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Complete metamorphosis promotes morphological and functional diversity in Caudata

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Complete metamorphosis promotes morphological and functional diversity in Caudata
Authors: Louppe, Vivien, Le Verger, Kevin, Clavel, Julien, Ferreira, Gabriel S, Kyriakouli, Christina, Stanley, Edward L, Watt, Emily C, Bardua, Carla, Pérez‐Ben, Celeste, Fröbisch, Nadia B, Bothe, Vivien, Boistel, Renaud, Daghfous, Gheylen, Goswami, Anjali, Fabre, Anne‐Claire
Contributors: University of Zurich, Louppe, Vivien
Source: Functional Ecology. 39:1732-1747
Publisher Information: Wiley, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Subject Terms: 10125 Department of Paleontology, 1105 Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, 560 Fossils & prehistoric life
Description: Metamorphosis, a common and spectacular developmental process, involves major phenotypic changes often linked to environmental transitions. Understanding how these changes affect morphological evolution is crucial for examining metamorphosis's evolutionary impacts. In this study, we analysed the role of metamorphosis and life cycle variation on the morphological evolution of the mandible in Caudata (salamanders and newts), a clade that exhibits a great diversity of life cycles and ecologies. We focused on the mandible, a key component of the masticatory apparatus, to investigate how life cycle variation may influence the diversification of feeding modes. Using 3D geometric morphometrics on 317 extant species of Caudata, we found that both life cycle and size influence mandible shape, with complex interactions between these factors. The morphology of the mandibular bones evolved more independently in species undergoing complete metamorphosis compared to those with partial metamorphosis, likely facilitating feeding diversification in terrestrial adults. On the other hand, high morphological integration in species undergoing partial metamorphosis could promote the rapid evolution of traits, resulting in the differentiation of more disparate morphologies, potentially aiding paedomorphic species in adapting to challenging environments. This study highlights the interplay between metamorphosis and the environment in shaping morphological evolution among species and provides new insights into the role of heterochrony in the morphological diversification of organisms. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Document Type: Article
Other literature type
File Description: Louppe_et_al_2025_FE.pdf - application/pdf
Language: English
ISSN: 1365-2435
0269-8463
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.70044
DOI: 10.5167/uzh-277710
Access URL: https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/277710/
https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-277710
Rights: CC BY NC ND
Accession Number: edsair.doi.dedup.....e5b8f6cda317d8ac8db75677f0d6886c
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:Metamorphosis, a common and spectacular developmental process, involves major phenotypic changes often linked to environmental transitions. Understanding how these changes affect morphological evolution is crucial for examining metamorphosis's evolutionary impacts. In this study, we analysed the role of metamorphosis and life cycle variation on the morphological evolution of the mandible in Caudata (salamanders and newts), a clade that exhibits a great diversity of life cycles and ecologies. We focused on the mandible, a key component of the masticatory apparatus, to investigate how life cycle variation may influence the diversification of feeding modes. Using 3D geometric morphometrics on 317 extant species of Caudata, we found that both life cycle and size influence mandible shape, with complex interactions between these factors. The morphology of the mandibular bones evolved more independently in species undergoing complete metamorphosis compared to those with partial metamorphosis, likely facilitating feeding diversification in terrestrial adults. On the other hand, high morphological integration in species undergoing partial metamorphosis could promote the rapid evolution of traits, resulting in the differentiation of more disparate morphologies, potentially aiding paedomorphic species in adapting to challenging environments. This study highlights the interplay between metamorphosis and the environment in shaping morphological evolution among species and provides new insights into the role of heterochrony in the morphological diversification of organisms. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
ISSN:13652435
02698463
DOI:10.1111/1365-2435.70044