A multivariate ecogeographic analysis of macaque craniodental variation

Bibliographic Data

ID8318645
AuthorsN D S Grunstra (0000-0002-6708-2245, Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology University of Cambridge, The Henry Wellcome Building Cambridge CB2 1QH United Kingdom, corresponding author), P Mitteroecker (0000-0002-5308-3837, University of Vienna), R A Foley (0000-0003-0479-3039, University of Cambridge)
Year2018
Volume166
Issue2
Pages386-400
Publication date2018-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.23439
PMID29446460
OpenAlexW2792453147
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited61

OBJECTIVES: To infer the ecogeographic conditions that underlie the evolutionary diversification of macaques, we investigated the within- and between-species relationships of craniodental dimensions, geography, and environment in extant macaque species. We studied evolutionary processes by contrasting macroevolutionary patterns, phylogeny, and within-species associations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three linear measurements of the permanent dentition and skull along with data about climate, ecology (environment), and spatial geography were collected for 711 specimens of 12 macaque species and analyzed by a multivariate approach. Phylogenetic two-block partial least squares was used to identify patterns of covariance between craniodental and environmental variation. Phylogenetic reduced rank regression was employed to analyze spatial clines in morphological variation. RESULTS: Between-species associations consisted of two distinct multivariate patterns. The first represents overall craniodental size and is negatively associated with temperature and habitat, but positively with latitude. The second pattern shows an antero-posterior tooth size contrast related to diet, rainfall, and habitat productivity. After controlling for phylogeny, however, the latter dimension was diminished. Within-species analyses neither revealed significant association between morphology, environment, and geography, nor evidence of isolation by distance. DISCUSSION: We found evidence for environmental adaptation in macaque body and craniodental size, primarily driven by selection for thermoregulation. This pattern cannot be explained by the within-species pattern, indicating an evolved genetic basis for the between-species relationship. The dietary signal in relative tooth size, by contrast, can largely be explained by phylogeny. This cautions against adaptive interpretations of phenotype-environment associations when phylogeny is not explicitly modelled

Adaptation (eye) · Biology · Evolutionary biology · Macaque · Phylogenetic comparative methods · Phylogenetic tree · Phylogenetics · Zoology · Amphibian and Reptile Biology · Ecology · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Species Distribution and Climate Change

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