Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Bruno E. Soares, Naraiana L. Benone, Ronaldo B. Barthem, Alexandre P. Marceniuk, Luciano F. A. Montag
Summary: The study evaluated the importance of environmental variables and functional distinctiveness on the co-occurrence patterns of nine marine catfishes in the inner estuary of the Amazon River mouth. The results showed that environmental filtering is the main force structuring the co-occurrence patterns by promoting spatial segregation, but functional distinctiveness allowed some species to aggregate.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Leidy Viviana Garcia-Herrera, Leidy Azucena Ramirez-Francel, Giovany Guevara, Gladys Reinoso-Florez, Alfonso Sanchez-Hernandez, Burton K. Lim, Sergio Losada-Prado
Summary: By analyzing craniodental traits and bite force in Stenodermatinae bats, it was found that skull size is a key determinant of bite force, with feeding habits and certain cranial features playing roles in bite force performance. This study provides insights into the evolutionary adaptations of this highly diverse Neotropical bat group.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Christine E. Sosiak, Phillip Barden
Summary: Understanding the link between ecology and morphology in ants is crucial, and multivariate analyses were used to assess ecomorphological variation across a wide sampling of taxa. The predictive accuracy for ecology was 77%-85%, and Random Forest analysis consistently outperformed Linear Discriminant Analysis. Eye, antennal scape, and leg morphology were found to be most informative in differentiating among ecologies, and machine learning methods underscored the role of ecology in shaping body plan morphology across ant lineages.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Alexander D. Clark, Jingmai K. O'Connor
Summary: Recent discoveries of 100 million-year-old amber from Myanmar provide important insights into the morphology of Late Cretaceous enantiornithines. Two specimens with unique hindlimb morphologies have been identified, showcasing adaptations that allowed these birds to utilize specific ecological niches in their paleoenvironment. Comparisons to extant avian taxa in similar ecological niches can help researchers speculate on the functional morphology of these extinct birds.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Talia M. Lowi-Merri, Oliver E. Demuth, Juan Benito, Daniel J. Field, Roger B. J. Benson, Santiago Claramunt, David C. Evans
Summary: Avian skeletal morphology can provide insights into locomotor function in both extant and extinct taxa. In this study, the researchers examined the sternal shape and skeletal proportions of the fossil taxon Ichthyornis to infer its locomotor capabilities. Their analysis suggests that Ichthyornis had both soaring and foot-propelled swimming capabilities. Furthermore, they found that sternal shape and skeletal proportions provide complementary information on avian locomotion, with skeletal proportions predicting flight capacity and sternal shape predicting more specific locomotor abilities. These findings have important implications for understanding the ecology of extinct birds and highlight the significance of sternum morphology in investigations of fossil bird locomotion.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Anne-Claire Fabre, Carys Dowling, Roberto Portela Miguez, Vincent Fernandez, Eve Noirault, Anjali Goswami
Summary: Marsupials exhibit differences in jaw shape influenced by reproductive mode and diet, showing convergence with placentals but lower evolution rate and disparity in mandible shape. Their specialized reproductive biology appears to strongly constrain the evolution of their jaws despite ecological and morphological diversity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fernando L. Sicuro, Luiz Flamarion B. Oliveira, Carla D. Hendges, Carlos Fonseca
Summary: The study in the Brazilian Pantanal confirmed that morphometric-proxies are reliable tools for inferring bite force, with a good correspondence between predicted and actual bite forces. Different capacities to crack food items reduce competition between collared and white-lipped peccaries. The results validate the biomechanical signal captured by morphometric proxies, confirming their utility for ecomorphological and evolutionary inferences.
Article
Zoology
Erika M. Ospina-Perez, Fredy A. Rivera-Paez, Hector E. Ramirez-Chaves
Summary: This study expanded the knowledge of distribution of fly species and associations with bat hosts in Colombia, contributing to understanding the ecology, diversity, and distribution of these species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Wenqi Luo, Runxuan Lan, Dongxia Chen, Bingwei Zhang, Nianxun Xi, Yuanzhi Li, Suqing Fang, Oscar J. Valverde-Barrantes, David M. Eissenstat, Chengjin Chu, Youshi Wang
Summary: The study found that environmental filtering and limiting similarity mechanisms simultaneously structure the functional and phylogenetic structure of root neighborhoods, promoting niche differentiation of coexisting species. Multi-dimensional adaptive trait syndromes play a crucial role in root neighborhood resource use and species coexistence.
Article
Ecology
Iris Menendez, Donald L. Swiderski, Ana R. Gomez Cano, Manuel Hernandez Fernandez, Maria A. Alvarez-Sierra, Miriam L. Zelditch
Summary: Understanding the drivers of tooth morphology evolution is crucial for grasping the origin and development of diversity. Through a study on squirrels, it is revealed that diet plays a significant role in shaping tooth morphology, with mechanical processing requirements being a driving force for morphological change. Additionally, diet composition also influences the extent of morphological adaptation.
