scholarly journals Brain size variation along altitudinal gradients in the Asiatic Toad ( Bufo gargarizans )

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongyi Yao ◽  
Yin Qi ◽  
Bisong Yue ◽  
Jinzhong Fu
Keyword(s):  
Brain Size ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Altitudinal Gradients ◽  
Bufo Gargarizans ◽  
Toad Bufo

scholarly journals Different environmental variables predict body and brain size evolution in Homo

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Will ◽  
Mario Krapp ◽  
Jay T. Stock ◽  
Andrea Manica
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Net Primary Productivity ◽  
Brain Size ◽  
Environmental Influence ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Evolutionary Pattern ◽  
Statistical Framework ◽  
Size Evolution ◽  
Major Predictor

AbstractIncreasing body and brain size constitutes a key macro-evolutionary pattern in the hominin lineage, yet the mechanisms behind these changes remain debated. Hypothesized drivers include environmental, demographic, social, dietary, and technological factors. Here we test the influence of environmental factors on the evolution of body and brain size in the genus Homo over the last one million years using a large fossil dataset combined with global paleoclimatic reconstructions and formalized hypotheses tested in a quantitative statistical framework. We identify temperature as a major predictor of body size variation within Homo, in accordance with Bergmann’s rule. In contrast, net primary productivity of environments and long-term variability in precipitation correlate with brain size but explain low amounts of the observed variation. These associations are likely due to an indirect environmental influence on cognitive abilities and extinction probabilities. Most environmental factors that we test do not correspond with body and brain size evolution, pointing towards complex scenarios which underlie the evolution of key biological characteristics in later Homo.

Bufadienolides from the Eggs of the Toad Bufo bufo gargarizans and Their Antimelanoma Activities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi-wen Zhou ◽  
Jing-yu Quan ◽  
Zi-wei Li ◽  
Ge Ye ◽  
Zhuo Shang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Bufo Gargarizans ◽  
Toad Bufo ◽  
Toad Bufo Bufo

Kinematics of Chinese toad Bufo gargarizans

2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 2936-2941 ◽  
Author(s):  
ChaoFei Wang ◽  
Jin Tong ◽  
JiYu Sun
Keyword(s):  
Bufo Gargarizans ◽  
Toad Bufo

Bufospirostenin A and Bufogargarizin C, Steroids with Rearranged Skeletons from the Toad Bufo bufo gargarizans

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 1182-1186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-Yan Tian ◽  
Li-Jun Ruan ◽  
Tong Yu ◽  
Qing-Fei Zheng ◽  
Nan-Hao Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Bufo Gargarizans ◽  
Toad Bufo ◽  
Toad Bufo Bufo

Genetic differentiation of regional populations of the widespread Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans), as revealed by development of novel microsatellite markers

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 335
Author(s):  
T. Pan ◽  
P. Yan ◽  
M. Yang ◽  
H. Wang ◽  
I. Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
Genetic Distance ◽  
Yangtze River ◽  
The Yangtze River ◽  
Geographic Scale ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Bufo Gargarizans ◽  
Toad Bufo

Dispersal is a key component of a species’ life history, by influencing population persistence, genetic structure, adaptation and maintenance of genetic diversity. The Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans) is a widespread species in east Asia. However, we still have no knowledge of what kind of geographical scale equates to genetic differentiation within B. gargarizans. In this study, the population genetics of B. gargarizans was studied at five localities, with the Yangtze River running through the sampling area, in order to detect the level of genetic differentiation and the natural barriers to the species’ dispersal on a small geographic scale, by means of the development and use of novel microsatellite loci. These markers revealed a relatively high level of genetic diversity. Distinct genetic structure among populations in B. gargarizans was observed, as described by genetic distance, AMOVA, PCA and Geneland results. A weak but significant positive correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance. The combination of these findings suggests that the Yangtze River and geographic distance may act as effective barriers for B. gargarizans. These results serve as benchmark data for understanding the impacts of dispersal barriers and continued landscape research on B. gargarizans.

scholarly journals Rethinking the Effects of Body Size on the Study of Brain Size Evolution

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 182-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Font ◽  
Roberto García-Roa ◽  
Daniel Pincheira-Donoso ◽  
Pau Carazo
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Brain Size ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Brain Evolution ◽  
Scaling Effects ◽  
Selection Pressures ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Relative Brain Size ◽  
Functional Components ◽  
The Brain

Body size correlates with most structural and functional components of an organism’s phenotype – brain size being a prime example of allometric scaling with animal size. Therefore, comparative studies of brain evolution in vertebrates rely on controlling for the scaling effects of body size variation on brain size variation by calculating brain weight/body weight ratios. Differences in the brain size-body size relationship between taxa are usually interpreted as differences in selection acting on the brain or its components, while selection pressures acting on body size, which are among the most prevalent in nature, are rarely acknowledged, leading to conflicting and confusing conclusions. We address these problems by comparing brain-body relationships from across >1,000 species of birds and non-avian reptiles. Relative brain size in birds is often assumed to be 10 times larger than in reptiles of similar body size. We examine how differences in the specific gravity of body tissues and in body design (e.g., presence/absence of a tail or a dense shell) between these two groups can affect estimates of relative brain size. Using phylogenetic comparative analyses, we show that the gap in relative brain size between birds and reptiles has been grossly exaggerated. Our results highlight the need to take into account differences between taxa arising from selection pressures affecting body size and design, and call into question the widespread misconception that reptile brains are small and incapable of supporting sophisticated behavior and cognition.

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