A multivariate ecogeographic analysis of macaque craniodental variation

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 contrastin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of physical anthropology 2018-06, Vol.166 (2), p.386-400
Main Authors: Grunstra, Nicole D. S., Mitteroecker, Philipp, Foley, Robert A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Asia, Southeastern
Body size
Climate
Diet
Diversification
Ecology
Ecosystem
environmental gradient
Environments
Evolution
Female
Geography
Macaca - anatomy & histology
Macaca - physiology
Male
Morphology
Multivariate Analysis
Phylogenetics
Phylogeny
Productivity
Rain
Rainfall
Skull
Skull - anatomy & histology
spatial analysis
temperature
Tooth - anatomy & histology
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0002-9483
1096-8644
DOI:10.1002/ajpa.23439