Convergent evolution in Afrotheria and non-afrotherians demonstrates high evolvability of the mammalian inner ear.

Autor: Grunstra NDS; Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. nicole.grunstra@univie.ac.at.; Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. nicole.grunstra@univie.ac.at.; Mammal Collection, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria. nicole.grunstra@univie.ac.at., Hollinetz F; Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Bravo Morante G; Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Zachos FE; Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.; Mammal Collection, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria.; Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.; Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, Australia., Pfaff C; Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Winkler V; Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Mitteroecker P; Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.; Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.; Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria., Le Maître A; Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. anne.le.maitre@univie.ac.at.; Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. anne.le.maitre@univie.ac.at.; Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria. anne.le.maitre@univie.ac.at.; Laboratoire Paléontologie Evolution Paléoécosystèmes Paléoprimatologie (PALEVOPRIM) - UMR 7262 CNRS INEE, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France. anne.le.maitre@univie.ac.at.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2024 Sep 16; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 7869. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Sep 16.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52180-1
Abstrakt: Evolutionary convergence in distantly related species is among the most convincing evidence of adaptive evolution. The mammalian ear, responsible for balance and hearing, is not only characterised by its spectacular evolutionary incorporation of several bones of the jaw, it also varies considerably in shape across modern mammals. Using a multivariate approach, we show that in Afrotheria, a monophyletic clade with morphologically and ecologically highly disparate species, inner ear shape has evolved similar adaptations as in non-afrotherian mammals. We identify four eco-morphological trait combinations that underlie this convergence. The high evolvability of the mammalian ear is surprising: Nowhere else in the skeleton are different functional units so close together; it includes the smallest bones of the skeleton, encapsulated within the densest bone. We suggest that this evolvability is a direct consequence of the increased genetic and developmental complexity of the mammalian ear compared to other vertebrates.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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