Article
Ecology
Przemyslaw Baranow, Dariusz Szlachetko, Pavel Kindlmann
Summary: Sobralia Ruiz & Pav. is a neotropical orchid genus with large morphological diversity. It can be divided into four sections and some informal groups based on the architecture of the inflorescence. The section Racemosae is characterized by elongated inflorescence with distinct internodes. Although the section is well-defined, species within it are often similar and can be easily misidentified, especially when considering herbarium specimens. This study presents a taxonomic revision of Sobralia section Racemosae, including morphological characteristics, identification keys, ecological data, and distribution maps. A new species, Sobralia gambitana, is described, and a neotype is proposed for S. hoppii Schltr.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Luis M. Badillo-Saldana, Aaron Garcia-Rosales, Aurelio Ramirez-Bautista
Summary: This study evaluates the relationship between morphology and microhabitat use in mainland Anolis lizards and finds that microhabitat use can influence morphological traits, and interspecific competition may reduce variation in perch height.
Article
Zoology
Vinicius C. Claudio, Brunna Almeida, Roberto L. M. Novaes, Marcos A. Navarro, Liliani M. Tiepolo, Ricardo Moratelli
Summary: Histiotus is a Neotropical genus of bat that currently includes 11 species. Despite previous studies, there is still a lack of a comprehensive systematic revision for Histiotus. This study presents a second record of H. alienus and an amended diagnosis of this species, using qualitative and quantitative analyses. Our results enhance the understanding of the taxonomy and diagnosis of Histiotus, but further comprehensive revision is needed.
Article
Zoology
Adriana Calahorra-Oliart, Sandra M. Ospina-Garces, Livia Leon-Paniagua
Summary: Cryptic species are common in bats, with Glossophaga soricina potentially being a cryptic species complex. By analyzing cranial characteristics and their covariation with environmental variables, researchers found support for two main mitochondrial lineages within G. soricina. Variations in shape and size of skull and mandible were linked to environmental factors, contributing to the elevation of four subspecies to the taxonomic level of species.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Joel H. Gayford, Darren A. Whitehead, James T. Ketchum, Daniel J. Field
Summary: The morphological variation in sharks not only varies between different species, but also changes during the ontogenetic development. This study provides evidence of ontogenetic allometric shifts in two species of carcharhiniform sharks, suggesting that body form conservatism is a common phenomenon, while also highlighting the selective factors and the need for further studies.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fausto Saenz-Jimenez, Octavio Rojas-Soto, Jairo Perez-Torres, Enrique Martinez-Meyer, James K. Sheppard
Summary: Climate change and anthropic intervention can lead to geographic displacement and increased competition among species, affecting the distribution and sympatry between the Andean condor and the black vulture. These changes emphasize the importance of considering these factors in conservation programs for threatened vulture species in the future.
BIRD CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Camilo Lopez-Aguirre, Suzanne J. Hand, Daisuke Koyabu, Vuong Tan Tu, Laura A. B. Wilson
Summary: The study utilized 3D virtual modelling and geometric morphometrics to explore the phylogenetic, ecological, and biological drivers of humeral morphology in bats. They found that phylogeny, diet, and foraging guild significantly correlated with shape variation at all levels, while size only had a significant effect on epiphyseal morphology. The study also revealed a significant phylogenetic signal in all levels of humeral shape, with epiphyseal shape significantly correlated with wing aspect ratio.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Alvaro A. Faccini-Martinez, Jairo Perez-Torres, Sandra M. Chala-Quintero, Maria T. Herrera-Sepulveda, Claudia Cuervo, Marcelo B. Labruna
Summary: Bats have been regarded as reservoirs of relapsing fever group spirochaetes for over a century, and recently bat-associated spirochaetes have been identified as human pathogens. This study in Colombia's Macaregua cave found Borrelia DNA in blood samples from bats, suggesting the possibility of a new taxon within the genus. Further analysis revealed a phylogenetic relationship to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl).
