scholarly journals Temporally Dissociated, Trait-Specific Modifications Underlie Phenotypic Polyphenism inSpea multiplicataTadpoles, Which Suggests Modularity

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 715-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian L. Storz ◽  
Joseph Travis
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Hind Limb ◽  
Limb Length ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Developmental Control ◽  
Variable Environment ◽  
Ephemeral Ponds ◽  
Individual Trait ◽  
Intestine Length ◽  
Trophic Traits

Many organisms that develop in a variable environment show correlated patterns of phenotypic plasticity in several traits. Any individual trait modification can be beneficial, neutral, or deleterious in any particular environment; the organism's total fitness, which determines if the plasticity is adaptive, is the sum of these changes. Although much is known about how plastic traits contribute to fitness, less is known about the extent to which the various trait changes involved in the plastic responses share their developmental control. Shared control suggests that the various responses evolved in unison, but independent control suggests independent evolution of many components. Spadefoot toads have evolved adaptive polyphenism to cope with developing in rapidly drying ephemeral ponds. Larvae hatch as omnivores, but on exposure to an environmental cue, may develop into carnivores. We compared trait development in the two morphs and found that differences in jaw musculature, head dimensions, and intestines emerged early in development, whereas differences in shape of the tail emerged later. In omnivores, all traits except intestine length and hind-limb length were negatively allometric with body length; in carnivores, two of three jaw muscles displayed positive allometry and, among those that were negatively allometric, all except head width showed larger allometric coefficients in carnivores. Hind-limb length was positively allometric in both forms, but the allometric coefficients did not differ significantly. Intestine length was positively allometric to body length in both forms, but in this case, omnivores exhibited the higher coefficient. These results suggest that spadefoot plasticity is trait specific and the responses are suggestive of the existence of at least two modules: a suite of trophic traits that responds early in development and a suite of tail traits that responds later. The developmental control of these suites is the subject of further investigation.

scholarly journals Morphological determinants of jumping performance in the Iberian green frog

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-424
Author(s):  
Gregorio Moreno-Rueda ◽  
Abelardo Requena-Blanco ◽  
Francisco J Zamora-Camacho ◽  
Mar Comas ◽  
Guillem Pascual
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Hind Limb ◽  
Limb Length ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Jumping Performance ◽  
Hind Limbs ◽  
Selective Forces ◽  
Pelophylax Perezi

Abstract Predation is one of the main selective forces in nature, frequently selecting potential prey for developing escape strategies. Escape ability is typically influenced by several morphological parameters, such as morphology of the locomotor appendices, muscular capacity, body mass, or fluctuating asymmetry, and may differ between sexes and age classes. In this study, we tested the relationship among these variables and jumping performance in 712 Iberian green frogs Pelophylax perezi from an urban population. The results suggest that the main determinant of jumping capacity was body size (explaining 48% of variance). Larger frogs jumped farther, but jumping performance reached an asymptote for the largest frogs. Once controlled by structural body size, the heaviest frogs jumped shorter distances, suggesting a trade-off between fat storage and jumping performance. Relative hind limb length also determined a small but significant percentage of variance (2.4%) in jumping performance—that is, the longer the hind limbs, the greater the jumping capacity. Juveniles had relatively shorter and less muscular hind limbs than adults (for a given body size), and their jumping performance was poorer. In our study population, the hind limbs of the frogs were very symmetrical, and we found no effect of fluctuating asymmetry on jumping performance. Therefore, our study provides evidence that jumping performance in frogs is not only affected by body size, but also by body mass and hind limb length, and differ between age classes.

Hind-Limb Length Plasticity in Anolis carolinensis

2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 674-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason J. Kolbe ◽  
Jonathan B. Losos
Keyword(s):  
Hind Limb ◽  
Anolis Carolinensis ◽  
Limb Length

Post-embryonic development of Lamyctes fulvicornis Meinert (Chilopoda: Henicopidae)

1984 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Göran Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Head Length ◽  
Length Ratio ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Cephalic Shield

AbstractLamyctes fulvicornis is spanandric and most probably thelytokous in Sweden. The variation during development in the following characters is described: body-tength, head-length, ratio head-length/body-length and head-length/head-width, number of coxal pores, ocelli, antennal articles and teeth on forcipular coxosternite, projections on tergites 9, 11 and 13, spinulation, accessory apical claws on the 15th pair of legs, genitalia and the pattern on the cephalic shield. Also correlation with size within each post-larval stadium is given. The boundary between juvenile and adult stadia and the number of post-larval stadia are discussed.

