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Morphological disparity in ecologically diverse versus constrained lineages of Lake Malaŵi rock-dwelling cichlids

  • ADVANCES IN CICHLID RESEARCH III
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Abstract

Lake Malaŵi cichlids have evolved rapidly, extensively, and in some cases iteratively to fill an array of ecological niches; however, neither species richness nor trophic diversity is distributed equally across lineages. In the context of evolutionary theory, such differences offer predictions about the magnitudes and patterns of morphological variation within lineages. In this paper, we use geometric morphometrics in three prevalent rock-dwelling genera to address questions related to morphological diversity, disparity, integration, and modularity. In particular, we focus on comparisons between the highly specialized and species-poor genus, Labeotropheus (Ahl in Sitzungsberichte der Berlinische Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 1926:51–62, 1927), and the more ecologically diverse and species-rich genus, Tropheops (Trewavas in Revue Française d’Aquariologie Herpétologie 10:97–106, 1984), as well as between species with lake-wide versus more limited distributions. We find that Labeotropheus exhibits comparable levels of morphological disparity to Tropheops, which suggests that a specialized foraging mode has not constrained cranial variability in this genus. We also find that species with a lake-wide distribution exhibit levels of disparity three times greater than that in a species with a limited distribution. Finally, we show that magnitudes of integration and patterns of modularity are lineage specific, and do not directly correspond to ecology. In sum, these data provide insights into the complex relationship between ecology, morphological variability, and evolvability.

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Acknowledgements

We thank J. MacLaine (BMNH), J. Snoeks (MRAC), D. Nelson (UMMZ), J. Williams (USNM), and P. Bartsch (ZMB) for the loan of specimens under their care. In addition, P. Bartsch provided images and x-rays of the Labeotropheus type series, including L. curvirostris; he and his staff were also kind and generous hosts for MJP’s visit to his collection. Radiographs of the other specimens of Labeotropheus were generously provided by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee; C. Berg and R. Korman produced these x-rays. Logistical and administrative support at MPM was provided by J. Colby, E. Censky, and R. Henderson. MJP was supported by the Orth Family Ichthyology Research Fund (MPM), and a UW Colleges Summer Research Grant. We also thank members of the Albertson lab for constructive comments on and suggestions for this manuscript, and especially Chaise Gilbert for advice and assistance with geomorph code.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    R. Craig Albertson

  2. Section of Vertebrate Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA

    Michael J. Pauers

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, 1500 N. University Drive, Waukesha, WI, 53188, USA

    Michael J. Pauers

  4. School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 600 E. Greenfield Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53204, USA

    Michael J. Pauers

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  1. R. Craig Albertson
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Correspondence to R. Craig Albertson.

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Guest editors: S. Koblmüller, R. C. Albertson, M. J. Genner, K. M. Sefc & T. Takahashi / Advances in Cichlid Research III: Behavior, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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Albertson, R.C., Pauers, M.J. Morphological disparity in ecologically diverse versus constrained lineages of Lake Malaŵi rock-dwelling cichlids. Hydrobiologia 832, 153–174 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3829-z

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