Phylogenetic signal,function and integration in the subunits of the carnivoran mandible |
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Authors: | Carlo Meloro Pasquale Raia Francesco Carotenuto Samuel N Cobb |
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Institution: | 1.Centre for Anatomical & Human Sciences, Hull York Medical School,University of Hull,Hull,UK;2.Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra,Università degli Studi di Napoli ‘Federico II’,Naples,Italy |
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Abstract: | Complex phenotypes could be interpreted as the result of functional integration between identifiable subunits. Common developmental
or ecological factors may favour macroevolutionary morphological integration so that functional subunits also covary above
the species level. We investigate shape variation and functional integration in two subunits of the mammalian mandible: the
corpus and the ramus in a subset of extant terrestrial Carnivora using geometric morphometric and comparative methods. More
specifically, we test if corpus and ramus shape exhibit similar degree of homoplasy and if these traits covary above species
level. Additionally, broad functional categorisations (predaceous and non predaceous) are investigated to test if differences
in morphological variation and integration at macroevolutionary scale occur. Principal components of shape data show a significant
phylogenetic signal in both mandibular subunits, with the ramus exhibiting a higher degree of homoplasy than the corpus. Functional
groups (predators and non-predators) are significantly distinct in corpus shape, while in the ramus significance emerges only
after removing the phylogenetic signal. Partial Least Square shows that mandibular corpus and ramus region covaries above
species level even if this trend is not supported when employing comparative methods. Only in a subset of predaceous species
covariation still hold. We conclude that mandibular subunits of Carnivora differ considerably in shape among predaceous and
non-predaceous species because of the adaptive selection pressure imposed by catching and hold of live prey. This selective
process also favoured macroevolutionary integration in predaceous carnivorans. |
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