Correlated evolution of sternal keel length and ilium length in birds

• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3622
• Publication Date: 2017-07-26T12:49:15Z
• Authors: Tao Zhao; Di Liu; Zhiheng Li
• Keywords: Keel; Pectoral girdle; Sternum

The interplay between the pectoral module (the girdle and limbs) pelvic plays a key role in shaping avian evolution, but prior empirical studies on trait covariation two modules are limited. Here we empirically test whether (size-corrected) sternal keel length ilium correlated during evolution using phylogenetic comparative methods. Our analyses extant birds Mesozoic both recover significantly positive correlation. results provide new evidence regarding integration modules. of may serve as mechanism to cope with effect performance caused by tradeoff muscle mass modules, via changing moment arms muscles that function flight terrestrial locomotion.