A Three-Dimensional Analysis of Morphological Evolution and Locomotor Performance of the Carnivoran Forelimb

被引:0
作者
Martin-Serra, Alberto [1 ]
Figueirido, Borja [1 ]
Palmqvist, Paul [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Malaga, Fac Ciencias, Dept Ecol & Geol, E-29071 Malaga, Spain
来源
PLOS ONE | 2014年 / 9卷 / 01期
关键词
FUNCTIONAL TRADE-OFFS; GEOMETRIC MORPHOMETRICS; BODY-SIZE; PREDATORY BEHAVIOR; LIMB MUSCLES; LATE MIOCENE; SKULL SHAPE; MAMMALIA; EXTANT; EXTINCT;
D O I
10.1371/journal.pone.0085574
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
In this study, three-dimensional landmark-based methods of geometric morphometrics are used for estimating the influence of phylogeny, allometry and locomotor performance on forelimb shape in living and extinct carnivorans (Mammalia, Carnivora). The main objective is to investigate morphological convergences towards similar locomotor strategies in the shape of the major forelimb bones. Results indicate that both size and phylogeny have strong effects on the anatomy of all forelimb bones. In contrast, bone shape does not correlate in the living taxa with maximum running speed or daily movement distance, two proxies closely related to locomotor performance. A phylomorphospace approach showed that shape variation in forelimb bones mainly relates to changes in bone robustness. This indicates the presence of biomechanical constraints resulting from opposite demands for energetic efficiency in locomotion -which would require a slender forelimb-and resistance to stress -which would be satisfied by a robust forelimb-. Thus, we interpret that the need of maintaining a trade-off between both functional demands would limit shape variability in forelimb bones. Given that different situations can lead to one or another morphological solution, depending on the specific ecology of taxa, the evolution of forelimb morphology represents a remarkable "one-to-many mapping'' case between anatomy and ecology.
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页数:20
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