10.5061/DRYAD.4Q5K6
Villamil, Catalina Isabel
New York University
Data from: Phenotypic integration of the cervical vertebrae in the
Hominoidea (Primates)
Dryad
dataset
2018
Covariation
Modularity
Primates
Hylobates lar
Cervical vertebrae
phenotypic integration
Primates
Homo Sapiens
Pan troglodytes
2018-01-16T20:40:20Z
2018-01-16T20:40:20Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13433
199583 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Phenotypic integration and modularity represent important factors
influencing evolutionary change. The mammalian cervical vertebral column
is particularly interesting in regards to integration and modularity
because it is highly constrained to seven elements, despite widely
variable morphology. Previous research has found a common pattern of
integration among quadrupedal mammals, but integration patterns also
evolve in response to locomotor selective pressures like those associated
with hominin bipedalism. Here, I test patterns of covariation in the
cervical vertebrae of three hominoid primates (Hylobates, Pan, Homo) who
engage in upright postures and locomotion. Patterns of integration in the
hominoid cervical vertebrae correspond generally to those previously found
in other mammals, suggesting that integration in this region is highly
conserved, even among taxa that engage in novel positional behaviors.
These integration patterns reflect underlying developmental as well as
functional modules. The strong integration between vertebrae suggests that
the functional morphology of the cervical vertebral column should be
considered as a whole, rather than in individual vertebrae. Taxa that
display highly derived morphologies in the cervical vertebrae are likely
exploiting these integration patterns, rather than reorganizing them.
Future work on vertebrates without cervical vertebral number constraints
will further clarify the evolution of integration in this region.
Homo sapiens morphological dataCranial base and cervical vertebral data
collected from museum and medical school specimens, either extracted from
3D coordinate data or with calipers.hom_cb_cv.csvHylobates lar
morphological dataCranial base and cervical vertebral data collected from
museum specimens, either extracted from 3D coordinate data or with
calipers.hyl_cb_cv.csvPan troglodytes morphological dataCranial base and
cervical vertebral data collected from museum specimens, either extracted
from 3D coordinate data or with calipers.pan_cb_cv.csv