On the Evolution and Adaptive Significance of Postnatal Growth Rates in the Terrestrial Vertebrates

1978 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted J. Case
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates

A Comparison of the Growth of Vertically-Migrating and Nonmigrating Kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) Fry

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 486-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. T. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Vertical Migration ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Oncorhynchus Nerka ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Behavioural Thermoregulation ◽  
Kootenay Lake ◽  
Efficiency Hypothesis

A comparison of the growth of vertically-migrating kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) fry and nonmigrating fry confined to the epilimnion in thermally-stratified Kootenay Lake, British Columbia rejected the bioenergetic efficiency hypothesis for the adaptive significance of vertical migration. Growth rates were higher for nonmigrating fry than for vertically-migrating fry. Geometric mean wet weights in early October were 2.88 g for non-migrating fry and 1.40 g for vertically-migrating fry of the same stock. The geometric mean weight of fry of a second stock rearing in the isothermal West Arm, in which behavioural thermoregulation by vertical migration was not possible, was 8.54 g in early October.

Interannual variation in birth mass and postnatal growth rate of Juan Fernández fur seals

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 978-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Ochoa-Acuña ◽  
John M Francis ◽  
Daryl J Boness
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Interannual Variation ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Fur Seals ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Attendance Pattern

The objectives of this study were to establish body mass at birth, postnatal growth rate, and the factors that influence these parameters for the Juan Fernández fur seal, Arctocephalus philippii. Females of this species have an unusual attendance pattern in which foraging trips and shore visits last, on average, 12.3 and 5.3 days, respectively. Pup mass was obtained from cohorts born during the reproductive seasons in 1988 through 1992. Birth masses of male and female pups were significantly different, averaging 6.1 and 5.5 kg, respectively (F = 13.2, P < 0.0003, n = 238). Birth masses also differed among cohorts, being lowest in 1992 and highest in 1990. During the first 2 months of life, male and female pups grew at the same rate (79 ± 61.5 g · day-1 (mean ± SD); F[1] = 0.03, P = 0.8562). Interannual differences in growth rate during the first month were significant (F[4] = 8.14, P < 0.0001), as was the interaction between month and year effects (F[2] = 6.81, P = 0.0012). Growth rates for the 1990 cohort were lower than those in all other years except 1992. Birth masses and postnatal growth rates of Juan Fernández fur seal pups are comparable to those of other otariid species.

scholarly journals Making Space for Permanent Molars in Growing Baboon (Papio anubis) and Great Ape (Pan paniscus and P. troglodytes) Mandibles: Possible Ontogenetic Strategies and Solutions

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia C. Boughner
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Pan Paniscus ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Linear Measurement ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
Papio Anubis ◽  
Geometric Morphometric ◽  
Permanent Molar ◽  
Permanent Molars ◽  
Molar Morphology

While mandible proportions do not appear to constrain permanent molar initiation times, how adequate space is created in the corpus for these teeth in a timely way is not well understood. This question is important for explaining how primate tooth and jaw development and evolution are coordinated. Landmark and linear measurement data were used to characterize mandible shape, growth trajectory, and growth rate between two genera, Papio and Pan, with contrasting permanent molar initiation schedules and mandible proportions. 3D geometric morphometric and 2D bivariate analyses showed genus-level differences in mandible morphology from birth that were amplified by different postnatal growth trajectories. Different corpus proportions and regional variation in corpus growth rates helped create space in a timely way for the molars. Regional corpus growth rates may evolve alongside permanent molar morphology and developmental timing to modify space available in the corpus for these teeth.

