Article
Forestry
Kaiyu Yang, Jianghao Wu, Xinman Li, Xinbo Pang, Yangchen Yuan, Guohui Qi, Minsheng Yang
Summary: This study compared the application of traditional morphometric methods (TMMs) and geometric morphometric methods (GMMs) in the study of intraspecific leaf morphological characters of Quercus dentata. The results showed that GMMs had higher classification accuracy and could provide more information about leaf shape, while TMMs could provide more information about leaf size.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Jcrg Maletz, Xiao-Feng Wang, Chuan-Shang Wang
Summary: A revision of early Tremadocian graptolites of the genus Rhabdinopora revealed that Rhabdinopora proparabola from Xiaoyang-qiao section in North China is the oldest species of the genus. These early Tremadocian species of Rhabdinopora can be distinguished based on the presence or absence and branching pattern of their nemata. The biozones of Rhabdinopora proparabola, Rhabdinopora campanulatum, Rhabdinopora flabelliformis (Anisograptus matanensis Biozone), and Rhabdinopora anglica show global correlation. However, there are no planktic graptolites in a short interval at the base of the Ordovician System.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kory M. Evans, Olivier Larouche, Sara-Jane Watson, Stacy Farina, Maria Laura Habegger, Matt Friedman
Summary: Evolutionary innovations are essential for organisms to adapt to new environments, and the evolution of cranial asymmetry in flatfishes was a rapid process that led to the colonization of novel trait space. Strong integration in skull shape changes played a major role in the evolution of this innovation by synchronizing responses to selective pressures.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Angela Maria Garcia-Sanchez, Antonio Zurita, Cristina Cutillas
Summary: This article investigates the classification and taxonomic diversity of fleas, specifically the cat flea and dog flea. By conducting a geometric morphometrics analysis, the researchers were able to differentiate between specimens of both species. This study provides useful complementary data for the identification of flea species and has the potential to assist in the identification of historically difficult species.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ming Li, Lixia Li, Wenhui Wang
Summary: Well-preserved graptolites of the genus Kiaerograptus are reported for the first time in the Nanba section, Yiyang, Hunan Province, South China. Based on these new specimens, the Kiaerograptus biozone is established for the first time in South China, which has significant implications for biostratigraphical correlation.
ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA-ENGLISH EDITION
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xinze Lu, Cole T. Edwards, Brian Kendall
Summary: This study investigates the role of ocean anoxia/euxinia on the base Stairsian mass extinction event by measuring elemental concentrations and uranium isotope compositions in carbonate samples from three sections in the Great Basin. The results show different uranium isotope trends in the three sections, with the distal sections better preserving global ocean signals. The study suggests that the small mass extinction event was not associated with an expansion of global ocean euxinia.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Masrour Makaremi, Alireza Vafaei Sadr, Benoit Marcy, Ikram Chraibi Kaadoud, Ali Mohammad-Djafari, Salome Sadoun, Francois De Brondeau, Bernard N'kaoua
Summary: This study aims to investigate the impact of mandibular retrognathia on the skull using AI tools and propose automated treatment options. Through the combination of convolutional neural networks and interpretability algorithms, we identified the affected structures by retrognathia and observed their dynamic changes based on its severity, providing insights into the evolution of human anatomy.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Jean-Philippe Martinet, Hubert Ferte, Pacome Sientzoff, Eva Krupa, Bruno Mathieu, Jerome Depaquit
Summary: Geometric morphometrics is an effective and efficient tool for the rapid classification of mosquito species in France, with successful differentiation of six Aedes species. This method could improve the speed and accuracy of mosquito identification in the field during viral outbreaks.
Article
Biology
Talia M. Lowi-Merri, Roger B. J. Benson, Santiago Claramunt, David C. Evans
Summary: The study reveals the correlation between the size and shape of avian sternum and locomotory capabilities, including flight, swimming, and running abilities. It highlights the importance of sternum form and function in modern birds, providing insights into the evolution of powered avian flight.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wilfried Woeber, Manuel Curto, Papius Tibihika, Paul Meulenbroek, Esayas Alemayehu, Lars Mehnen, Harald Meimberg, Peter Sykacek
Summary: The study uses machine learning methods to analyze images of Nile tilapia populations, finding that deep learning outperforms traditional morphometric analysis in predictive performance. However, a novel significance test reveals that the improvement is aided by non-biological artifacts. More interpretable results are obtained through a Bayesian approach, identifying habitat-dependent body features of Nile tilapia. The automatically inferred body features corroborate and expand the results of a landmark-based analysis, showing that Nile tilapia exhibit habitat-specific morphotypes and that machine learning analysis allows for the inference of novel biological knowledge.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chi Zhang, Arthur Porto, Sara Rolfe, Altan Kocatulum, A. Murat Maga
Summary: Manually collecting landmarks for complex morphological phenotypes can be tedious and prone to errors. We introduce a fast and open-source automated landmarking pipeline (MALPACA) that uses multiple templates to accommodate large-scale variations. Our results show that MALPACA outperforms single-template methods and we also provide a K-means method for template selection. MALPACA is an efficient and reproducible method that can handle large morphological variability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Federico Marquez, Yanina L. Idaszkin
Summary: The study suggests that using the shape of crab carapaces as a biomarker for the environmental quality of salt marsh systems, particularly for monitoring metal pollution, is an effective method. By applying geometric morphometrics, the research delves into symmetric and asymmetric variations in carapace shape, finding that the symmetric component can serve as a stress biomarker related to metal contamination.
Review
Cell Biology
Kory M. Evans, Thaddaeus J. Buser, Olivier Larouche, Matthew A. Kolmann
Summary: Patterns of integration and modularity among organismal traits are prevalent across the tree of life. Although researchers have studied these patterns at the developmental and evolutionary levels, there is a lack of consensus on the relationship between developmental and evolutionary integration.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jacqueline K. Lungmus, Kenneth D. Angielczyk
Summary: The study compared the forelimb shapes of fossil synapsid radiations with a broad sample of extant mammals, revealing that each synapsid radiation explored different areas of morphospace and arrived at functional solutions reflecting their distinctive ancestral morphologies. This work challenges the narrative of non-mammalian synapsid forelimb evolution as a linear progression towards more mammal-like forms, instead showing a diverse array of early-evolving shapes subsequently converging towards more mammal-like forms.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jian-Po Wang, Qi-Jian Li, Stephen Kershaw, Yuan-Yuan Zhang, Shen-Yang Yu, Yue Li
Summary: This study provides an overview of the controls on the distribution of organic reefs during the Early Ordovician Period in the Yangtze Platform in South China. The composition of reefs was mainly driven by water depth, with a transition from microbial-dominated to metazoan-dominated reefs. Different environmental settings and water depths played a role in the formation of different types of biotic structures in different regions.
JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY-ENGLISH
(2021)
