Body size, shape and ecology in tetrapods



Maher, Alice E ORCID: 0000-0001-7544-3947, Burin, Gustavo, Cox, Philip G, Maddox, Thomas W, Maidment, Susannah CR, Cooper, Natalie, Schachner, Emma R and Bates, Karl T ORCID: 0000-0002-0048-141X
(2022) Body size, shape and ecology in tetrapods. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 13 (1). 4340-.

This is the latest version of this item.

[img] Text
Article file.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript

Download (52MB) | Preview
[img] Text
s41467-022-32028-2.pdf - Published version

Download (10MB) | Preview

Abstract

Body size and shape play fundamental roles in organismal function and it is expected that animals may possess body proportions that are well-suited to their ecological niche. Tetrapods exhibit a diverse array of body shapes, but to date this diversity in body proportions and its relationship to ecology have not been systematically quantified. Using whole-body skeletal models of 410 extinct and extant tetrapods, we show that allometric relationships vary across individual body segments thereby yielding changes in overall body shape as size increases. However, we also find statistical support for quadratic relationships indicative of differential scaling in small-medium versus large animals. Comparisons of locomotor and dietary groups highlight key differences in body proportions that may mechanistically underlie occupation of major ecological niches. Our results emphasise the pivotal role of body proportions in the broad-scale ecological diversity of tetrapods.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Animals, Body Size, Ecology, Biological Evolution
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology > School of Life Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 28 Jul 2022 13:38
Last Modified: 06 Oct 2023 01:57
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32028-2
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3159690

Available Versions of this Item