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Updated: Jun 24, 2025
14:11
Building Finite Element Models to Investigate Zebrafish Jaw Biomechanics
Published on: December 3, 2016
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Functional modularity and mechanical stress shape plastic responses during fish development
Leandro Lofeu1, Felipe Montefeltro2, Monique Nouailhetas Simon3
1Laboratório de Evolução e Biologia Integrativa, Departamento de Biologia - FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Summary
Environmental changes trigger adaptive plastic phenotypes in fish. Manipulating foraging conditions in Megaleporinus macrocephalus revealed how skull bone modularity, biomechanics, and gene expression (bmp4) interact to shape novel complex phenotypes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Evolutionary biology
- Ecomorphology
Background:
- Phenotypic plasticity is crucial for adaptation.
- Understanding the multilevel mechanisms of plasticity is essential for evolutionary insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how altered developmental conditions influence skull modularity, biomechanics, and gene expression in Megaleporinus macrocephalus.
- To explore the interplay between functional morphology, mechanical stress, and molecular pathways in generating adaptive phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- Manipulation of developmental conditions related to foraging mode in Megaleporinus macrocephalus.
- Analysis of functional modularity of skull bones.
- Finite element modeling to assess chondrocranium biomechanical properties.
- Measurement of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (bmp4) expression levels.
Main Results:
- Identification of new functional modules in skull bones, particularly in experimental groups.
- Evidence of increased integration in head bone elements associated with mouth shape modifications.
- Differences in mechanical stress magnitude and localization within the chondrocranium.
- Correlation between specific bone groupings, mouth position changes, and mechanical load responses.
- Variations in bmp4 expression levels linked to biomechanical responses and plastic morphotypes.
Conclusions:
- Developmental plasticity involves integrated responses across multiple biological levels.
- Functional modularity and biomechanical properties are key components of adaptive phenotypic evolution.
- Molecular signaling pathways, such as bmp4, are associated with biomechanical adaptations.
- This study provides a multilevel perspective on epigenetic factors driving the evolution of complex phenotypes.
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