Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jose Maria Gonzalez-Ruiz, Maria Isabel Perez-Nunez, Maria Dolores Garcia-Alfaro, Markus Bastir
Summary: The study reveals that both directional and fluctuating asymmetry are present in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and the control group, with a more pronounced effect in patients. A qualitative visualization tool has been developed to measure the impact of these asymmetric traits on the 3D shape of patients.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carolina Vilaseca, Carlos F. Pinto, Rodrigo Ordenes-Claveria, David Laroze, Marco A. Mendez, Hugo A. Benitez
Summary: Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is a morphometric tool used to measure developmental instability in organisms exposed to stress or adverse conditions. This study evaluated the levels of FA in Triatoma infestans populations from different ecotopes in Bolivia. The results showed that populations from certain areas had higher levels of FA, possibly due to the combination of environmental conditions and exposure to insecticides. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how organisms adapt to stressors and can inform the development of public policies to regulate pesticide applications.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Nicole D. S. Grunstra, Silvester J. Bartsch, Anne Le Maitre, Philipp Mitteroecker
Summary: Phylogenetic reconstruction based on morphometric data is hindered by homoplasies, with similarities in cranial form reflecting ecological similarities rather than phylogenetic relatedness. Bone contributions and small-scale shape features show high correlation with phylogenetic distances in papionin monkeys, contrasting with the stronger association of ecological and behavioral variables with outline shape and large-scale shape features. Studies benefit from decomposing shape variation into different spatial scales.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Welvis Felipe Fernandes Castilheiro, Francesc Munoz-Munoz, Jacint Ventura, Manoel dos Santos-Filho, Maria da Luz Mathias, Sofia Isabel Gabriel
Summary: This study investigated the effect of forest fragmentation on developmental instability of the mandible in four neotropical small mammal species. The results showed that the two largest species exhibited higher levels of fluctuating asymmetry in mandibular shape in small fragments compared to large ones. Additionally, edge length negatively impacted the arboreal species.
Article
Entomology
Sebastian Baraldi, Emanuele Rigato, Giuseppe Fusco
Summary: Size and shape are important features of most living beings, and the organism's ability to regulate them during growth is considered a key adaptation. A study on cabbage butterfly larvae revealed that the regulatory mechanisms for limiting developmental disturbances are effective in both controlled laboratory conditions and natural environmental conditions. This research contributes to a better understanding of the organism-environment developmental interactions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katerina Woodard, Jiri Neustupa
Summary: This study quantitatively assessed the severity of teratogenic deformations in pennate diatoms by using geometric morphometric analysis. The results showed that the deformations were mostly concentrated in the central parts of the ventral outlines and increased asymmetry as frustule size decreased.
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
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
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
Mary-Elise Nielsen, Jerald B. Johnson
Summary: This study investigates the symmetry of the male intromittent organ in the livebearing fish Xenophallus umbratilis. The results show that the shape difference in the genitalia is related to the size rather than the morphs.
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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Omid Ekrami, Peter Claes, Ellen Van Assche, Mark D. Shriver, Seth M. Weinberg, Mary L. Marazita, Susan Walsh, Stefan Van Dongen
Summary: The study found no correlation between fluctuating asymmetry and masculinity in men, but a weak but significant correlation was found between fluctuating asymmetry and femininity in women. This suggests a possible link between genetic quality, asymmetry, and femininity, but further research is needed to explore this relationship.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Federica Landi, Fabio Alfieri, Ian Towle, Antonio Profico, Alessio Veneziano
Summary: The study investigates fluctuating asymmetry in the mandibular morphology of wild and captive Macaca fuscata, finding differences induced by the captive environment. While significant morphological dissimilarities were observed in the symmetric component, no significant degree of asymmetry was detected.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
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
Biodiversity Conservation
Philipp Ginal, Natasha Kruger, Carla Wagener, Laurie Araspin, Mohlamatsane Mokhatla, Jean Secondi, Anthony Herrel, John Measey, Dennis Roedder
Summary: The Grinnellian niche concept emphasizes the importance of climate in predicting a species' distribution. Mechanistic approaches, using thermal performance traits, can help predict potential distributions and understand the impact of local adaptation and different life-history stages. Research on the African Clawed Frog in France shows that adult frogs have more activity time in Europe compared to South African frogs, while tadpoles do not experience the same selective pressure.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Andre Vicente Liz, Dennis Roedder, Duarte Vasconcelos Goncalves, Guillermo Velo-Anton, Pedro Tarroso, Philippe Geniez, Pierre-Andre Crochet, Silvia B. Carvalho, Jose Carlos Brito
Summary: This study reveals a high and widespread diversity of lizards in the arid regions of the Sahara Desert, with their history linked to climate change. Northern Sahara acts as a unique hotspot for diversity, while the southern regions connect wide-ranging lineages from the Red Sea to the Atlantic coast. Terrain and land cover influence genetic diversity and geographic structure.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
W. C. Tan, A. Herrel, D. Roedder
Summary: Habitat change and fragmentation are major drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide. Despite increased research efforts, there are biases in the study of habitat fragmentation, with focus on specific continents and limited exploration of response variables. However, there is a shift towards utilizing advanced technologies in research, indicating a need for increased investment in biodiversity hotspots.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Antoni Sanchez-Marquez, Joan Navarro, Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou, Marc Farre, Morag Taite, Oscar Escolar, Roger Villanueva, A. Louise Allcock, Fernando A. Fernandez-Alvarez
