Detecting Mismatch in Functional Narratives of Animal Morphology: A Test Case with Fossils

A boomin technological advancements over the last two decades has driven a surge in both the diversity and power of analytical tools available to biomechanical and functional morphology research. However, in order to adequately investigate each of these dense datasets, one must often consider only one functional narrative at a time. There is more to each organism than any one of these form-function relationships. Joint performance landscapes determined by maximum likelihood are a valuable tool that can be used to synthesize our understanding of these multiple functional hypotheses to further explore an organism's ecology. We present an example framework for applying these tools to such a problem using the morphological transitionof ammonoids fromtheMiddleTriassic totheEarly Jurassic. Across this time interval, morphospaceoccupation shifts froma broad occupation acrossWestermannMorphospace to a dense occupation of a region emphasizing an exposedumbilicus and modest frontal profile. The hydrodynamic capacities and limitations of the shell have seen intense scrutiny as a likely explanation of this transition. However, conflicting interpretations of hydrodynamic performance remain despite this scrutiny, with scant offerings of alternative explanations. Our analysis finds that hydrodynamic measures of performance do little to explain the shift in morphological occupation, highlighting a need for a more robust investigation of alternative functional hypotheses that are often intellectually set aside. With this we show a framework for consolidating the current understanding of the form-function relationships in an organism, and assess when they are insufficiently characterizing the dynamics those data are being used to explain. We aim to encourage the broader adoption of this framework and these ideas as a foundation to bring the field close to comprehensive synthesis and reconstruction of organisms.

Automated summary

Technological advancements in the past two decades have led to a diversification and enhancement of analytical tools used in biomechanical and functional morphology research. However, the complexity of organisms means that often only one functional narrative is considered at a time. Joint performance landscapes determined by maximum likelihood offer a valuable tool to synthesize multiple functional hypotheses and explore an organism's ecology. Using the example of the morphological transition of ammonoids, this study finds that hydrodynamic measures of performance do little to explain the shift in morphological occupation, emphasizing the need for more robust investigation of alternative functional hypotheses.