scholarly journals Evolution of body size in Crocodylomorpha in a multi-regime evolutionary landscape

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro L Godoy ◽  
Roger B J Benson ◽  
Mario Bronzati ◽  
Richard J Butler
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Regime Shifts ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Time Calibration ◽  
Calibration Methods ◽  
Size Disparity ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Tree Topologies ◽  
Length Data

Body size is strongly related to physiology and ecology, and its evolution has been studied intensely for many animal groups. Crocodylomorphs occupy the intermediate–large range of body sizes among extant tetrapods, and have a rich and diverse fossil record, ranging in size from less than 30 centimetres to over 10 metres in length. To investigate crocodylomorph body size evolution, we used maximum-likelihood to fit macroevolutionary models to body length data within a phylogenetic context. We focused on non-uniform Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) models (“SURFACE” model). Under an OU process, lineages are attracted towards an adaptive trait optimum (theta, θ) through time. SURFACE allows multiple adaptive regimes (i.e. shifts in trait optima). We also fitted other models, and conducted analyses using alternate body length proxies, tree topologies and time-calibration methods, to assess the influence of analytical choices on results. The SURFACE model fit best to our data, suggesting convergent evolution of body size among macroevolutionary adaptive zones. Although different trees identify regime shifts in phylogenetically distinct positions, we recognized some shared patterns. For instance, non-Mesoeucrocodylia crocodylomorphs maintained relatively small sizes (θ = 0.646 m), and experienced no or few shifts, thriving until the Late Cretaceous. During the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous, crocodylomorph body size disparity increased, with a high number of regime shifts, particularly within Notosuchia and Thalattosuchia. Another important regime shift, towards larger body sizes (θ = 5.561 m), occurred in the lineage leading to extant crocodylians (Eusuchia), potentially related to an adaptive radiation of the group after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction.

scholarly journals Evolution of body size in Crocodylomorpha in a multi-regime evolutionary landscape

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro L Godoy ◽  
Roger B J Benson ◽  
Mario Bronzati ◽  
Richard J Butler
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Regime Shifts ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Time Calibration ◽  
Calibration Methods ◽  
Size Disparity ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Tree Topologies ◽  
Length Data

Body size is strongly related to physiology and ecology, and its evolution has been studied intensely for many animal groups. Crocodylomorphs occupy the intermediate–large range of body sizes among extant tetrapods, and have a rich and diverse fossil record, ranging in size from less than 30 centimetres to over 10 metres in length. To investigate crocodylomorph body size evolution, we used maximum-likelihood to fit macroevolutionary models to body length data within a phylogenetic context. We focused on non-uniform Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) models (“SURFACE” model). Under an OU process, lineages are attracted towards an adaptive trait optimum (theta, θ) through time. SURFACE allows multiple adaptive regimes (i.e. shifts in trait optima). We also fitted other models, and conducted analyses using alternate body length proxies, tree topologies and time-calibration methods, to assess the influence of analytical choices on results. The SURFACE model fit best to our data, suggesting convergent evolution of body size among macroevolutionary adaptive zones. Although different trees identify regime shifts in phylogenetically distinct positions, we recognized some shared patterns. For instance, non-Mesoeucrocodylia crocodylomorphs maintained relatively small sizes (θ = 0.646 m), and experienced no or few shifts, thriving until the Late Cretaceous. During the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous, crocodylomorph body size disparity increased, with a high number of regime shifts, particularly within Notosuchia and Thalattosuchia. Another important regime shift, towards larger body sizes (θ = 5.561 m), occurred in the lineage leading to extant crocodylians (Eusuchia), potentially related to an adaptive radiation of the group after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction.

Mammals across the K/Pg boundary in northeastern Montana, U.S.A.: dental morphology and body-size patterns reveal extinction selectivity and immigrant-fueled ecospace filling

Paleobiology ◽  
10.1666/12041 ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory P. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Dental Morphology ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Size Disparity ◽  
Mammalian Faunas ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Extinction Selectivity ◽  
Spatiotemporal Scales

The Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/Pg) mass extinction has long been viewed as a pivotal event in mammalian evolutionary history, in which the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs allowed mammals to rapidly expand from small-bodied, generalized insectivores to a wide array of body sizes and ecological specializations. Many studies have used global- or continental-scale taxonomic databases to analyze this event on coarse temporal scales, but few studies have documented morphological diversity of mammalian paleocommunities on fine spatiotemporal scales in order to examine ecomorphological selectivity and ecospace filling across this critical transition. Focusing on well-sampled and temporally well-constrained mammalian faunas across the K/Pg boundary in northeastern Montana, I quantified dental-shape disparity and morphospace occupancy via landmark- and semilandmark-based geometric morphometrics and mean body size, body-size disparity, and body-size structure via body-mass estimates.My results reveal several key findings: (1) latest Cretaceous mammals, particularly metatherians and multituberculates, had a greater ecomorphological diversity than is generally appreciated, occupying regions of the morphospace that are interpreted as strict carnivory, plant-dominated omnivory, and herbivory; (2) the decline in dental-shape disparity and body-size disparity across the K/Pg boundary shows a pattern of constructive extinction selectivity against larger-bodied dietary specialists, particularly strict carnivores and taxa with plant-based diets, that suggests the kill mechanism was related to depressed primary productivity rather than a globally instantaneous event; (3) the ecomorphological recovery in the earliest Paleocene was fueled by immigrants, namely three multituberculate families (taeniolabidids, microcosmodontids, eucosmodontids) and to a lesser extent archaic ungulates; and (4) despite immediate increases in the taxonomic richness of eutherians, their much-celebrated post-K/Pg ecomorphological expansion had a slower start than is generally perceived and most likely only began 400,000 to 1 million years after the extinction event.

scholarly journals Features of total, longitudinal and transverse body sizes in men of the general group of patients with mild and severe psoriasis

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-652
Author(s):  
S. V. Dmitrenko ◽  
Obadeh Bassam Abdel-Rahman Al-Qaraleh ◽  
І. V. Dzevulska ◽  
R. V. Skoruk ◽  
I. V. Gunas
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Severe Psoriasis ◽  
General Group ◽  
Healthy Men ◽  
Distal Epiphysis ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Severity Of The Disease ◽  
Medical University

Annotation. The constitutional approach is a valuable tool in the hands of practicing dermatologists, which allows an individual approach to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with psoriasis. The aim of the study was to examine the differences in total, longitudinal and transverse body sizes between healthy and/or psoriatic men depending on the severity of the disease. Anthropometric examination according to Bunak was performed for 32 men of the first mature age in patients with mild and 68 men with severe psoriasis. The PASI index was used to clinically assess the severity and area of psoriatic lesions. As a control from the data bank of the research center of National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya anthropometric data of 82 practically healthy men of the same age group were selected. Statistical data processing was performed in the license package “Statistica 5.5” using non-parametric methods of evaluation of the obtained results. In patients with mild and severe psoriasis compared with healthy men found: lower values – pubic height (by 3.2 % and 5.4 %) and trochanter (by 8.2 % and 7.0 %) anthropometric points, shoulder width (by 19.6 % and 19.0 %) and the width of the distal epiphysis of the shin (by 5.2 % and 4.8 %); greater values – body weight (by 20.1 % and 17.5 %), body length (by 1.7 % in mild course), body surface area (by 10.0 % and 7.8 %), height of suprasternal (by 3.0 % and 1.5 %), acromial (by 2.3 % and 1.0 %) and finger (by 6.1 % and 4.4 %) anthropometric points, width of the distal epiphysis of the shoulder (by 6.9 % and 5.7 %), forearm (by 3.3 % in mild course) and thigh (by 10.3 % and 7.1 %), mid-thoracic diameter (by 16.5 % and 16.3 %), transverse lower thoracic diameter (by 16.5 % and 15.7 %), anterior-posterior mid-thoracic diameter (by 17.7 % and 20.2 %), interspinous (by 12.2 % and 12.1 %), intercristal (by 13.4 % and 11.7 %) and intertrochanteric (by 11.3 % and 10.4 %) distances. Differences in the studied body size in patients with varying degrees of psoriasis found. Thus, in patients with mild psoriasis, compared with patients with severe psoriasis, higher values were found for: body length (by 1.6 %); heights of suprasternal (by 1.5 %), pubic (by 2.1 %) and finger (by 1.4 %) anthropometric points; width of the distal epiphysis of the forearm (by 2.3 %). Thus, pronounced differences in total, longitudinal and transverse dimensions between healthy and patients with mild and severe psoriasis were revealed by Ukrainian men of the first mature age. Between patients with varying degrees of severity of dermatosis, most differences are found only for longitudinal body size.

