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Sensory adaptations reshaped intrinsic factors underlying morphological diversification in bats
J H Arbour1,2, A A Curtis2, S E Santana3,4
1Present Address: Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA.
BMC Biology
|May 1, 2021
Summary
Adaptive evolution reshaped intrinsic factors like allometry and modularity in bats, influencing skull diversification. These changes in developmental constraints and evolutionary pathways impact the diversification of biological form.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Developmental biology
- Comparative anatomy
Background:
- Morphological evolution is shaped by intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
- Adaptive evolution can alter intrinsic factors, potentially constraining or facilitating diversification.
- Bats exhibit significant skull shape divergence linked to sensory mode evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate how adaptive evolution in bats impacts allometry and modularity.
- Determine if these intrinsic factors constrain or facilitate subsequent morphological diversification.
- Examine the role of sensory mode evolution in shaping intrinsic developmental factors.
Main Methods:
- Comparative phylogenetic and morphometric analyses.
- Utilized a 3D geometric morphometric dataset across major bat clades.
- Examined evolutionary patterns of allometry and modularity.
Main Results:
- Allometric relationships differ between echolocating and non-echolocating bats.
- Evolution of nasal echolocation altered cranial modularity in bats.
- Evidence suggests intrinsic factors are modified by adaptive evolution.
Conclusions:
- Shifts in allometry and modularity significantly impact anatomical diversification.
- The bat skull exemplifies how intrinsic factors influence evolutionary trajectories.
- Understanding intrinsic factors is crucial for comprehending macroevolutionary patterns.
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