scholarly journals Integrative Approach Uncovers New Patterns of Ecomorphological Convergence in Slow Arboreal Xenarthrans

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Alfieri ◽  
Léo Botton-Divet ◽  
John A. Nyakatura ◽  
Eli Amson
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Morphometrics ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Complete Convergence ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Phylogenetic Comparative Methods ◽  
Trabecular Architecture ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Central Focus ◽  
Ecological Features ◽  
Trait Space

AbstractIdentifying ecomorphological convergence examples is a central focus in evolutionary biology. In xenarthrans, slow arboreality independently arose at least three times, in the two genera of ‘tree sloths’, Bradypus and Choloepus, and the silky anteater, Cyclopes. This specialized locomotor ecology is expectedly reflected by distinctive morpho-functional convergences. Cyclopes, although sharing several ecological features with ‘tree sloths’, do not fully mirror the latter in their outstandingly similar suspensory slow arboreal locomotion. We hypothesized that the morphology of Cyclopes is closer to ‘tree sloths’ than to anteaters, but yet distinct, entailing that slow arboreal xenarthrans evolved through ‘incomplete’ convergence. In a multivariate trait space, slow arboreal xenarthrans are hence expected to depart from their sister taxa evolving toward the same area, but not showing extensive phenotypical overlap, due to the distinct position of Cyclopes. Conversely, a pattern of ‘complete’ convergence (i.e., widely overlapping morphologies) is hypothesized for ‘tree sloths’. Through phylogenetic comparative methods, we quantified humeral and femoral convergence in slow arboreal xenarthrans, including a sample of extant and extinct non-slow arboreal xenarthrans. Through 3D geometric morphometrics, cross-sectional properties (CSP) and trabecular architecture, we integratively quantified external shape, diaphyseal anatomy and internal epiphyseal structure. Several traits converged in slow arboreal xenarthrans, especially those pertaining to CSP. Phylomorphospaces and quantitative convergence analyses substantiated the expected patterns of ‘incomplete’ and ‘complete’ convergence for slow arboreal xenarthrans and ‘tree sloths’, respectively. This work, highlighting previously unidentified convergence patterns, emphasizes the value of an integrative multi-pronged quantitative approach to cope with complex mechanisms underlying ecomorphological convergence.

scholarly journals Correlation of Index Finger Length (2D) with Height, Weight and BMI in Adult Bangladeshi Male

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-94
Author(s):  
Karim Rezwan Hasan ◽  
Shamim Ara ◽  
Fakhrul Amin Mohammad Hasanul Banna
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Index Finger ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Human Hand ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Morphological Attributes ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Finger Length ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Male Subjects

Background: Human hand is one of the most versatile parts of the human body which plays an important role in modern medical science and evolutionary biology. By virtue of evolution and genetic arrangements, digital lengths vary from person to person according to age, sex, races, occupation or even environmental influences. It has been found that the digital lengths and their ratios are not same in different sexes and even in both hands of same individual. Specially, index to ring digit lengths and their ratios which already have been proved to represent sexual dimorphism may differ in both hands of an individual and show positive correlations with other morphological attributes like height, weight and BMI.Objectives: To analyze the variation of index finger (2D) length and its correlation with height, weight and BMI in adult Bangladeshi male.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2012 to June 2013 on 100 male MBBS students (20?25 years of age). With the help of digital vernier caliper measurements of index finger length (2D) was recorded. Height and weight were measured by the stadiometer and weighing scale respectively. BMI was calculated from height and weight. Pearson’s correlation analysis was done to find out the correlation of index finger length with height, weight and BMI.Results: Significant correlation has been found between the lengths of index fingers (2D) and height (p<0.01), but there was no significant correlation of index finger length with weight and BMI (p>0.05).Conclusion: In this study, we found variation in index finger lengths of both hands of Bangladeshi male subjects, which needs further study and comparison.J Enam Med Col 2017; 7(2): 90-94

scholarly journals Testing repeatability, measurement error and species differentiation when using geometric morphometrics on complex shapes: a case study of Patagonian lizards of the genus Liolaemus (Squamata: Liolaemini)

2020 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
pp. 800-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Vrdoljak ◽  
Kevin Imanol Sanchez ◽  
Roberto Arreola-Ramos ◽  
Emilce Guadalupe Diaz Huesa ◽  
Alejandro Villagra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Error ◽  
Geometric Morphometrics ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Species Differentiation ◽  
Geometric Morphometric ◽  
Operator Error ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Complex Shapes ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Sources Of Variation