Biology of Fire Ephemerals of the Sandplains of the Kwongan of South-Western Australia

1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 641 ◽  
Author(s):  
JS Pate ◽  
NE Casson ◽  
J Rullo ◽  
J Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic

The growth, longevity, mineral relationships and reproductive biology of 18 species of fire ephemerals were examined in sclerophyllous shrubland, located mainly within the Jurien : Badgingarra region of the Northern Sandplains of the kwongan of SW. Australia. Ten of the species were monocarpic, completing their life cycle within the 6-8 month winter growing season after a summer or autumn fire. The remaining species were polycarpic, commencing reproduction in their second season and surviving and reproducing for a further two to eight seasons (depending on species). Detailed study was made of growth and dry matter allocation in the dioecious, sexually dimorphic, polycarpic species Tersonia brevipes (Gyrostemonaceae). Monocarpic species tended to produce smaller seeds, and exhibited greater seed output per unit biomass and higher harvest indices for dry matter and minerals than polycarpic species. Certain monocarpic species showed great plasticity in final dry weight, e.g. a 2700-fold difference between largest and smallest individuals in a sample of 250 plants of Stipa elegantissima (Poaceae), and a 180-fold range in a similarly sized sample of Macarthuria apetala (Aizoaceae). The fire ephemerals studied generally exhibited faster seedling growth rates, greater concentrations of P and N (but not of Ca, Mg and K) in seedling dry matter, but usually lesser concentrations of P and N (but not of Ca, Mg and K) in seed dry matter than in cohabiting obligate seeder or sprouter species with potential life spans exceeding 15 years. The above-mentioned features of fire ephemerals are suggested to be of special adaptive significance within the context of exploitation of transiently non-limiting habitat resources immediately following fire.

Postnatal growth and allometry of harbour porpoises from the Bay of Fundy

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Read ◽  
Krystal A. Tolley
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
The Body ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Body Region ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Commercial Fisheries ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Thoracic Region

We described patterns of growth and allometry from observations of 203 female and 198 male harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, killed in commercial fisheries in the Bay of Fundy between 1985 and 1993. Gompertz growth curves were used to predict length, mass, and girth at physical maturity. Asymptotic sizes and growth rates were greater in females for all three characters. The pattern of allometry was consistent between sexes, but varied according to body region. The characters in the head and thoracic regions exhibited negative allometry, but those in the posterior of the body were isometric. Most characters showed the same growth rates for the two sexes, except those in the thoracic region, for which females exhibited faster growth than males. These results are consistent with those of several other studies of the harbour porpoise in which faster growth and larger sizes are attained by females.

Placental restriction of fetal growth reduces size at birth and alters postnatal growth, feeding activity, and adiposity in the young lamb

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (2) ◽  
pp. R875-R886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miles J. De Blasio ◽  
Kathryn L. Gatford ◽  
Jeffrey S. Robinson ◽  
Julie A. Owens
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Absolute Growth ◽  
Accelerated Growth ◽  
Early Postnatal Life ◽  
Size At Birth

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with accelerated growth after birth. Together, IUGR and accelerated growth after birth predict reduced lean tissue mass and increased obesity in later life. Although placental insufficiency is a major cause of IUGR, whether it alters growth and adiposity in early postnatal life is not known. We hypothesized that placental restriction (PR) in the sheep would reduce size at birth and increase postnatal growth rate, fat mass, and feeding activity in the young lamb. PR reduced survival rate and size at birth, with soft tissues reduced to a greater extent than skeletal tissues and relative sparing of head width ( P < 0.05 for all). PR did not alter absolute growth rates (i.e., the slope of the line of best fit for age vs. parameter size from birth to 45 days of age) but increased neonatal fractional growth rates (absolute growth rate relative to size at birth) for body weight (+24%), tibia (+15%) and metatarsal (+18%) lengths, hindlimb (+23%) and abdominal (+19%) circumferences, and fractional growth rates for current weight ( P < 0.05) weekly throughout the first 45 days of life. PR and small size at birth reduced individual skeletal muscle weights and increased visceral adiposity in absolute and relative terms. PR also altered feeding activity, which increased with decreasing size at birth and was predictive of increased postnatal growth and adiposity. In conclusion, PR reduced size at birth and induced catch-up growth postnatally, normalizing weight and length but increasing adiposity in early postnatal life. Increased feeding activity may contribute to these alterations in growth and body composition following prenatal restraint and, if they persist, may lead to adverse metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes in later life.

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