scholarly journals Convergent evolution of skin surface microarchitecture and increased skin hydrophobicity in semi-aquatic anole lizards

2021 ◽  
Vol 224 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Baeckens ◽  
Marie Temmerman ◽  
Stanislav N. Gorb ◽  
Chiara Neto ◽  
Martin J. Whiting ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Aquatic Invertebrates ◽  
Complex Surface ◽  
Skin Surface ◽  
Water Repellent ◽  
Aquatic Species ◽  
Ecological Significance ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
Exciting Line ◽  
Surface Microstructures

ABSTRACT Animals that habitually cross the boundary between water and land face specific challenges with respect to locomotion, respiration, insulation, fouling and waterproofing. Many semi-aquatic invertebrates and plants have developed complex surface microstructures with water-repellent properties to overcome these problems, but equivalent adaptations of the skin have not been reported for vertebrates that encounter similar environmental challenges. Here, we document the first evidence of evolutionary convergence of hydrophobic structured skin in a group of semi-aquatic tetrapods. We show that the skin surface of semi-aquatic species of Anolis lizards is characterized by a more elaborate microstructural architecture (i.e. longer spines and spinules) and a lower wettability relative to closely related terrestrial species. In addition, phylogenetic comparative models reveal repeated independent evolution of enhanced skin hydrophobicity associated with the transition to a semi-aquatic lifestyle, providing evidence of adaptation. Our findings invite a new and exciting line of inquiry into the ecological significance, evolutionary origin and developmental basis of hydrophobic skin surfaces in semi-aquatic lizards, which is essential for understanding why and how the observed skin adaptations evolved in some and not other semi-aquatic tetrapod lineages.

scholarly journals Convergent Evolution of Mechanically Optimal Locomotion in Aquatic Invertebrates and Vertebrates

PLoS Biology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. e1002123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Bale ◽  
Izaak D. Neveln ◽  
Amneet Pal Singh Bhalla ◽  
Malcolm A. MacIver ◽  
Neelesh A. Patankar
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Aquatic Invertebrates

Corrigendum to: Convergent evolution of sexually dimorphic glands in an amphi-Pacific harvestman family

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 906
Author(s):  
Guilherme Gainett ◽  
Rodrigo H. Willemart ◽  
Gonzalo Giribet ◽  
Prashant P. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
New Species ◽  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Ecological Significance ◽  
Character Mapping ◽  
Recent Attention ◽  
Scanning Electron

Sexually dimorphic traits are widespread in animals, and include sex-specific weapons, ornamentation and, although less noticed, glands and associated structures. In arachnids, certain lineages of the order Opiliones exhibit diverse forms of dimorphism in the armature and length of appendages (common in Laniatores), as well as in the presence of sexually dimorphic glands (mostly investigated in Cyphophthalmi), positing harvestmen as promising models to study sexual dimorphism. Whereas the evolution and ecological significance of armature have been the focus of recent attention, sexually dimorphic glands remain understudied in groups other than Cyphophthalmi, despite being widespread in Opiliones. We therefore selected the amphi-Pacific family Zalmoxidae as an ideal taxon to investigate the evolutionary dynamics of this trait. We first describe four new species of Palaeotropical Zalmoxis, including a species with sexually dimorphic glands, and describe the morphology of zalmoxid species with sexually dimorphic glands using scanning electron microscopy. Using a previously assembled six-locus dataset supplemented with new terminals, and applying stochastic character mapping, we infer that sexually dimorphic glands evolved once in the Neotropics and at least four times in the Palaeotropic zalmoxids, revealing the evolutionary lability of this trait.

Ecological adaptations and morphological variation in the posterior disc of larvae of Sciomyzidae (Diptera)

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Vala ◽  
Charles Gasc
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Posterior Part ◽  
Aquatic Species ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
Ecological Adaptations ◽  
Morphological Aspects

The posterior part of segment 12 in the larvae of Sciomyzidae, commonly called the posterior disc, has four morphological aspects related to habitat and feeding behaviour. According to the variations observed, the following ecological categories can be used: (i) supra-aquatic species have well-developed float hairs (hydrofuge interspiracular processes) and long triangular peripheral lobes of the disc; (ii) semi-aquatic species have moderately developed float hairs and short triangular lobes; (iii) intermediate terrestrial species have very short float hairs and circular lobes; (iv) true terrestrial species have vestigial, scalelike float hairs and hemispherical lobes.

scholarly journals Ontogenetic and inter-elemental osteohistological variability in the leopard tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e8030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Edward Botha ◽  
Jennifer Botha
Keyword(s):  
Bone Resorption ◽  
Hind Limb ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Histological Analysis ◽  
Fundamental System ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
Aquatic Species ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
Limb Bones ◽  
Hind Limbs

Testudines are a group of reptiles characterized by the presence of a shell covered by keratinous shields. Stigmochelys pardalis is the most widely distributed terrestrial testudine in southern Africa. Although relatively common with some life history traits being well known, the growth of this species has yet to be studied in any detail. The bone microanatomy of this clade differs from that found in other amniotes, where terrestrial species tend to display characteristics normally seen in aquatic species and vice versa. A detailed histological analysis of the limb bones of S. pardalis reveals extensive variation through ontogeny. Cortical bone becomes increasingly thicker through ontogeny and is finally resorbed in the late sub-adult stage, resulting in a thin cortex and a large infilled medullary cavity. The predominant bone tissues are parallel-fibred and lamellar-zonal for the forelimbs and hind limbs respectively. The oldest individual displayed an External Fundamental System indicating that the growth rate had decreased substantially by this stage. Variability is prevalent between the forelimb and hind limb as well as between early and late sub-adults Forelimb elements exhibit characteristics such as faster growing parallel-fibered bone tissue, slightly higher vascularization and a predominance of annuli over Lines of Arrested Growth (LAG) compared to the hind limb which exhibits poorly vascularized, slower growing lamellar-zonal bone interrupted by LAGs. These differences indicate that the forelimb grew more rapidly than the hind limb, possibly due to the method of locomotion seen in terrestrial species. The extensive bone resorption that occurs from the early sub-adult stage destroys much of the primary cortex and results in a significantly different ratio of inner and outer bone diameter (p = 3.59 × 10­−5; df = 28.04) as well as compactness (p = 2.91 × 10­−5; df = 31.27) between early and late sub-adults. The extensive bone resorption seen also destroys the ecological signal and infers an aquatic lifestyle for this species despite it being clearly terrestrial. This supports the results of other studies that have found that using bone microanatomy to determine lifestyle in testudines does not produce accurate results.

scholarly journals Species can base their impression of themselves on the number of sensory neurons they have and their IUCN level

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
aaron goetz
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Disturbance ◽  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Killer Whale ◽  
Anthropogenic Influence ◽  
Aquatic Species ◽  
Pilot Whale ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
Western Gorilla ◽  
Pilot Whales

Abstract Humans have the most sensory neurons of any terrestrial species, 18.83B, with more than twice as many as the runner up western gorilla. There are three aquatic species with more than humans and seven more with more than the western gorilla. The killer whale with more than twice as many as humans, long-finned and short-finned pilot whale with a little less than twice humans. With that many sensory neurons it would be assumed that those would be the species with the most emotional disturbance from anthropogenic influence. There is no data on killer whale endangerment, and both long and short finned pilot whales are LC, ranking them 23rd and 24th most disturbed species. It is important for us to consider what the species means to them in evaluating what species we should care about, it would be beneficial to base that on what species care about themselves the most.

scholarly journals Research Progress on Corrosion Resistance of Magnesium Alloys with Bio-inspired Water-repellent Properties: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 735-763
Author(s):  
Jinkai Xu ◽  
Qianqian Cai ◽  
Zhongxu Lian ◽  
Zhanjiang Yu ◽  
Wanfei Ren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corrosion Resistance ◽  
Magnesium Alloy ◽  
Magnesium Alloys ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Water Repellent ◽  
Application Range ◽  
Wetting Properties ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Surface Microstructures

AbstractThanks to its excellent mechanical properties, magnesium alloys have many potential applications in the aerospace and other fields. However, failure to adequately solve corrosion problems of magnesium alloy becomes one of the factors restricting its wide use in many industrial fields. Inspired by nature, researchers designed and fabricated bio-inspired water-repellent (superhydrophobic and slippery liquid-infused porous surface) surfaces with special wetting properties by exploring the surface microstructures of plants and animals such as lotus leaf and nepenthes pitcher, exhibiting excellent corrosion-resistant performance. This article summarizes the research progress on corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys with bio-inspired water-repellent properties in recent years. It mainly introduces the corrosion reasons, types of corrosion of magnesium alloys, and the preparation of magnesium alloys with bio-inspired water-repellent properties to improve corrosion resistance. In particular, it is widely used and effective to construct water-repellent and anti-corrosion coating on the surface of magnesium alloy by surface treatment. It is hoped that the research in this review can broaden the application range of magnesium alloys and provide a powerful reference for the future research on corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys.

scholarly journals Comparative morphology of the seminal receptacles of Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787) (Brachyura, Ocypodoidea)

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2106 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAURA S. LÓPEZ-GRECO ◽  
VÍVIAN FRANSOZO ◽  
MARIA LUCIA NEGREIROS-FRANSOZO ◽  
DANIELA CARVALHO DOS SANTOS
Keyword(s):  
Mating System ◽  
Comparative Morphology ◽  
Aquatic Species ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
Ocypode Quadrata ◽  
Cuticular Layer

The seminal receptacles of the Eubrachyura are an ecto-mesodermic differentiation of the genital ducts where the spermatophores are stored and fertilization takes place. The position in which the oviduct is connected to the seminal receptacles varies among species and two types, dorsal and ventral, can be distinguished. The dorsal type is frequently observed in the “soft mating system” species, while the ventral one is usually related to the “hard mating system” species. The seminal receptacles (SR) of Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787) are paired, spherical and opalescent structures with a ventral connection to the oviduct and without any differences between the two members of the pair. The SR present macroscopic features that resemble other semi-terrestrial species of Ocypodoidea and Grapsoidea, but some histological characters resemble more aquatic species such as the Majoidea. The mesodermic portion of the SR is delimited by a cubic-flat secretor epithelium with three layers of muscular cells and surrounded externally by a simple capsule of conjunctive tissue. The transition between the mesodermic and the ectodermic areas is abrupt and characterized by a folded epithelium resembling that described for some Majoidea and the presence of a high cuticular layer. Only free spermatozoa were found, but no differentiated spermatophore packages or spermatophores.

Convergent evolution of sexually dimorphic glands in an amphi-Pacific harvestman family

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Gainett ◽  
Rodrigo H. Willemart ◽  
Gonzalo Giribet ◽  
Prashant P. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
New Species ◽  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Ecological Significance ◽  
Character Mapping ◽  
Recent Attention ◽  
Scanning Electron

Sexually dimorphic traits are widespread in animals, and include sex-specific weapons, ornamentation and, although less noticed, glands and associated structures. In arachnids, certain lineages of the order Opiliones exhibit diverse forms of dimorphism in the armature and length of appendages (common in Laniatores), as well as in the presence of sexually dimorphic glands (mostly investigated in Cyphophthalmi), positing harvestmen as promising models to study sexual dimorphism. Whereas the evolution and ecological significance of armature have been the focus of recent attention, sexually dimorphic glands remain understudied in groups other than Cyphophthalmi, despite being widespread in Opiliones. We therefore selected the amphi-Pacific family Zalmoxidae as an ideal taxon to investigate the evolutionary dynamics of this trait. We first describe four new species of Palaeotropical Zalmoxis, including a species with sexually dimorphic glands, and describe the morphology of zalmoxid species with sexually dimorphic glands using scanning electron microscopy. Using a previously assembled six-locus dataset supplemented with new terminals, and applying stochastic character mapping, we infer that sexually dimorphic glands evolved once in the Neotropics and at least four times in the Palaeotropic zalmoxids, revealing the evolutionary lability of this trait.

scholarly journals Convergent Evolution of Locomotory Modes in Euarchontoglires

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-hang Geng ◽  
Xiao-ping Wang ◽  
Li-feng Che ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Rui Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Evolution ◽  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Proximal Phalanx ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
Principle Component ◽  
Locomotory Mode ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Phenotypic Convergence

The research of phenotypic convergence is of increasing importance in adaptive evolution. Locomotory modes play important roles in the adaptive evolution of species in the Euarchontoglires, however, the investigation of convergent evolution of the locomotory modes across diverse Euarchontoglire orders is incomplete. We collected measurements of three phalangeal indices of manual digit III, including metacarpal of digit III (MC3), manus proximal phalanx of digit III (MPP3), and manus intermediate phalanx of digit III (MIP3), from 203 individuals of 122 Euarchontoglires species representing arboreal (orders Scandentia, Rodentia, and Primates), terrestrial (orders Scandentia and Rodentia), and gliding (orders Dermoptera and Rodentia) locomotory modes. This data can be separated into seven groups defined by order and locomotory mode. Based on combination of the three phalangeal indices, the Principle component analyses (PCA), phylomorphospace plot, and C-metrics analyses clustered the arboreal species of Scandentia, Rodentia, and Primates together and the terrestrial species of Scandentia and Rodentia together, showing the convergent signal in evolution of the arboreal (C1 = 0.424, P < 0.05) and terrestrial (C1 = 0.560, P < 0.05) locomotory modes in Euarchontoglires. Although the gliding species from Dermoptera and Rodentia did not cluster together, they also showed the convergent signal (C1 = 0.563, P < 0.05). Our work provides insight into the convergent evolution of locomotory modes in Euarchontoglires, and reveals that these three indices contribute valuable information to identify convergent evolution in Euarchontoglires.

scholarly journals The diversity of stomatal development regulation in Callitriche is related to the intrageneric diversity in lifestyles

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (14) ◽  
pp. e2026351118
Author(s):  
Yuki Doll ◽  
Hiroyuki Koga ◽  
Hirokazu Tsukaya
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Evolutionary Developmental Biology ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Early Termination ◽  
Land Plants ◽  
Stomatal Development ◽  
Ecological Significance ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
Development Regulation

Stomata, the gas exchange structures of plants, are formed by the division and differentiation of stem cells, or meristemoids. Although diverse patterns of meristemoid behavior have been observed among different lineages of land plants, the ecological significance and diversification processes of these different patterns are not well understood. Here we describe an intrageneric diversity in the patterns of meristemoid division within the ecologically diverse genus Callitriche (Plantaginaceae). Meristemoids underwent a series of divisions before differentiating into stomata in the terrestrial species of Callitriche, but these divisions did not occur in amphibious species, which can grow in both air and water, in which meristemoids differentiated directly into stomata. These findings imply the adaptive significance of diversity in meristemoid division. Molecular genetic analyses showed that the different expression times of the stomatal key transcription factors SPEECHLESS and MUTE, which maintain and terminate the meristemoid division, respectively, underlie the different division patterns of meristemoids. Unlike terrestrial species, amphibious species prematurely expressed MUTE immediately after expressing SPEECHLESS, which corresponded to their early termination of stomatal division. By linking morphological, ecological, and genetic elements of stomatal development, this study provides significant insight that should aid ecological evolutionary developmental biology investigations of stomata.

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