Abstract The repeatability of findings is the key factor behind scientific reliability, and the failure to reproduce scientific findings has been termed the ‘replication crisis’. Geometric morphometrics is an established tool in evolutionary biology. However, different operators (and/or different methods) could act as large sources of variation in the data obtained. Here, we investigated inter-operator error in geometric morphometric protocols on complex shapes of Liolaemus lizards, as well as measurement error in three taxa varying in their difficulty of digitalization. We also examined the potential for these protocols to discriminate among complex shapes in closely related species. We found a wide range of inter-operator error, contributing between 19.5% and 60% to the total variation. Moreover, measurement error increased with the complexity of the quantified shape. All protocols were able to discriminate between species, but the use of more landmarks did not imply better performance. We present evidence that complex shapes reduce repeatability, highlighting the need to explore different sources of variation that could lead to such low repeatability. Lastly, we suggest some recommendations to improve the repeatability and reliability of geometric morphometrics results.

scholarly journals Knowledge, behaviour and attitudes towards Chagas disease among the Bolivian migrant population living in Japan: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e032546
Author(s):  
Inés María Iglesias Rodríguez ◽  
Shusaku Mizukami ◽  
Dao Huy Manh ◽  
Tieu Minh Thuan ◽  
Hugo Alberto Justiniano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Educational Activity ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
P Value ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Migrant Population ◽  
Cross Sectional

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the knowledge, behaviour and attitudes towards Chagas disease (CD) among Latin American migrants in Japan and to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational activity (EA) in increasing knowledge of CD.DesignA cross-sectional, mixed-methods study employing a preknowledge and postknowledge test and focus group discussion, conducted from March 2018 to June 2018.ParticipantsSeventy-two participants were included, all born in Bolivia and residents in four Japanese cities. Fifty-nine of them participated in the EA.InterventionsThe EA comprised showing three videos about CD and a group discussion covering different dimensions of CD and was evaluated with questionnaires to analyse the knowledge of the participants before and after.ResultsSeventy-two participants were enrolled, predominantly from highly endemic CD areas of Bolivia. Though most participants were familiar with vector-borne transmission, epidemiology and symptomatology of CD, the baseline knowledge of CD was low. Less than 10% of them had been tested prior for CD. The dominant factors associated with better knowledge were living in Japan for more than 10 years (OR=8.42, 95% CI 1.56 to 48.62) and previously testing for CD (OR=11.32; 95% CI 1.52 to 105.9). The EA significantly improved the CD knowledge of the participants (p value <0.0001; 95% CI 2.32 to 3.84). The participants associated the term ‘Chagas’ mostly with fear and concern. The level of stigmatisation was low, in contrast to the results of other studies. The barriers encountered in care-seeking behaviour were language, the migration process and difficulties to access the healthcare system.ConclusionEA with an integrative approach is useful to increase the knowledge of CD within the Bolivian migrant population living in Japan. The activity brings the possibility to explore not only the level of knowledge but also to reveal experiences and to understand the needs of the people at risk. Considering them as actors towards healthcare solutions could lead to better outcomes for the success of future policies and interventions aimed to decrease the global burden.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic Comparative Methods and the Evolution of Multivariate Phenotypes

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 405-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean C. Adams ◽  
Michael L. Collyer
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Comparative Methods ◽  
High Dimensional ◽  
Phenotypic Integration ◽  
Phylogenetic Comparative Methods ◽  
Evolutionary Trends ◽  
Phenotype Space ◽  
Multivariate Phenotypes

Evolutionary biology is multivariate, and advances in phylogenetic comparative methods for multivariate phenotypes have surged to accommodate this fact. Evolutionary trends in multivariate phenotypes are derived from distances and directions between species in a multivariate phenotype space. For these patterns to be interpretable, phenotypes should be characterized by traits in commensurate units and scale. Visualizing such trends, as is achieved with phylomorphospaces, should continue to play a prominent role in macroevolutionary analyses. Evaluating phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) models (e.g., phylogenetic analysis of variance and regression) is valuable, but using parametric procedures is limited to only a few phenotypic variables. In contrast, nonparametric, permutation-based PGLS methods provide a flexible alternative and are thus preferred for high-dimensional multivariate phenotypes. Permutation-based methods for evaluating covariation within multivariate phenotypes are also well established and can test evolutionary trends in phenotypic integration. However, comparing evolutionary rates and modes in multivariate phenotypes remains an important area of future development.

