Article
Biology
J. H. Arbour, A. A. Curtis, S. E. Santana
Summary: The study found that bats underwent profound adaptive divergences in skull shape during evolution, leading to significant changes in allometric relationships and modularity.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Jesse J. Hennekam
Summary: This study analyzed the morphology of eight out of the nine extant dormouse genera, revealing species-, genus- and family-specific morphological trends in the cranium and mandible. Specific habitats and feeding strategies were found to be linked with the size and shape variations in dormouse skulls.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Vukica Vujic, Bojan Ilic, Luka Lucic, Vladimir Tomic, Zvezdana Jovanovic, Sofija Pavkovic-Lucic, Slobodan Makarov
Summary: This study investigated modularity and the influence of allometry on overall morphological integration in the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium in the julidan millipede Megaphyllum unilineatum during late postembryogenesis. Results showed significant influence of fluctuating asymmetry on the head capsule shape and rejected the modularity hypotheses. Surprisingly, allometry did not increase the level of morphological integration in the mentioned structures.
Article
Ecology
Christian Peter Klingenberg
Summary: This study compares four methods for estimating allometric vectors from landmark data and finds that regression of shape on size performs better in simulations that include residual variation.
EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Guillermo Navalon, Sergio M. Nebreda, Jen A. Bright, Matteo Fabbri, Roger B. J. Benson, Bhart-Anjan Bhullar, Jesus Marugan-Lobon, Emily J. Rayfield
Summary: The evolutionary role of ontogeny in the avian skull origin is important, but its influence in subsequent bird evolution remains largely unexplored. Nightbirds exhibit a wide range of craniofacial morphologies that undergo significant ontogenetic shape changes, diverging from common avian patterns. The cranial morphology of many adult nightbirds appears juvenile-like due to convergent evolution, while hummingbirds show a unique evolution of cranial shape originating from a reversal to a typical avian ontogenetic trajectory.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Darija Lemic, Helena Viric Gasparic, Patricija Majcenic, Ivana Pajac Zivkovic, Mario Bjelis, Manuel J. Suazo, Margarita Correa, Jordan Hernandez, Hugo A. Benitez
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the morphological variability of the box tree moth from Croatia and assess its invasive characteristics, flight potential, and risk of further spread. The results revealed significant differences in wing shapes between populations from different geographical locations, as well as subtle wing shape sexual dimorphism.
Article
Ecology
Pietro Viacava, Simone P. Blomberg, Vera Weisbecker
Summary: Morphology-based taxonomic research often uses linear morphometrics (LMM) to quantify species differences, but this method may overlook less obvious or common characteristics. In contrast, geometric morphometrics (GMM) provides a more comprehensive characterization of shape and offers tools for considering allometry. This study used linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to evaluate the discriminatory performance of LMM and GMM in distinguishing subtly different antechinus populations. The results showed that while LMM had high discriminatory power, it may overestimate the variance explained by the first two principal components compared to GMM. GMM performed better in distinguishing groups after removing isometry and allometry effects. Therefore, GMM-based pilot studies could inform the development of easier-to-apply LMM protocols.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michaela Kerschbaumer, Tobias Pfingstl
Summary: Claws play an important role as attachment devices in various animal groups, with their shape and size being related to ecological aspects. A study on claw morphology of Caribbean mites revealed clear differences in claw shapes based on substrate preferences, indicating ecology as a primary selective force in claw shape diversification. Surprisingly, no phylogenetic signal was found within the trait, suggesting that ecological factors have played a significant role in shaping claw morphology across different populations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
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.
Article
Plant Sciences
Pierre Galipot, Sylvain Gerber, Martine Le Guilloux, Florian Jabbour, Catherine Damerval
Summary: The study shows that the dynamics of petal shape and size during development exhibit allometric growth, with cell proliferation being the major driver of shape patterning and cell expansion predominantly influencing petal size dynamics. This research provides a quantitative basis for understanding the relationships between shape, size, and cell characteristics in the development of complex floral structures, paving the way for future evo-devo investigations into the morphological diversity of nectariferous structures in Ranunculaceae and beyond.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Micael Reis, Natalia Siomava, Ernst A. Wimmer, Nico Posnien
Summary: The study revealed extensive interspecific differences in wing shape among three Diptera species as well as a clear sexual wing shape dimorphism. Different rearing temperatures had a significant impact on wing shape, mainly explained by plasticity in wing size in D. melanogaster. Additionally, rearing densities had significant effects on allometric wing shape in D. melanogaster, while a male-specific impact of different rearing conditions was observed on non-allometric wing shape in M. domestica.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Emma Sherratt, Brian Kraatz
Summary: Biological variation is considered in a scalable hierarchy, and the concept of morphological integration is also hierarchical. Multilevel analyses of trait covariation offer insights into the origins and persistence of morphological diversity. This study investigates patterns of integration and modularity across different levels of biological variation using the skull of the mammalian family Leporidae as an example. The findings reveal a common pattern of modularity underlying leporid cranial diversity, with variations in each module's disparity and integration across levels.
