scholarly journals Noteworthy records of bats of the genus Eumops Miller, 1906 from Guatemala: first confirmed record of Underwood’s Bonneted Bat, Eumops underwoodi Goodwin, 1940 (Mammalia, Chiroptera, Molossidae), in the country

Check List ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1147-1154
Author(s):  
Luis A. Trujillo ◽  
Raiza Barahona-Fong ◽  
Cristian Kraker-Castañeda ◽  
Arnulfo Medina-Fitoria ◽  
Jonathan Hernández ◽  
...  

Two species of Eumops Miller, 1906 are reported with voucher specimens from Guatemala: E. auripendulus (Shaw, 1800) and E. ferox (Gundlach, 1861). Eumops underwoodi Goodwin, 1940 has been known only by recordings. We collected dead specimens of E. ferox and E. underwoodi in a wind farm. Additionally, we provide acoustic data, and an allometric scaling hypothesis supports the identification of E. underwoodi, as it reflects the largest body size for sympatric free-tailed bats. We increase the list of bats in Guatemala to 104 species.

Author(s):  
Romain Willemet

The idea that allometry in the context of brain evolution mainly result from constraints channelling the scaling of brain components is deeply embedded in the field of comparative neurobiology. Constraints, however, only prevent or limit changes, and cannot explain why these changes happen in the first place. In fact, considering allometry as a lack of change may be one of the reasons why, after more than a century of research, there is still no satisfactory explanatory framework for the understanding of species differences in brain size and composition in mammals. The present paper attempts to tackle this issue by adopting an adaptationist approach to examine the factors behind the evolution of brain components. In particular, the model presented here aims to explain the presence of patterns of covariation among brain components found within major taxa, and the differences between taxa. The key determinant of these patterns of covariation within a taxon-cerebrotype (groups of species whose brains present a number of similarities at the physiological and anatomical levels) seems to be the presence of taxon-specific patterns of selection pressures targeting the functional and structural properties of neural components or systems. Species within a taxon share most of the selection pressures, but their levels scale with a number of factors that are often related to body size. The size and composition of neural systems respond to these selection pressures via a number of evolutionary scenarios, which are discussed here. Adaptation, rather than, as generally assumed, developmental or functional constraints, thus appears to be the main factor behind the allometric scaling of brain components. The fact that the selection pressures acting on the size of brain components form a pattern that is specific to each taxon accounts for the peculiar relationship between body size, brain size and composition, and behavioural capabilities characterizing each taxon. While it is important to avoid repeating the errors of the “Panglossian paradigm”, the elements presented here suggests that an adaptationist approach may shed a new light on the factors underlying, and the functional consequences of, species differences in brain size and composition.


PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Penone ◽  
Christian Kerbiriou ◽  
Jean-François Julien ◽  
Julie Marmet ◽  
Isabelle Le Viol

Background Citizen monitoring programs using acoustic data have been useful for detecting population and community patterns. However, they have rarely been used to study broad scale patterns of species traits. We assessed the potential of acoustic data to detect broad scale patterns in body size. We compared geographical patterns in body size with acoustic signals in the bat species Pipistrellus pipistrellus. Given the correlation between body size and acoustic characteristics, we expected to see similar results when analyzing the relationships of body size and acoustic signals with climatic variables. Methods We assessed body size using forearm length measurements of 1,359 bats, captured by mist nets in France. For acoustic analyses, we used an extensive dataset collected through the French citizen bat survey. We isolated each bat echolocation call (n = 4,783) and performed automatic measures of signals, including the frequency of the flattest part of the calls (characteristic frequency). We then examined the relationship between forearm length, characteristic frequencies, and two components resulting from principal component analysis for geographic (latitude, longitude) and climatic variables. Results Forearm length was positively correlated with higher precipitation, lower seasonality, and lower temperatures. Lower characteristic frequencies (i.e., larger body size) were mostly related to lower temperatures and northern latitudes. While conducted on different datasets, the two analyses provided congruent results. Discussion Acoustic data from citizen science programs can thus be useful for the detection of large-scale patterns in body size. This first analysis offers a new perspective for the use of large acoustic databases to explore biological patterns and to address both theoretical and applied questions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovani S. Cunha ◽  
Sean P. Cumming ◽  
João Valente-dos-Santos ◽  
João P. Duarte ◽  
Gustavo Silva ◽  
...  

This study examined power output on jumping and sprinting tests in young soccer players of differing pubertal status, while controlling for body size with allometric scaling exponents. A total of 46 males aged 12–18 years (14.17 years) were divided into three groups: pre-pubescent ( n = 12), pubescent ( n = 22), and post-pubescent ( n = 12). Participants performed a series of tests, including the squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and 10-meter and 30-meter sprint test protocols. The Post-PUB group was older ( F = 112.411, p < 0.001), more experienced in competitive soccer ( F = 8.055, p = 0.001), taller ( F = 28.940, p < 0.001), and heavier ( F = 20.618, p < 0.001), when compared to peers in the other groups. Mean differences in jumping and sprinting performances suggested a significant effect for pubertal status on performance in the 10-meter sprint (large effect size, F = 8.191, p < 0.001) and 30-meter sprint (large effect size, F = 8.093, p < 0.001) after allometric scaling. Power output derived from SJ (small effect size, F = 0.536, p = 0.001) and CMJ (small effect size, F = 1.058, p = 0.356) showed no significant differences across players of varying pubertal status. Biological maturation showed a large effect on maximal power output for sprints, but not for jumps, when the effect of body size was adjusted by statistically derived allometric exponents in young male soccer players.


