apply results derived from modern human groups to ancient hominin lineages.
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Miller CR, Latimer CE, Zuckerberg B. Bill size variation in northern cardinals associated with anthropogenic drivers across North America. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:4841-4851. [PMID: 29876062 PMCID: PMC5980444 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Allen's rule predicts that homeotherms inhabiting cooler climates will have smaller appendages, while those inhabiting warmer climates will have larger appendages relative to body size. Birds' bills tend to be larger at lower latitudes, but few studies have tested whether modern climate change and urbanization affect bill size. Our study explored whether bill size in a wide-ranging bird would be larger in warmer, drier regions and increase with rising temperatures. Furthermore, we predicted that bill size would be larger in densely populated areas, due to urban heat island effects and the higher concentration of supplementary foods. Using measurements from 605 museum specimens, we explored the effects of climate and housing density on northern cardinal bill size over an 85-year period across the Linnaean subspecies' range. We quantified the geographic relationships between bill surface area, housing density, and minimum temperature using linear mixed effect models and geographically weighted regression. We then tested whether bill surface area changed due to housing density and temperature in three subregions (Chicago, IL., Washington, D.C., and Ithaca, NY). Across North America, cardinals occupying drier regions had larger bills, a pattern strongest in males. This relationship was mediated by temperature such that birds in warm, dry areas had larger bills than those in cool, dry areas. Over time, female cardinals' bill size increased with warming temperatures in Washington, D.C., and Ithaca. Bill size was smaller in developed areas of Chicago, but larger in Washington, D.C., while there was no pattern in Ithaca, NY. We found that climate and urbanization were strongly associated with bill size for a wide-ranging bird. These biogeographic relationships were characterized by sex-specific differences, varying relationships with housing density, and geographic variability. It is likely that anthropogenic pressures will continue to influence species, potentially promoting microevolutionary changes over space and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen R. Miller
- Department of Forest and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | | | - Benjamin Zuckerberg
- Department of Forest and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
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Payne S, Macintosh A, Stock J. The thermoregulatory function of the human hand: How do palm and digit proportions affect heat loss? Am J Phys Anthropol 2018; 166:803-811. [PMID: 29603137 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The current study assessed whether ecogeographical patterns seen in hand proportions correlate with heat loss directly. Using a brief severe cold immersion experiment on the hand, the influence of hand and digit dimensions on heat loss was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS A sample of 113 living individuals were tested. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional scanning techniques were used to assess hand and digit dimensions. Thermal imaging analysis was used to quantify heat loss during a 3-min ice-water immersion of the hands. RESULTS When body size was accounted for, hand width and digit length relative to total hand length were significant predictors of heat loss from the hand. DISCUSSION The current study provides empirical evidence to support the link between thermodynamic principles relating to surface area-to-volume ratio, and ecogeographical patterns associated with temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Payne
- PAVE Research Group, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3EX, United Kingdom
| | - Alison Macintosh
- PAVE Research Group, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3EX, United Kingdom
| | - Jay Stock
- PAVE Research Group, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3EX, United Kingdom.,Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5C2, Canada
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García-Martínez D, Nalla S, Ferreira MT, Guichón RA, D'Angelo Del Campo MD, Bastir M. Eco-geographic adaptations in the human ribcage throughout a 3D geometric morphometric approach. Am J Phys Anthropol 2018; 166:323-336. [PMID: 29417988 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES According to eco-geographic rules, humans from high latitude areas present larger and wider trunks than their low-latitude areas counterparts. This issue has been traditionally addressed on the pelvis but information on the thorax is largely lacking. We test whether ribcages are larger in individuals inhabiting high latitudes than in those from low latitudes and explored the correlation of rib size with latitude. We also test whether a common morphological pattern is exhibited in the thorax of different cold-adapted populations, contributing to their hypothetical widening of the trunk. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used 3D geometric morphometrics to quantify rib morphology of three hypothetically cold-adapted populations, viz. Greenland (11 individuals), Alaskan Inuit (8 individuals) and people from Tierra del Fuego (8 individuals), in a comparative framework with European (Spain, Portugal and Austria; 24 individuals) and African populations (South African and sub-Saharan African; 20 individuals). RESULTS Populations inhabiting high latitudes present longer ribs than individuals inhabiting areas closer to the equator, but a correlation (p < 0.05) between costal size and latitude is only found in ribs 7-11. Regarding shape, the only cold adapted population that was different from the non-cold-adapted populations were the Greenland Inuit, who presented ribs with less curvature and torsion. CONCLUSIONS Size results from the lower ribcage are consistent with the hypothesis of larger trunks in cold-adapted populations. The fact that only Greenland Inuit present a differential morphological pattern, linked to a widening of their ribcage, could be caused by differences in latitude. However, other factors such as genetic drift or specific cultural adaptations cannot be excluded and should be tested in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shahed Nalla
- Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI) and Center of Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Maria Teresa Ferreira
- Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ricardo A Guichón
- Núcleo de Estudios Interdisciplinarios de Poblaciones Humanas de Patagonia Austral, Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva Humana, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina (CONICET)
| | - Manuel D D'Angelo Del Campo
- Núcleo de Estudios Interdisciplinarios de Poblaciones Humanas de Patagonia Austral, Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva Humana, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina (CONICET).,Laboratorio de Poblaciones de Pasado, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España
| | - Markus Bastir
- Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain
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Abstract
Variation in body form among human groups is structured by a blend of natural selection driven by local climatic conditions and random genetic drift. However, attempts to test ecogeographic hypotheses have not distinguished between adaptive traits (i.e., those that evolved as a result of selection) and those that evolved as a correlated response to selection on other traits (i.e., nonadaptive traits), complicating our understanding of the relationship between climate and morphological distinctions among populations. Here, we use evolutionary quantitative methods to test if traits previously identified as supporting ecogeographic hypotheses were actually adaptive by estimating the force of selection on individual traits needed to drive among-group differentiation. Our results show that not all associations between trait means and latitude were caused by selection acting directly on each individual trait. Although radial and tibial length and biiliac and femoral head breadth show signs of responses to directional selection matching ecogeographic hypotheses, the femur was subject to little or no directional selection despite having shorter values by latitude. Additionally, in contradiction to ecogeographic hypotheses, the humerus was under directional selection for longer values by latitude. Responses to directional selection in the tibia and radius induced a nonadaptive correlated response in the humerus that overwhelmed its own trait-specific response to selection. This result emphasizes that mean differences between groups are not good indicators of which traits are adaptations in the absence of information about covariation among characteristics.
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Burness G, Huard JR, Malcolm E, Tattersall GJ. Post-hatch heat warms adult beaks: irreversible physiological plasticity in Japanese quail. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20131436. [PMID: 23884093 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.1436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Across taxa, the early rearing environment contributes to adult morphological and physiological variation. For example, in birds, environmental temperature plays a key role in shaping bill size and clinal trends across latitudinal/thermal gradients. Such patterns support the role of the bill as a thermal window and in thermal balance. It remains unknown whether bill size and thermal function are reversibly plastic. We raised Japanese quail in warm (30°C) or cold (15°C) environments and then at a common intermediate temperature. We predicted that birds raised in cold temperatures would develop smaller bills than warm-reared individuals, and that regulation of blood flow to the bill in response to changing temperatures would parallel the bill's role in thermal balance. Cold-reared birds developed shorter bills, although bill size exhibited 'catch-up' growth once adults were placed at a common temperature. Despite having lived in a common thermal environment as adults, individuals that were initially reared in the warmth had higher bill surface temperatures than cold-reared individuals, particularly under cold conditions. This suggests that blood vessel density and/or the control over blood flow in the bill retained a memory of early thermal ontogeny. We conclude that post-hatch temperature reversibly affects adult bill morphology but irreversibly influences the thermal physiological role of bills and may play an underappreciated role in avian energetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Burness
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8.
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