Article
Biology
Aurelien Lowie, Barbara De Kegel, Mark Wilkinson, John Measey, James C. O'Reilly, Nathan J. Kley, Philippe Gaucher, Jonathan Brecko, Thomas Kleinteich, Luc Van Hoorebeke, Anthony Herrel, Dominique Adriaens
Summary: Differences in maximal push forces were found among caecilian species, with the aquatic Typhlonectes producing lower force compared to others. Despite significant variation in head morphology across species, no relationship between overall skull shape and push force was detected. The study confirms previous findings that differences in fossorial behavior do not appear to be driving the evolution of caecilian head shape.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Borja Figueirido, Alejandro Perez-Ramos, Anthony Hotchner, David M. Lovelace, Francisco J. Pastor, Paul Palmqvist
Summary: Research on the brain of the extinct North American cheetah compared to the living cheetah shows unique differences, indicating a potential reevaluation of the convergence between the two species.
Article
Fisheries
E. C. de Jesus, C. M. Arpini, J. D. L. Martins, C. B. B. da Silva, V. D. Castheloge, R. B. G. Clemente-Carvalho, L. C. Gomes
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY
(2016)
Article
Zoology
Rute B. G. Clemente-Carvalho, Sergio I. Perez, Carlos H. Tonhatti, Thais H. Condez, Ricardo J. Sawaya, Celio F. B. Haddad, Sergio F. dos Reis
JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
(2016)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rute B. Clemente-Carvalho, Marcos Vaira, Laura E. King, Dania Koscinski, Maria I. Bonansea, Stephen C. Lougheed
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2017)
Article
Zoology
Izadora Vidigal, Thiago R. De Carvalho, Rute B. G. Clemente-Carvalho, Ariovaldo A. Giaretta
Article
Zoology
Celio F. B. Haddad, Ana Claudia R. Alves, Rute Beatriz G. Clemente-Carvalho, Sergio F. dos Reis
Article
Zoology
Rute B. G. Clemente-Carvalho, Ariovaldo A. Giaretta, Thais H. Condez, Celio F. B. Haddad, Sergio F. dos Reis
Article
Zoology
Thais H. Condez, Rute B. G. Clemente-Carvalho, Celio F. B. Haddad, Sergio F. dos Reis
Article
Zoology
R. B. G. Clemente-Carvalho, L. R. Monteiro, V. Bonato, H. S. Rocha, G. R. Pereira, D. F. Oliveira, R. T. Lopes, C. F. B. Haddad, E. G. Martins, S. F. dos Reis
JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
(2008)
Article
Zoology
R. B. G. Clemente-Carvalho, A. C. R. Alves, S. I. Perez, C. F. B. Haddad, S. F. dos Reis
JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
(2011)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Rute B. G. Clemente-Carvalho, Marta M. Antoniazzi, Carlos Jared, Celio F. B. Haddad, Ana C. R. Alves, Henrique S. Rocha, Gabriela R. Pereira, Davi F. Oliveira, Ricardo T. Lopes, Sergio F. dos Reis
JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY
(2009)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rute B. G. Clemente-Carvalho, Julia Klaczko, S. Ivan Perez, Ana C. R. Alves, Celio F. B. Haddad, Sergio F. dos Reis
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2011)
Article
Parasitology
Daniela Doussang, Daniel Gonzalez-Acuna, Luis Gonzalo Torres-Fuentes, Stephen C. Lougheed, Rute Beatriz Clemente-Carvalho, Kian Connelly Greene, Juliana A. Vianna
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Evelyn L. Jensen, Christina Tschritter, Peter V. C. de Groot, Kristen M. Hayward, Marsha Branigan, Markus Dyck, Rute B. G. Clemente-Carvalho, Stephen C. Lougheed
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Vevicius D. Castheloge, Marcelo Renan de D. dos Santos, Jaqueline C. de Cistilhos, Paulo Roberto de J. Filho, Levy de C. Gomes, Rute Beatriz G. Clemente-Carvalho, Paulo D. Ferreira
HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY
(2018)