Adaptation

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan B. Losos
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Central Focus ◽  
History Of ◽  
Definition Of

Adaptation—the fit of organisms to their environments—has been a central focus in scientific research for centuries, predating even the rise of evolutionary biology. At its core, the study of adaptation is the study of natural selection—how is it that populations become so well suited to survive and reproduce in the environment in which they occur? Nonetheless, the topic of adaptation has many wrinkles and nuances. Even the definition of adaptation is not agreed on by all. The manner in which adaptations evolve (or fail to evolve) and the consequences they have for the evolutionary history of a lineage have been the subjects of considerable scientific research and discussion for more than a century.

scholarly journals The Utility of Geometric Morphometrics to Elucidate Pathways of Cichlid Fish Evolution

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Kerschbaumer ◽  
Christian Sturmbauer
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Morphometrics ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Anatomical Landmarks ◽  
Trophic Specialization ◽  
Geometric Morphometric ◽  
The Family ◽  
Morphometric Methods ◽  
Head Morphology

Fishes of the family Cichlidae are famous for their spectacular species flocks and therefore constitute a model system for the study of the pathways of adaptive radiation. Their radiation is connected to trophic specialization, manifested in dentition, head morphology, and body shape. Geometric morphometric methods have been established as efficient tools to quantify such differences in overall body shape or in particular morphological structures and meanwhile found wide application in evolutionary biology. As a common feature, these approaches define and analyze coordinates of anatomical landmarks, rather than traditional counts or measurements. Geometric morphometric methods have several merits compared to traditional morphometrics, particularly for the distinction and analysis of closely related entities. Cichlid evolutionary research benefits from the efficiency of data acquisition, the manifold opportunities of analyses, and the potential to visualize shape changes of those landmark-based methods. This paper briefly introduces to the concepts and methods of geometric morphometrics and presents a selection of publications where those techniques have been successfully applied to various aspects of cichlid fish diversification.

An Integrative Approach to Depression: Part 1—Etiology

2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Zuess
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Native Americans ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Adaptive Response ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Dream Research

This two-part series presents an integrative model for understanding and treating depression, encompassing the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual levels of the human being. Major depressive disorder may be seen as a dysregulated form of an adaptive response. Theories regarding the adaptive functions of depression drawn from psychology, evolutionary biology, ethology, neuroendocrinology, dream research, the philosophies of naturopathy and homeopathy, and the spiritual traditions of the Native Americans and other cultures are reviewed and synthesized. This model provides the basis for the rational application of a variety of complementary and conventional therapies.

scholarly journals Integration drives rapid phenotypic evolution in flatfishes

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (18) ◽  
pp. e2101330118
Author(s):  
Kory M. Evans ◽  
Olivier Larouche ◽  
Sara-Jane Watson ◽  
Stacy Farina ◽  
María Laura Habegger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Morphometrics ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Phenotypic Evolution ◽  
Aquatic Habitats ◽  
Skull Shape ◽  
Selective Pressures ◽  
Rapid Process ◽  
Evolutionary Innovation ◽  
Shape Changes ◽  
Trait Space

Evolutionary innovations are scattered throughout the tree of life, and have allowed the organisms that possess them to occupy novel adaptive zones. While the impacts of these innovations are well documented, much less is known about how these innovations arise in the first place. Patterns of covariation among traits across macroevolutionary time can offer insights into the generation of innovation. However, to date, there is no consensus on the role that trait covariation plays in this process. The evolution of cranial asymmetry in flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes) from within Carangaria was a rapid evolutionary innovation that preceded the colonization of benthic aquatic habitats by this clade, and resulted in one of the most bizarre body plans observed among extant vertebrates. Here, we use three-dimensional geometric morphometrics and a phylogenetic comparative toolkit to reconstruct the evolution of skull shape in carangarians, and quantify patterns of integration and modularity across the skull. We find that the evolution of asymmetry in flatfishes was a rapid process, resulting in the colonization of novel trait space, that was aided by strong integration that coordinated shape changes across the skull. Our findings suggest that integration plays a major role in the evolution of innovation by synchronizing responses to selective pressures across the organism.

scholarly journals Fatigue Among Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Implications for Self-Management: An Integrative Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Griggs ◽  
Nancy S. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenology

Purpose The aim of this review was to integrate empirical and theoretical literature on fatigue among adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). A methodological review using an integrative approach was used. Databases MEDLINE via Pubmed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Science Direct were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English from 2007-2017, using the following search terms and Boolean operators: “Type 1 Diabetes” and “Fatigue.” Of 199 articles initially retrieved, 14 were chosen for inclusion. These articles included 13 quantitative (7 cross-sectional, 2 cohort, 2 secondary data analyses, 2 experimental) and 1 qualitative phenomenology. Fatigue was identified as one of the most troublesome symptoms reported in persons with T1DM. Four main themes emerged: fatigue in T1DM is multidimensional and related to psychological, physiological, situational, and sociodemographic factors. Conclusions Fatigue is considered a classic symptom of hyperglycemia; however, there were minimal data to support the theory that fatigue is related to hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Studies on fatigue among persons with T1DM are limited to small samples and cross-sectional designs with few randomized controlled trials addressing fatigue and diabetes-related symptoms. Evidence is conflicting regarding the onset of fatigue among persons with T1DM and the relationship between fatigue and diabetes duration. The prevalence of fatigue is likely influenced by disease physiology, psychological stress, and lifestyle factors, but more research is needed to confirm these relationships as causal inference is unclear.

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