scholarly journals A dwarf walrus from the Miocene of Baja California Sur, Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 180423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Velez-Juarbe ◽  
Fernando M. Salinas-Márquez
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Late Miocene ◽  
Baja California ◽  
Baja California Sur ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
Mandibular Symphysis ◽  
Left Mandible ◽  
Size Disparity ◽  
Adult Body

Here, we describe the odobenid Nanodobenus arandai gen. et sp. nov., based on a nearly complete left mandible from the mid to late Miocene Tortugas Formation in Baja California Sur. Nanodobenus is distinguished among odobenids by displaying a unique combination of plesiomorphic and derived characters, such as narrow mandibular symphysis, well-developed genial tuberosity, bilobed canine and p2 roots, bulbous post-canine teeth with the paraconid, protoconid and hypoconid, and smooth lingual cingula. Moreover, it is characterized by its small adult body length, which is estimated at about 1.65 m. Throughout the Miocene–Pliocene odobenids are characterized by an increase in body size, especially after the extinction of desmatophocids in the late Miocene. The small size of Nanodobenus departs from this trend, demonstrating that there was greater size disparity among odobenids in the mid–late Miocene than previously thought. It is hypothesized that Nanodobenus occupied a niche that was later on occupied by similar-sized otariids, such as Thalassoleon mexicanus, which occurs sympatrically with large odobenids in the overlying Almejas Formation.

scholarly journals The multi-peak adaptive landscape of crocodylomorph body size evolution

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro L. Godoy ◽  
Roger B. J. Benson ◽  
Mario Bronzati ◽  
Richard J. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Size Increase ◽  
Adaptive Landscape ◽  
Evolutionary Trend ◽  
Size Evolution ◽  
Size Disparity ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Body Size Evolution

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about the long-term patterns of body size evolution in Crocodylomorpha, the > 200-million-year-old group that includes living crocodylians and their extinct relatives. Extant crocodylians are mostly large-bodied (3–7 m) predators. However, extinct crocodylomorphs exhibit a wider range of phenotypes, and many of the earliest taxa were much smaller (< 1.2 m). This suggests a pattern of size increase through time that could be caused by multi-lineage evolutionary trends of size increase or by selective extinction of small-bodied species. In this study, we characterise patterns of crocodylomorph body size evolution using a model fitting-approach (with cranial measurements serving as proxies). We also estimate body size disparity through time and quantitatively test hypotheses of biotic and abiotic factors as potential drivers of crocodylomorph body size evolution.ResultsCrocodylomorphs reached an early peak in body size disparity during the Late Jurassic, and underwent essentially continually decreases in disparity since then. A multi-peak Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model outperforms all other evolutionary models fitted to our data (including both uniform and non-uniform), indicating that the macroevolutionary dynamics of crocodylomorph body size are better described within the concept of an adaptive landscape, with most body size variation emerging after shifts to new macroevolutionary regimes (analogous to adaptive zones). We did not find support for a consistent evolutionary trend towards larger sizes among lineages (i.e., Cope’s rule), or strong correlations of body size with climate. Instead, the intermediate to large body sizes of some crocodylomorphs are better explained by group-specific adaptations. In particular, the evolution of a more aquatic lifestyle (especially marine) correlates with increases in average body size, though not without exceptions.ConclusionsShifts between macroevolutionary regimes provide a better explanation of crocodylomorph body size evolution than do climatic factors, suggesting a central role for lineage-specific adaptations rather than climatic forcing. Shifts leading to larger body sizes occurred in most aquatic and semi-aquatic groups. This, combined with extinctions of groups occupying smaller body size regimes (particularly during the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic), gave rise to the upward-shifted body size distribution of extant crocodylomorphs compared to their smaller-bodied terrestrial ancestors.

scholarly journals Keragaan Ukuran Dimensi Tubuh Hasil Persilangan Ayam Petelur dan Bangkok pada Fase Starter

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Muhammad Amrullah Pagala ◽  
La Ode Nafiu ◽  
Sri Maharani
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Chest Circumference ◽  
Layer Chicken ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Beak Length

ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui karakteristik ukuran dimensi tubuh hasil persilangan resiprokal ayam petelur dan bangkok fase starter. Materi yang digunakan dalam penelitian yaitu 120 ekor ayam yang terdiri atas 60 ekor ayam PB (jantan petelur x betina bangkok) dan 60 ekor ayam BP (jantan bangkok x betina petelur). Data pengukuran ditabulasi, dianalisis secara deskriptif dan menggunakan Uji T. Parameter yang diamati adalah bobot badan, panjang badan, panjang rentang sayap, pertumbuhan dan lingkar dada. Hasil penelitian diperoleh secara umum pertambahan bobot badan, panjang badan, panjang shank, panjang rentang sayap, lingkar dada dan pertumbuhan ayam BP lebih besar dibandingkan ayam PB.Kata Kunci: ayam bangkok,.ayam petelur, resiprokal, ukuran tubuhABSTRACTThis study aimed to determine the characteristics of chicken body sizes resulted from reciprocal crossbreeding of laying hens and bangkok chicken on starter phase. The materials were 120 chickens including 60 chickens PB (male layer chicken x female bangkok chicken) and 60 BP chickens (bangkok rooster x female layer chicken). Measurement data were tabulated, analyzed descriptively and T-Student.  The parameters observed were body weight, body weight, body length, chest circumference, beak length, and wing pan length. The result showed that generally, body weight, body length, shank length, length of wing span, chest circumference and body weight gain of BP (bangkok rooster x female layer chicken) were greater than PB (layer chicken rooster x bangkok female).Keywords: bangkok chicken, body size, laying chicken, reciprocal

scholarly journals A Farewell to the Encephalization Quotient: A New Brain Size Measure for Comparative Primate Cognition

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Carel P. van Schaik ◽  
Zegni Triki ◽  
Redouan Bshary ◽  
Sandra A. Heldstab
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Brain Size ◽  
Estimation Error ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Encephalization Quotient ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Size Measure

Both absolute and relative brain sizes vary greatly among and within the major vertebrate lineages. Scientists have long debated how larger brains in primates and hominins translate into greater cognitive performance, and in particular how to control for the relationship between the noncognitive functions of the brain and body size. One solution to this problem is to establish the slope of cognitive equivalence, i.e., the line connecting organisms with an identical bauplan but different body sizes. The original approach to estimate this slope through intraspecific regressions was abandoned after it became clear that it generated slopes that were too low by an unknown margin due to estimation error. Here, we revisit this method. We control for the error problem by focusing on highly dimorphic primate species with large sample sizes and fitting a line through the mean values for adult females and males. We obtain the best estimate for the slope of circa 0.27, a value much lower than those constructed using all mammal species and close to the value expected based on the genetic correlation between brain size and body size. We also find that the estimate of cognitive brain size based on cognitive equivalence fits empirical cognitive studies better than the encephalization quotient, which should therefore be avoided in future studies on primates and presumably mammals and birds in general. The use of residuals from the line of cognitive equivalence may change conclusions concerning the cognitive abilities of extant and extinct primate species, including hominins.

scholarly journals PSVIII-17 Assessment of conformational changes across three parities in sows

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 221-222
Author(s):  
Melanie D Trenhaile-Grannemann ◽  
Ronald M Lewis ◽  
Stephen D Kachman ◽  
Kenneth J Stalder ◽  
Benny E Mote
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Joint Angles ◽  
Body Depth ◽  
Conformation Changes ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Conformation-based sow selection is performed prior to reaching mature size, yet little is known about how conformation changes as growth continues. To assess conformation changes, 9 conformational traits were objectively measured at 12 discrete time points between 112 d of age and parity 3 weaning on 622 sows in 5 cohorts. The 9 traits included 5 body size traits (body length, body depth at the shoulder and flank, and height at the shoulder and flank) and 4 joint angles (knee, hock, and front and rear pastern). Data were analyzed with a repeated measures model (SAS V 9.4) including cohort and time point as fixed effects, sire as a random effect, and heterogeneous compound symmetry as the covariance structure. Sire variance ranged from 0.16 (body depth shoulder) to 2.00 (body length) cm2 for body size traits and 2.28 (rear pastern) to 4.22 (front pastern) degrees2 for joint angles. Cohort had an effect on all traits (P &lt; 0.05). All traits displayed changes over time (P &lt; 0.001). Size traits increased between 112 d of age and parity 3 weaning (64.16 vs. 107.57 cm, 26.62 vs. 44.14 cm, 23.32 vs. 36.92 cm, 46.10 vs. 73.55 cm, 49.36 vs. 77.47 cm for body length, body depth shoulder and flank, and height shoulder and flank, respectively); however, they fluctuated within parity by increasing during gestation and decreasing at weaning. Knee angle decreased (164.12 vs. 150.72 degrees) while fluctuating within parity by decreasing in the second half of gestation and increasing after weaning. Front and rear pastern angles decreased over time (60.89 vs. 53.74 degrees and 64.64 vs. 55.50 degrees for front and rear pastern, respectively), while biologically negligible change was observed in hock angle (148.63 vs. 147.48 degrees). Sow conformation changes throughout life, and these changes may require consideration when making selection decisions.