scholarly journals Gut Morphometrics in the Long-Tailed Duck Clangula Hyemalis Wintering on the Polish Baltic Coast

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 37-47
Author(s):  
Ewa Działa-Szczepańczyk
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Length ◽  
The Body ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Morphometric Characters ◽  
Baltic Coast ◽  
Intestine Length ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Clangula Hyemalis ◽  
Sternum Length

Gut Morphometrics in the Long-Tailed DuckClangula HyemalisWintering on the Polish Baltic CoastThe study included guts of 140 individuals of the long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisobtained in autumn and winter of 1993-2000 in the western part of the Polish Baltic Coast. The following morphometric characters were analysed: duodenum length (DL), combined jejunum and ileum length (JIL), small intestine length (SIL), combined terminal intestine and cloaca length (TCL), and combined length (CBL) and weight (CBW) of both caeca. In the analysis the birds' sex and age were taken into consideration, as well as their body size characterised by body weight, body length, and sternum length. Ontogenetic differences in the gut morphometric characters were more pronounced in males than in females, and immature drakes were characterised by higher average values of JIL and CBW, compared to adult males. Besides the CBL and CBW, sexual dimorphism was manifest in the body size and other gut measurements - those parameters achieved higher average values in males than in females. No such differences were recorded with respect to relative parameters: DL, SIL, and TCL expressed as the percentage of the birds' body length. In case of JIL, CBL, and CBW no relation with any of the body size parameters was found. No relevant relations between SIL and JIL, and the measurements of CBL and TCL were noticed.

Post-embryonic development of Lithobius calcaratus C. L. Koch (Chilopoda: Lithobiidae)

1982 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Göran Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Head Length ◽  
Length Ratio ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Cephalic Shield

AbstractThe variation during development in the following characters of Lithobius calcaratus is described: body-length, head-length, ratio head-length/body-length and head-length/ head-width, number of coxal pores, ocelli, antennal articles and teeth on forcipular coxosternite, projections on tergites 9, 11 and 13, spinulation on the last pair of legs, accessory apical claws on the 15th pair of legs, genitalia, male secondary sex character and the pattern on the cephalic shield. Also the difference between male and female and the correlation with size within each post-larval stadium are given. The boundary between juvenile and adult stadia and the number of post-larval stadia are discussed.

scholarly journals Morphological variability of Bembidion aspericolle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) populations in conditions of anthropogenic impact

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
V. O. Komlyk ◽  
V. V. Brygadyrenko
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Anthropogenic Impact ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
The Body ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Angular Characteristic ◽  
Western Palearctic ◽  
The Impact

Bembidion (Talanes) aspericolle (Germar, 1829) is a Western Palearctic species which lives on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas and saline inland habitats from Central Europe to Central Asia. Anthropogenic impact is one of the most important environmental factors affecting the morphological variability of ground beetles. The objective of our research is assessment of the morphological variability of this species in three ecosystems differing by intensity of anthropogenic impact. 13 linear characteristics, one angular characteristic, density of pores on the prothorax and elytra, contrast of spots on the beetles’ elytra were measured, and 6 morphometric indices were calculated. The mean value of body length in females is more than in males in the studied populations. In the ecosystem with high anthropogenic pressure, female body length is shorter by 3.7% and elytra length is shorter by 6.0% than in females in the ecosystem with low anthropogenic impact. Differences between populations in the body length of males are not significant. In the ecosystem with high anthropogenic transformation, sexual dimorphism is observed only on head and prothorax width. The ratio of maximum width of elytra to maximum prothorax width decreases significantly with increasing anthropogenic load. The impact of anthropogenic factors on the ecosystem produces significant changes in elytra length and head width of B. aspericolle and in four of the six morphometric indices. It is reasonable to use these morphometric characteristics of B. aspericolle adults in bioindication. The complex of anthropogenic factors does not have a significant impact on the value of anterior and posterior angles of prothorax, density of prothorax and elytra puncturing and contrast of the light spots at the top of the elytra. The sex of the specimen influences all linear characteristics. The absence of significant differences in morphometric indices between males and females shows that the body proportions of the beetles remain unchanged and only linear dimensions vary. Research on the morphological variability of B. aspericolle is important for understanding microevolutionary processes in populations of beetles under anthropogenically induced changes in the environment.

