A multiple peak adaptive landscape based on feeding strategies and roosting ecology shaped the evolution of cranial covariance structure and morphological differentiation in phyllostomid bats

• DOI: 10.1111/evo.13715
• Publication Date: 2019-03-12T12:43:56Z
• Authors: Daniela M. Rossoni; Bárbara M. A. Costa; Norberto P. Giannini; Gabriel Marroig
• Keywords: Adaptive Evolution

We explored the evolution of morphological integration in most noteworthy example adaptive radiation mammals, New World leaf-nosed bats, using a massive dataset and by combining phylogenetic comparative methods quantitative genetic approaches. demonstrated that phenotypic covariance structure remained conserved on broader scale but also showed substantial divergence between interclade comparisons. Most space can be explained splits at beginning diversification major clades. Our results provide evidence for multiple peak landscape cranial differentiation, based upon diet roosting ecology. In this scenario, successful phyllostomid bats was triggered dietary strategies, invasion these new zones lead to changes average morphology. suggest intense natural selection preceded played fundamental role shaping differentiation hyperdiverse clade mammals. Finally, our study demonstrates power approaches when investigating complex morphologies.