Morphological analyses are critical to quantify phenotypic variation,identify taxa,inform phylogenetic relationships,and shed light on evolutionary patterns.This work is particularly important in groups that display g...Morphological analyses are critical to quantify phenotypic variation,identify taxa,inform phylogenetic relationships,and shed light on evolutionary patterns.This work is particularly important in groups that display great morphological disparity.Such is the case in geomyoid rodents,a group that includes 2 of the most species-rich families of rodents in North America:the Geomyidae(pocket gophers)and the Heteromyidae(kangaroo rats,pocket mice,and their relatives).We assessed variation in skull morphology(including both shape and size)among geomyoids to test the hypothesis that there are statistically significant differences in skull measurements at the family,genus,and species levels.Our sample includes 886 specimens representing all geomyoid genera and 39 species.We used the geometric mean to compare size across taxa.We used 14 measurements of the cranium and lower jaw normalized for size to compare shape among and within taxa.Our results show that skull measurements enable the distinction of geomyoids at the family,genus,and species levels.There is a larger amount of size variation within Geomyidae than within Heteromyidae.Our phylomorphospace analysis shows that the skull shape of the common ancestor of all geomyoids was more similar to the common ancestor of heteromyids than that of geomyids.Geomyid skulls display negative allometry whereas heteromyid skulls display positive allometry.Within heteromyids,dipodomyines,and non-dipodomyines show significantly different allometric patterns.Future analyses including fossils will be necessary to test our evolutionary hypotheses.展开更多
Major geoclimatic events trigger clade divergence,shaping diversification patterns.However,the influence of historical geoclimatic events on the diversification of subsurface biota remains poorly understood.This study...Major geoclimatic events trigger clade divergence,shaping diversification patterns.However,the influence of historical geoclimatic events on the diversification of subsurface biota remains poorly understood.This study investigates the phylogeny and evolutionary history of under-recognized hypogean fishes in the Nemacheilidae family(HFN)in southwestern China,using mitogenome and nuclear gene sequencing.Our phylogeny supports the current genus-level classification but reveals conflicts between mitochondrial and nuclear gene topologies,suggesting past hybridization events.The ancestor of the HFN originated in eastern China-Korean Peninsula-Japanese Islands,north of northwest China-Mongolian Plateau,the Qinghai-Xizang(Tibetan)Plateau-Hengduan Mountains during the late Eocene(~36 million years ago[Mya])and early Miocene(~16 Mya),and dispersed twice into the karst region of southwestern China.An ancient radiation event occurred from 22.44 Mya to 12.25 Mya.In situ diversification is the major speciation event,originating around 30 Mya and increasing sharply at~11 Ma,with 3 peaks at~7 Mya,~3 Mya,and 1 Mya,and 2 valleys at~5 Mya and~2 Mya.Ancestral state reconstruction suggests at least 4 independent origins for the colorless,eye-blind,and troglobitic species morphs,as opposed to 2 events for the caudal adipose keel,and that these traits have undergone multiple reversals.These results highlight the role of geological processes and climatic events in the evolution of hypogean fishes and provide insights for conservation efforts,particularly in specialized cave habitats.展开更多
基金This research was funded by a Paleontological Society Norman Newel Award,a College of Arts and Sciences Regional Campus Research and Creative Activity Grant from the Ohio State University,a research grant from the Ohio State University at Marion,startup funds from the Ohio State University to JC,and Summer Research Assistantship funds from the Ohio State University at Marion to LN.Some of the ideas for this project were developed while JC was supported by a Meaningful Inquiry grant from The Ohio State University library system.
文摘Morphological analyses are critical to quantify phenotypic variation,identify taxa,inform phylogenetic relationships,and shed light on evolutionary patterns.This work is particularly important in groups that display great morphological disparity.Such is the case in geomyoid rodents,a group that includes 2 of the most species-rich families of rodents in North America:the Geomyidae(pocket gophers)and the Heteromyidae(kangaroo rats,pocket mice,and their relatives).We assessed variation in skull morphology(including both shape and size)among geomyoids to test the hypothesis that there are statistically significant differences in skull measurements at the family,genus,and species levels.Our sample includes 886 specimens representing all geomyoid genera and 39 species.We used the geometric mean to compare size across taxa.We used 14 measurements of the cranium and lower jaw normalized for size to compare shape among and within taxa.Our results show that skull measurements enable the distinction of geomyoids at the family,genus,and species levels.There is a larger amount of size variation within Geomyidae than within Heteromyidae.Our phylomorphospace analysis shows that the skull shape of the common ancestor of all geomyoids was more similar to the common ancestor of heteromyids than that of geomyids.Geomyid skulls display negative allometry whereas heteromyid skulls display positive allometry.Within heteromyids,dipodomyines,and non-dipodomyines show significantly different allometric patterns.Future analyses including fossils will be necessary to test our evolutionary hypotheses.
基金supported by the Diversity and Distribution Survey of Chiroptera species in China(2021FY100302)the Guizhou Province Top Discipline Construction Program Project(Qianjiao Keyan Fa[2019]125)the Guizhou Normal University Academic Emerging Talent Fund Project(Qianshi Xin Miao[2021]).
文摘Major geoclimatic events trigger clade divergence,shaping diversification patterns.However,the influence of historical geoclimatic events on the diversification of subsurface biota remains poorly understood.This study investigates the phylogeny and evolutionary history of under-recognized hypogean fishes in the Nemacheilidae family(HFN)in southwestern China,using mitogenome and nuclear gene sequencing.Our phylogeny supports the current genus-level classification but reveals conflicts between mitochondrial and nuclear gene topologies,suggesting past hybridization events.The ancestor of the HFN originated in eastern China-Korean Peninsula-Japanese Islands,north of northwest China-Mongolian Plateau,the Qinghai-Xizang(Tibetan)Plateau-Hengduan Mountains during the late Eocene(~36 million years ago[Mya])and early Miocene(~16 Mya),and dispersed twice into the karst region of southwestern China.An ancient radiation event occurred from 22.44 Mya to 12.25 Mya.In situ diversification is the major speciation event,originating around 30 Mya and increasing sharply at~11 Ma,with 3 peaks at~7 Mya,~3 Mya,and 1 Mya,and 2 valleys at~5 Mya and~2 Mya.Ancestral state reconstruction suggests at least 4 independent origins for the colorless,eye-blind,and troglobitic species morphs,as opposed to 2 events for the caudal adipose keel,and that these traits have undergone multiple reversals.These results highlight the role of geological processes and climatic events in the evolution of hypogean fishes and provide insights for conservation efforts,particularly in specialized cave habitats.