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Taro Nojiri, Laura A. B. Wilson, Camilo Lopez-Aguirre, Vuong Tan Tu, Shigeru Kuratani, Kai Ito, Hiroki Higashiyama, Nguyen Truong Son, Dai Fukui, Alexa Sadier, Karen E. Sears, Hideki Endo, Satoshi Kamihori, Daisuke Koyabu
Summary: The study found that laryngeal echolocation in bats may have multiple origins, supporting the hypothesis of a non-echolocating bat ancestor and independent gain of echolocation in Yinpterochiroptera and Yangochiroptera. Additionally, there were no developmental differences in the hearing apparatus between non-echolocating bats and terrestrial non-bat mammals.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Camilo Lopez-Aguirre, Laura A. B. Wilson, Daisuke Koyabu, Vuong Tan Tu, Suzanne J. Hand
Summary: This study investigated the humeral shape and biomechanical variation in relation to different foraging and roosting behaviors in bats. The results revealed a strong ecological signal and lack of phylogenetic structuring in humeral phenotypes. Terrestrial locomoting and upstand roosting species exhibited unique patterns of shape and biomechanical variation.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Jesus Ballesteros-Correa, Jairo Perez-Torres
Summary: The establishment of extensive livestock systems in the Colombian Caribbean Region has historically caused a strong loss of tropical dry forest and negatively impacted biodiversity. However, the implementation of silvopastoral systems shows positive effects on the diversity of bat assemblages in these areas. Frugivorous bats are more abundant in silvopastoral systems, which contribute to greater temporal stability of bat assemblages.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Laura A. B. Wilson
Summary: This study measured fluctuating asymmetry in the cranium of six domestic mammal species and their wild relatives, finding that most domestic mammals showed greater disparity for asymmetric shape. However, only two forms, Pig and Dog, exhibited significantly higher disparity and asymmetry compared to their wild counterparts, Wild Boar and Wolf. This suggests that new variation in domesticates may retain a general, conserved pattern in the structuring of the cranium while also responding to selection on specific features.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2022)
Review
Zoology
Kevin Gonzalez-Gutierrez, John Harold Castano, Jairo Perez-Torres, Hilda Rocio Mosquera-Mosquera
Summary: The study found that most of the bat-flower interaction networks in the Americas are specialized, modular, and non-nested, except for the networks in the Antilles which are nested, unspecialized, and not modular. Specialist nectarivorous bats have more interactions, while facultative bats serve as connectors. There are significant information gaps in the diet of many specialist nectarivorous bats.
Article
Paleontology
Norberto P. Giannini, Fernando Abdala, David A. Flores, Laura A. B. Wilson
Summary: Ontogenetic allometry, the covariation of shape with size over the course of development, can vary across species and in association with ecological factors. In this study, we conducted a detailed examination of cranial ontogeny in the numbat to understand the development and evolution of its specialized feeding function. Our results revealed positive allometry for length of certain skull elements, which directly relates to the unique rostral elongation in the numbat.
Review
Evolutionary Biology
Nicolas L. M. Brualla, Laura A. B. Wilson, Michael Doube, Richard T. T. Carter, Alan G. G. McElligott, Daisuke Koyabu
Summary: This article describes how comparative chiropteran laryngeal morphology is a novel area of research that could improve the understanding of echolocation and may help resolve the evolutionary history of bats. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding laryngeal sound production for the evolution of the chiropteran auditory system and the ecological and behavioral aspects of bat biology. The article also suggests that different laryngeal components may independently modulate the parameters of sound production in echolocation.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura A. B. Wilson, Susanne R. K. Zajitschek, Malgorzata Lagisz, Jeremy Mason, Hamed Haselimashhadi, Shinichi Nakagawa
Summary: Sex differences play a significant role in the risk and expression of diseases, but previous research has mainly focused on male animals and cells. Using data from the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium, this study reveals that body weight does not account for all phenotypic differences between male and female mice, highlighting the need for more female-focused research.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Biology
Ben Thomas Gleeson, Laura A. B. Wilson
Summary: Altered neural crest cell (NCC) behavior is often used to explain domestication syndrome in animals, but recent studies have questioned its validity and even the existence of the syndrome itself. In this review, we synthesize published literature and critiques to propose a novel interpretation, suggesting that shared disruption of wild reproductive regimes primarily caused the trait changes observed under ancient domestication. We compare these clear mechanisms with the more speculative genetic associations suggested by the NCC hypothesis.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
A. Alviz, P. Gonzalez-Gonzalez, J. Perez-Torres
Summary: Scientific and traditional knowledge were combined to study the diet of the lowland tapir Tapirus terrestris in the Orinoquia region of Colombia. The research aimed to understand the ecological aspects related to the tapir's diet, habitat use, and food preferences. Fecal samples and traditional knowledge from citizen science monitoring were analyzed to identify the plant species consumed by the tapirs. The results highlighted the importance of tapirs in consuming large seeds of economic relevance to local communities and provided valuable information for conservation strategies.
ANIMAL BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biology
J. William O. Ballard, Matt A. Field, Richard J. Edwards, Laura A. B. Wilson, Loukas G. Koungoulos, Benjamin D. Rosen, Barry Chernoff, Olga Dudchenko, Arina Omer, Jens Keilwagen, Ksenia Skvortsova, Ozren Bogdanovic, Eva Chan, Robert Zammit, Vanessa Hayes, Erez Lieberman Aiden
Summary: We describe a female Alpine dingo named Cooinda, who has been identified as a representative specimen for future research on the evolutionary history, morphology, physiology, and ecology of dingoes. The study provides evidence that Cooinda exhibits genetic and morphological characteristics typical of the Alpine ecotype.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos, Sandra M. Chala-Quintero, Alvaro A. Faccini-Martinez, Marylin Hidalgo, Adriana del Pilar Pulido-Villamarin, Jairo Perez-Torres, Claudia Cuervo
Summary: Different groups of Leptospira spp. sequences were detected among cave bats in the Macaregua cave in Colombia, suggesting conspecific transmission within the cave.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)