The shape and mechanical performance in Talpidae humeri were studied by means of Geometric Morphometrics and Finite Element Analysis, including both extinct and extant taxa. The aim of this study was to test whether the ability to dig, quantified by humerus mechanical performance, was characterized by convergent or parallel adaptations in different clades of complex tunnel digger within Talpidae, that is, Talpinae+Condylura (monophyletic) and some complex tunnel diggers not belonging to this clade. Our results suggest that the pattern underlying Talpidae humerus evolution is evolutionary parallelism. However, this insight changed to true convergence when we tested an alternative phylogeny based on molecular data, with Condylura moved to a more basal phylogenetic position. Shape and performance analyses, as well as specific comparative methods, provided strong evidence that the ability to dig complex tunnels reached a functional optimum in distantly related taxa. This was also confirmed by the lower phenotypic variance in complex tunnel digger taxa, compared to non-complex tunnel diggers. Evolutionary rates of phenotypic change showed a smooth deceleration in correspondence with the most recent common ancestor of the Talpinae+Condylura clade.

Testing convergent and parallel adaptations of talpids humerus mechanical performance by means of geometric morphometrics and finite element analysis / Piras, Paolo; Sansalone, G; Teresi, L; Kotsakis, T; Colangelo, Paolo; Loy, Anna. - In: JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY. - ISSN 0362-2525. - 273:7(2012), pp. 696-711. [10.1002/jmor.20015]

Testing convergent and parallel adaptations of talpids humerus mechanical performance by means of geometric morphometrics and finite element analysis

PIRAS, PAOLO;COLANGELO, PAOLO;LOY, anna
2012

Abstract

The shape and mechanical performance in Talpidae humeri were studied by means of Geometric Morphometrics and Finite Element Analysis, including both extinct and extant taxa. The aim of this study was to test whether the ability to dig, quantified by humerus mechanical performance, was characterized by convergent or parallel adaptations in different clades of complex tunnel digger within Talpidae, that is, Talpinae+Condylura (monophyletic) and some complex tunnel diggers not belonging to this clade. Our results suggest that the pattern underlying Talpidae humerus evolution is evolutionary parallelism. However, this insight changed to true convergence when we tested an alternative phylogeny based on molecular data, with Condylura moved to a more basal phylogenetic position. Shape and performance analyses, as well as specific comparative methods, provided strong evidence that the ability to dig complex tunnels reached a functional optimum in distantly related taxa. This was also confirmed by the lower phenotypic variance in complex tunnel digger taxa, compared to non-complex tunnel diggers. Evolutionary rates of phenotypic change showed a smooth deceleration in correspondence with the most recent common ancestor of the Talpinae+Condylura clade.
2012
talpid humerus; geometric morphometrics; finite element analysis; comparative methods; parallel evolutionary trajectories
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Testing convergent and parallel adaptations of talpids humerus mechanical performance by means of geometric morphometrics and finite element analysis / Piras, Paolo; Sansalone, G; Teresi, L; Kotsakis, T; Colangelo, Paolo; Loy, Anna. - In: JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY. - ISSN 0362-2525. - 273:7(2012), pp. 696-711. [10.1002/jmor.20015]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Piras_Testing_2012.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 1.04 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.04 MB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/779641
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 11
  • Scopus 42
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 40
social impact