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The Role of Evolutionary Integration in the Morphological Evolution of the Skull of Caviomorph Rodents (Rodentia: Hystricomorpha)

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Abstract

The mammalian cranium is a complex structure composed by three partially independent modules: face, cranial base and cranial vault. At the same time, it interacts with the mandible by sharing the masticatory function. Since these units develop and work together, their function and evolution may occur through correlated changes. Here, we assessed the patterns of evolutionary shape variation and covariation (i.e. integration) of cranial modules and mandible among the highly ecomorphologically diverse caviomorph rodents, and the potential evolutionary consequences on the morphological evolution of this clade. Three-dimensional geometric morphometrics was used to describe cranio-mandibular shape. The phylogenetic signal and evolutionary allometric component of morphometric variables were analyzed; in addition, evolutionary covariation among cranial modules and mandible was assessed using phylogenetic comparative methods. Significant phylogenetic signal and evolutionary allometry were detected. Large covariance values, involving coordinated breadth increase as the main shape change, were recorded between cranial vault and base, followed by cranial vault and face, and face and mandible. Since the basicranium may be the main cranial integrator, the overall widening of the cranial base, derived from the enlargement of the auditory bullae, could be influencing the integrated evolution of skull. In caviomorphs, the cranio-mandibular morphological evolution would be the outcome of a tight covariation among the modular units, and this could be driven by several factors such as allometry and specializations to environmental niches.

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Acknowledgments

We thank A.I. Olivares (MLP), D. Flores and S. Lucero (MACN), D. Romero (MMPMa), and R. Ojeda (IADIZA) for providing access to mammalogical material under their care. We are indebted to the anonymous reviewers and B. Hallgrímsson who contributed greatly to improve this manuscript. We want to thank Marcos Ercoli for his help with figure edition. This research is a contribution to Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT) PICT 1150 and PIP 0270 of Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas grants to D. H. Verzi and ANPCyT PICT 2672 to A. Álvarez.

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  1. Alicia Álvarez

    Present address: CIT-Jujuy CONICET, Instituto de Geología y Minería, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Av. Bolivia 1661, Y4600GNE, S. S. de Jujuy, Argentina

Authors and Affiliations

  1. División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Alicia Álvarez

  2. CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Alicia Álvarez, S. Ivan Perez & Diego H. Verzi

  3. División Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina

    S. Ivan Perez

  4. Sección Mastozoología, División Zoología Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina

    Diego H. Verzi

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Álvarez, A., Perez, S.I. & Verzi, D.H. The Role of Evolutionary Integration in the Morphological Evolution of the Skull of Caviomorph Rodents (Rodentia: Hystricomorpha). Evol Biol 42, 312–327 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11692-015-9326-7

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