Summary: The shape of cephalopod beaks is mainly influenced by phylogenetic relationships, while feeding habits have a minor impact. Studying beak shape is important for identifying gut contents of marine megafauna.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Duarte Oliveira, Balint Halpern, Fernando Martinez-Freiria, Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou
Summary: Investigating the inheritance and influence of traits important for survival in the Hungarian meadow viper, this study found that offspring phenotypes are mainly determined by genetic factors and maternal effects, while paternal effects and environmental influences are minimal. This suggests a high evolutionary potential for head shape in this endangered species, which should be considered in conservation efforts.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Hai Ngoc Ngo, Dennis Roedder, Lee Grismer, Truong Quang Nguyen, Minh Duc Le, Shuo Qi, Thomas Ziegler
Summary: Based on phylogenetic analyses, the first divergence date of Goniurosaurus was estimated to be in the Eocene (approximately 45.3 million years ago). Diversification within four monophyletic species groups began in the mid-Miocene (approximately 13.4 to 7.7 million years ago) and continued until at least the early Pleistocene (approximately 2 million years ago). The ancestral regions of each monophyletic Goniurosaurus species group were predicted to be contiguous continental Eastern Asia. The assessments of their niche evolution can provide insights into vulnerability to climate change and improve conservation measures for Goniurosaurus species in the future.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Sylvia Hofmann, Joachim Schmidt, Rafaqat Masroor, Leo J. Borkin, Spartak Litvintchuk, Dennis Roedder, Vladimir Vershinin, Daniel Jablonski
Summary: This study provides new molecular data and species distribution models for Himalayan spiny frogs, which contribute to the understanding of their taxonomy, phylogeography, genetic diversity, and distribution. These findings are important for reconstructing the palaeoenvironmental and palaeotopographic history of the Himalaya-Tibet-Orogen.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Inna Rech, Philipp Ginal, Anna Rauhaus, Thomas Ziegler, Dennis Roedder
Summary: According to the One Plan Approach to Conservation, ex situ conservation breeding of threatened gecko species is necessary in addition to in situ conservation measures. A study on gecko species worldwide revealed that only 9.3% of recognized species were kept in zoos, with 20.4% of them classified as threatened. Most zoo-kept geckos were found in European, North American, and Australian zoos, but institutions in Oceania mainly kept native geckos. The study suggests that zoos, both inside and outside the distributional range, can play a crucial role in conservation programs by establishing insurance colonies in cooperation with experts and conservation centers.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Ruth Anastasia Regnet, Inna Rech, Dennis Roedder, Mirco Sole
Summary: A solid basis for addressing conservation challenges in amphibians requires increased knowledge of their natural history and biology. Recent research has found that reproductive modes in amphibians are more complex and varied than previously believed, but remain understudied. Detailed information on reproductive history is particularly important for filling current knowledge gaps.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Ruth A. Regnet, Paul Lukas, Dennis Roedder, Benjamin Wipfler, Mirco Sole
Summary: In this study, we conducted a morphological examination of captive-bred larval specimens of Ranitomeya variabilis from the French Guiana population and provided detailed data on their external morphology, chondrocranium, cranial muscle systems, and internal organs. We also identified essential characteristics for recognizing tadpoles of different Ranitomeya species. The observed muscle configurations and morphological characters further support the taxonomic relationships within the Dendrobatidae family, particularly between Ranitomeya and Dendrobates.
Article
Zoology
Jendrian Riedel, Melinda Klemm, Timothy Higham, L. Lee Grismer, Thomas Ziegler, Anthony Russell, Dennis Roedder, Klaus Reinhold
Summary: In this study of four Cyrtodactylus species, we found that claw morphology is uniform among digits within each species, although there are small differences in claw length and depth. The claws of the pes are longer and deeper than those of the manus. The claw of digit I is significantly shorter and shallower compared to digits IV and V in all species.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Philipp Ginal, Jade Stahlberg, Anna Rauhaus, Philipp Wagner, Dennis Roedder, Thomas Ziegler
Summary: Turtles and tortoises are highly threatened, with more than half of the recognized species facing endangerment. Through analyzing data from ZIMS, it is found that 71.6% of the species are kept in zoos, with 76.7% of threatened turtles being represented. Zoos show a preference for keeping threatened species. 37.1% of all zoo-kept species have successfully bred in the last 12 months, indicating a trend towards breeding threatened species.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Asghar Mobaraki, Malihe Erfani, Elham Abtin, JOSe C. A. R. L. O. S. Brito, Wei cheng Tan, Thomas Ziegler, Dennis Rodder
Summary: Accurate predictions of species distribution changes in the future are essential for effective conservation planning. This study utilized ecological niche modelling to project the current and future distribution of the Marsh or Mugger Crocodile. Results showed that temperature annual range was the most influential climatic variable in the model. The study identified current potential habitats and predicted that they will face fragmentation and shift inland in the future.
Article
Zoology
Ruth Anastasia Regnet, Fernando Marques Quintela, Dennis Roedder, Daniel Loebmann
Summary: Studies on the population structure of snakes are relatively scarce compared to other zoological groups due to data availability. In this study, a large sample of Pampean water snakes was analyzed to determine sex ratios, test for sexual dimorphism, and identify ventral polymorphism. The findings provide valuable insights into the population structure of H. infrataeniatus.
NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Ana Maria Prieto-Ramirez, Dennis Rodder, Klaus Henle
Summary: This study investigates the effects of patch characteristics, isolation, and landscape composition resulting from habitat loss on tick infestation in Eastern Green Lizard populations. The results show that tick infestation is not influenced by host population density, but is negatively correlated with body condition. Additionally, the proportion of habitat and cropland, as well as patch size, have positive effects on tick infestation, while the proportion of urbanized areas, isolation, and perimeter/area ratio have negative effects.