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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Evolution of morphology and locomotor performance in anurans: relationships with microhabitat diversification

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Author(s):
Citadini, J. M. [1] ; Brandt, R. [2, 3] ; Williams, C. R. [4] ; Gomes, F. R. [1]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Physiol, Biosci Inst, Rua Matao, Travessa 14, 321, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Auburn Univ, Dept Biol Sci, Auburn, AL 36849 - USA
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol, FFCLRP, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[4] Univ South Australia, Sansom Inst Hlth Res, Sch Pharm & Med Sci, Adelaide, SA - Australia
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY; v. 31, n. 3, p. 371-381, MAR 2018.
Web of Science Citations: 6
Abstract

The relationships between morphology, performance, behavior and ecology provide evidence for multiple and complex phenotypic adaptations. The anuran body plan, for example, is evolutionarily conserved and shows clear specializations to jumping performance back at least to the early Jurassic. However, there are instances of more recent adaptation to habit diversity in the post-cranial skeleton, including relative limb length. The present study tested adaptive models of morphological evolution in anurans associated with the diversity of microhabitat use (semi-aquatic arboreal, fossorial, torrent, and terrestrial) in species of anuran amphibians from Brazil and Australia. We use phylogenetic comparative methods to determine which evolutionary models, including Brownian motion (BM) and Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) are consistent with morphological variation observed across anuran species. Furthermore, this study investigated the relationship of maximum distance jumped as a function of components of morphological variables and microhabitat use. We found there are multiple optima of limb lengths associated to different microhabitats with a trend of increasing hindlimbs in torrent, arboreal, semi-aquatic whereas fossorial and terrestrial species evolve toward optima with shorter hindlimbs. Moreover, arboreal, semi-aquatic and torrent anurans have higher jumping performance and longer hindlimbs, when compared to terrestrial and fossorial species. We corroborate the hypothesis that evolutionary modifications of overall limb morphology have been important in the diversification of locomotor performance along the anuran phylogeny. Such evolutionary changes converged in different phylogenetic groups adapted to similar microhabitat use in two different zoogeographical regions. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 16/01558-3 - Facultative sex allocation in response to Operational or Juvenile Sex Ratios in the brown anole, Anolis sagrei
Grantee:Renata Brandt Nunes
Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
FAPESP's process: 14/04324-8 - Comparative study of antipredator behaviour and locomotor performance in Australian anurans that differ in morphology and habit
Grantee:Jessyca Michele Citadini
Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 13/04418-0 - Coevolution of antipredator behavior, locomotor performance and body proportions of Mata Atlântica rainforest anuran frogs
Grantee:Jessyca Michele Citadini
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 13/14125-0 - Integrative analysis of sexual dimorphism in lizards: morphology, functional significance and selection
Grantee:Renata Brandt Nunes
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral