Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/27528
Title: Impact of transition to a subterranean lifestyle on morphological disparity and integration in talpid moles (Mammalia, Talpidae)
Contributor(s): Sansalone, Gabriele  (author); Colangelo, Paolo (author); Loy, Anna (author); Raia, Pasquale (author); Wroe, Stephen  (author)orcid ; Piras, Paolo (author)
Publication Date: 2019-09-12
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1506-0
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/27528
Abstract: Background: Understanding the mechanisms promoting or constraining morphological diversification within clades is a central topic in evolutionary biology. Ecological transitions are of particular interest because of their influence upon the selective forces and factors involved in phenotypic evolution. Here we focused on the humerus and mandibles of talpid moles to test whether the transition to the subterranean lifestyle impacted morphological disparity and phenotypic traits covariation between these two structures. Results: Our results indicate non-subterranean species occupy a significantly larger portion of the talpid moles morphospace. However, there is no difference between subterranean and non-subterranean moles in terms of the strength and direction of phenotypic integration. Conclusions: Our study shows that the transition to a subterranean lifestyle significantly reduced morphological variability in talpid moles. However, this reduced disparity was not accompanied by changes in the pattern of traits covariation between the humerus and the mandible, suggesting the presence of strong phylogenetic conservatism within this pattern.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: BMC Evolutionary Biology, v.19, p. 1-15
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
Place of Publication: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1471-2148
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 060303 Biological Adaptation
060809 Vertebrate Biology
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 310999 Zoology not elsewhere classified
310403 Biological adaptation
310914 Vertebrate biology
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science

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