2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastassia M. Makarieva ◽  
Victor G. Gorshkov ◽  
Bai-Lian Li

2008 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 739-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Folland ◽  
T. M. Mc Cauley ◽  
A. G. Williams
Keyword(s):  

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein-Ali Arab ◽  
Samad Muhammadnejad ◽  
Saeideh Naeimi ◽  
Attieh Arab

2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1764) ◽  
pp. 20131007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan G. Okie ◽  
Alison G. Boyer ◽  
James H. Brown ◽  
Daniel P. Costa ◽  
S. K. Morgan Ernest ◽  
...  

Body size affects nearly all aspects of organismal biology, so it is important to understand the constraints and dynamics of body size evolution. Despite empirical work on the macroevolution and macroecology of minimum and maximum size, there is little general quantitative theory on rates and limits of body size evolution. We present a general theory that integrates individual productivity, the lifestyle component of the slow–fast life-history continuum, and the allometric scaling of generation time to predict a clade's evolutionary rate and asymptotic maximum body size, and the shape of macroevolutionary trajectories during diversifying phases of size evolution. We evaluate this theory using data on the evolution of clade maximum body sizes in mammals during the Cenozoic. As predicted, clade evolutionary rates and asymptotic maximum sizes are larger in more productive clades (e.g. baleen whales), which represent the fast end of the slow–fast lifestyle continuum, and smaller in less productive clades (e.g. primates). The allometric scaling exponent for generation time fundamentally alters the shape of evolutionary trajectories, so allometric effects should be accounted for in models of phenotypic evolution and interpretations of macroevolutionary body size patterns. This work highlights the intimate interplay between the macroecological and macroevolutionary dynamics underlying the generation and maintenance of morphological diversity.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (6) ◽  
pp. H2182-H2187 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. D. Hopkins ◽  
D. J. Green ◽  
T. M. Tinken ◽  
L. Sutton ◽  
N. McWhannell ◽  
...  

Arterial measurements are commonly undertaken to assess acute and chronic adaptations to exercise. Despite the widespread adoption of scaling practices in cardiac research, the relevance of scaling for body size and/or composition has not been addressed for arterial measures. We therefore investigated the relationships between brachial artery diameter and body composition in 129 children aged 9 to 10 yr (75 girls and 54 boys), and 50 men aged 16–49 yr. Body composition variables (total, lean, and fat mass in the whole body, arm, and forearm) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and brachial artery diameter was measured using high-resolution ultrasound. Bivariate correlations were performed, and arterial diameter was then scaled using simple ratios ( y/ x) and allometric approaches after log-log least squares linear regression and production of allometric exponents ( b) and construction of power function ratios ( y/ x b). Size independence was checked via bivariate correlations ( x: y/ x; x: y/ x b). As a result, significant correlations existed between brachial artery diameter and measures of body mass and lean mass in both cohorts ( r = 0.21–0.48, P < 0.05). There were no significant relationships between diameter and fat mass. All b exponents were significantly different from 1 (0.08–0.50), suggesting that simple ratio scaling approaches were likely to be flawed. This was confirmed when ratio scaling produced negative residual size correlations, whereas allometric scaling produced size-independent indexes ( r = 0.00 to 0.03, P > 0.05). In conclusion, when between- or within-group comparisons are performed under circumstances where it is important to control for differences in body size or composition, allometric scaling of artery diameter should be adopted rather than ratio scaling. Our data also suggest that scaling for lean or total mass may be more appropriate than scaling for indexes of fat mass.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e000854
Author(s):  
Jane Salier Eriksson ◽  
Björn Ekblom ◽  
Gunnar Andersson ◽  
Peter Wallin ◽  
Elin Ekblom-Bak

ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare ratio and allometric scaling models of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for different body size measurements in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and all-cause mortality.Methods316 116 individuals participating in occupational health screenings, initially free from CVD, were included. VO2max was estimated using submaximal cycle test. Height, body mass and waist circumference (WC) were assessed, and eight different scaling models (two evaluated in a restricted sample with WC data) were derived. Participants were followed in national registers for first-time CVD event or all-cause mortality from their health screening to first CVD event, death or 31 December 2015.ResultsIncreasing deciles of VO2max showed lower CVD risk and all-cause mortality for all six models in the full sample (p<0.001) as well as with increasing quintiles in the restricted sample (eight models) (p<0.001). For CVD risk and all-cause mortality, significantly weaker associations with increasing deciles for models 1 (L·min−1) and 5 (mL·min−1·height−2) were seen compared with model 2 (mL·min−1·kg−1), (CVD, p<0.00001; p<0.00001: all-cause mortality, p=0.008; p=0.001) and in some subgroups. For CVD, model 6 (mL·min−1·(kg1·height−1)−1) had a stronger association compared with model 2 (p<0.00001) and in some subgroups.In the restricted sample, trends for significantly stronger associations for models including WC compared with model 2 were seen in women for both CVD and all-cause mortality, and those under 50 for CVD.ConclusionIn association to CVD and all-cause mortality, only small differences were found between ratio scaling and allometric scaling models where body dimensions were added, with some stronger associations when adding WC in the models.


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