scholarly journals Density and body size of the larval stages of the invasive golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) in two neotropical rivers

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivianne Eilers ◽  
Márcia Divina de Oliveira ◽  
Kennedy Francis Roche
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Larval Stage ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Limnoperna Fortunei ◽  
Larval Size ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Paraguay River ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Golden Mussel

AIM: The present study involved an analysis of the monthly variations in the population densities and body sizes of the different stages of planktonic larvae of the invasive golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei), in the rivers Paraguay and Miranda; METHODS: The study was carried out between February 2004 and January 2005. Monthly collection of the plankton samples was accompanied by physical, chemical and biological analyses of the water; RESULTS: The Miranda River presented higher values of calcium, pH, alkalinity, conductivity and total phosphorous. Larval density varied from 0-24 individuals.L-1 in the Paraguay River, with a peak in March of 2004, while in the Miranda River, densities varied between 0-9 individuals.L-1 with a peak in February of 2004. No larvae were encountered during the coldest months, May and June. No significant correlations were found between environmental variables and larval density in either river. Only the valved larval stages were recorded. The "D" and veliger forms were most abundant; umbonate larvae were rare in the Miranda River samples. Mean body sizes of "D", veliger and umbonate larval stages were, respectively, 111, 135 and 152 µm, in the Paraguay River, and 112, 134 and 154 µm in the Miranda River. Principal Components Analysis indicated positive relationships between "D" larval stage size and the ratio between inorganic and organic suspended solids, while negative relationships were found between larval size and calcium and chlorophyll-<img border=0 width=7 height=8 src="/img/revistas/alb/2012nahead/ALB_AOP_230307car01.jpg">; CONCLUSIONS: The larvae were recorded in the plankton during most of the year, with the exception of the two colder months. Neither densities nor larval stage body sizes were significantly different between the two rivers. Possible positive effects of food and calcium concentrations on body size were not recorded. This species may be adapted to grow in environments with elevated sediment concentrations.

scholarly journals Body Size Preferences and Food Choice Among Normal and Overweight Mothers and Children in Malawi (P10-070-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Flax ◽  
Chrissie Thakwalakwa ◽  
Lindsay Jaacks ◽  
John Phuka
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Overweight Child ◽  
Mothers And Children ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Healthy Body

Abstract Objectives Overweight in mothers and children in sub-Saharan Africa is rapidly increasing and may be related to body size preferences. The objective of this study was to measure mothers’ preferences for their own and their child's body size and how they relate to food choices. Methods We enrolled 271 mothers and their children (6–59 months) in Lilongwe and Kasungu Districts. Based on standard body-mass index and weight-for-height z-score cutoffs, 78 mothers (29%) were normal weight and 193 (71%) were overweight; 120 children (44%) were normal weight and 151 (56%) were overweight. Interviewers used a set of 7 adult female and 7 child body silhouette drawings and a semi-structured question guide to measure mothers’ perceptions of their own and their child's preferred and healthy body sizes and how their preferences affected food choices. We performed chi-squared tests comparing body size perceptions and grouped open-ended responses by weight status. Results Mothers’ selection of silhouettes that represented their body size preferences (67% normal weight, 68% overweight preferred overweight) and perceptions of a healthy body size (96% normal weight, 94% overweight selected overweight as healthy) did not differ by their weight status. A higher percentage of mothers of overweight than normal weight children preferred overweight child body sizes (70% vs. 48%, P = 0.003). Mothers’ perceptions of a healthy child body size (89% normal weight, 94% overweight selected overweight as healthy) did not differ by the child's weight status. To attain a larger body size, mothers said they could eat or feed the child larger quantities or more frequently and increase consumption of fatty/oily foods and drinks (such as sodas, sweetened yoghurt, and milk), but many cannot afford to do this. Conclusions Malawian mothers had strong preferences for overweight body sizes for themselves and mixed preferences for their children. Their desired strategies for increasing weight indicate that body size preferences may drive food choice but could be limited by cost. Funding Sources Drivers of Food Choice (DFC) Competitive Grants Program, funded by the UK Government's Department for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and managed by the University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health.

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