scholarly journals REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR AND MORPHOLOGY ON HORSES (EQUUS CABALLUS) MALES IN NORTH TAPANULI DISTRICT

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rayswe Dumaris Sihombing ◽  
Hamdan ◽  
Tri Hesti Wahyuni ◽  
Nevy Diana Hanafi ◽  
Iskandar Sembiring
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Equus Caballus ◽  
Volume Measurement ◽  
Head Length ◽  
Chest Circumference ◽  
Head Width

RAYSWE DUMARIS SIHOMBING, 2018: ''Reproductive Behavior and Morphology in Horses (Equus Caballus) Males in North Tapanuli District ''. Guided by HAMDAN and TRI HESTI WAHYUNI. This study aimed to see reproduction and morphological performance of the stallion in North Tapanuli Regency. This research was conducted in North Tapanuli regency, Silait-lait Village, Hutajulu Village and Siaro Village and Superior Breeding Cattle Hall and Animal Feed (BPTU-HPT) from June to August 2017. The analysis used in this research is quantitative data analysis which includes average, standard deviation and coefficient of diversity.The variable that distinguishes the horse is the part of reproduction which is divided into two, namely the exterior, which includes the diameter of the scrotum and the interior includes the quality of sperm that are tested miscroscopically and macroscopically. Macroscopic tests include volume measurement, viscosity, color, pH. Microscopic tests of motility, concentration, and abnormality. Morphology, including head length, head width, neck length, shoulder height, chest circumference, chest depth, body length, hip width, hip height.The results showed that stallion in North Tapanuli Regency had good sperm quality with gray white color, low concentration level, pH 6.67, motility 80%, concentration 13,76 x 10 ^ 7ml / ejakulat, and abnormality 16, 6% and morphological appearance have mean, standard deviation and high diversity coefficient with head length 62,30 cm, shoulder height 158,84 cm, chest circumference 174,26 cm, chest depth 78,20 cm, body length 169,86 cm , hip height 167.12 cm and hip width 40.01 cm. In conclusion of this study, the morphology and reproduction of horses in North Tapanuli Regency has good weight and posture and good sperm quality used as males in developing horse cattle.

scholarly journals Life history characteristics of a cave isopod (Mesoniscus graniger Friv.)

ZooKeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 801 ◽  
pp. 359-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dávid Derbák ◽  
László Dányi ◽  
Elisabeth Hornung
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Reproductive Strategy ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Female Dominance ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Offspring Number

The special environmental conditions of caves provide habitat for several endemic and relict species, among them terrestrial isopods. The Baradla Cave system (north-eastern Hungary) hosts Mesoniscusgraniger (Frivaldszky, 1865) (Oniscidea, Microcheta, Mesoniscidae), a pygmy, blind, fragile troglophile woodlice species. Its stable environment can be characterised by the lack of light, high relative humidity (96%), low and constant temperature (about 10 °C). We explored the population characteristics (sex ratio, size distribution) and life history traits of the species (e.g. longevity, reproductive strategy, offspring number, and size). Sex ratio and size distribution of the individuals (head-width measurements) were estimated based on a yearly pooled pitfall-trap data set (N = 677). We studied the species’ reproductive strategy under natural conditions (Baradla Cave, Aggtelek National Park). Model populations were set up in the cave and checked monthly between March and October, 2016 (15 replicates, each with 12 randomly chosen adult individuals; ΣN = 180). Digital photos were taken of the live animals and their length was estimated based on the photos by using ImageJ software (average body length: 6.56 ± 0.79 mm). The results showed female dominance in the population [(male:female = 0.43:0.57); p < 0.001 (GLM)]. Female head width (0.87 ± 0.18 mm) was significantly greater than that of males [0.79 ± 0.08 mm; p < 0.001 (t-test)]. Based on our present data we assume that the offspring number per single female is low (3–5), and new-borns have a relatively large size (body length: 4.22 ± 0.53 mm) compared to the adults. The probability of reproduction was continuous by monthly intervals (binomial test) and longevity exceeds one year. Our results suggest that the species follows a stenodynamic life history.

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