Class
Article
College
College of Science
Department
Biology Department
Faculty Mentor
Molly Womack
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Anuran species occupy a wide variety of microhabitats, including arboreal, semiarboreal, burrowing, aquatic, semi-aquatic, torrent, and terrestrial habitats. Previous research found relationships between pelvic and limb morphology and microhabitat in anurans, providing insight into how the anuran skeleton may have evolved in response to selection pressures associated with microhabitat. In this study, we analyze the relationship between anuran digit length and microhabitat to determine if and how digit length varies by microhabitat. We measured individual digit segments in over 250 species using microcomputed topography scanning and Meshlab. We used phylogenetic generalized least squares to test the relationship between digit segment lengths and microhabitat, while accounting for a species body size and phylogenetic relationships among species. We found unique fore- and hind-limb differences in digit lengths associated with microhabitats. These findings suggest differing digit lengths between anuran species may be adaptations to varying locomotor demands among microhabitats (e.g. swimming versus climbing) and will guide future studies on the functional benefits of differing digit lengths.Presentation Time: Wednesday, 3-4 p.m.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-11-2021 12:00 AM
Included in
Variation in Anuran Digit Lengths Between Microhabitats
Logan, UT
Anuran species occupy a wide variety of microhabitats, including arboreal, semiarboreal, burrowing, aquatic, semi-aquatic, torrent, and terrestrial habitats. Previous research found relationships between pelvic and limb morphology and microhabitat in anurans, providing insight into how the anuran skeleton may have evolved in response to selection pressures associated with microhabitat. In this study, we analyze the relationship between anuran digit length and microhabitat to determine if and how digit length varies by microhabitat. We measured individual digit segments in over 250 species using microcomputed topography scanning and Meshlab. We used phylogenetic generalized least squares to test the relationship between digit segment lengths and microhabitat, while accounting for a species body size and phylogenetic relationships among species. We found unique fore- and hind-limb differences in digit lengths associated with microhabitats. These findings suggest differing digit lengths between anuran species may be adaptations to varying locomotor demands among microhabitats (e.g. swimming versus climbing) and will guide future studies on the functional benefits of differing digit lengths.Presentation Time: Wednesday, 3-4 p.m.