Different solutions lead to similar life history traits across the great divides of the amniote tree of life

Meiri, Shai; Murali, Gopal; Zimin, Anna; Shak, Lior; Itescu, Yuval; Caetano, Gabriel Henrique de Oliveira

doi:10.1186/s40709-021-00134-9

Cited by 13 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 174 publications

(253 reference statements)

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“…Body size is known to evolve under different selective pressures from life history (e.g. temperature; Tinkle et al 1970), but through allometric constraints selection pressures on body size can indirectly influence traits that are related to the fast/slow life history spectrum (Bauwens and Díaz‐Uriarte 1997, Bakewell et al 2020, Meiri et al 2021). We therefore placed species on a body size‐independent fast/slow life history continuum using phylogenetic factor analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chameleon biogeographic dispersal is associated with extreme life history strategies

et al. 2022

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Understanding the role of traits in dispersal is necessary to improve our knowledge of historical biogeography, community assembly processes and predictions of species' future movements. Here we aimed to determine the relationship between three traits (coastal distribution, body size, position on the fast/slow life history continuum) and past dispersal probability on an evolutionary timescale in chameleons (Chamaeleonidae). Using species' distribution data we identified the nine most important biogeographic regions for all included chameleons (181/217 species). We compiled life history trait data and used phylogenetic factor analysis to infer independent body size and fast/slow life history trait axes. Finally, we tested whether traits and trait combinations related to biogeographic dispersal success in the past, using trait‐dependent biogeographic models. All three traits were associated with past biogeographical movements. Lineages having coastal distributions and those with large bodies had higher dispersal probabilities. Interestingly, chameleons with either a very fast or very slow life history were more successful dispersers than species with an intermediate strategy. Together, the three traits – coastal, large‐bodied and extreme life history – form a dispersal syndrome. Traits have played an important role in the biogeographic history of chameleons. While only fast traits have been linked to present‐day invasion success in reptiles, both extremes of the life history spectrum were likely advantageous for dispersal and establishment during past biogeographic movements. Fast‐living species may be less susceptible to stochastic extinction in the first phases of a colonization (due to rapid population growth), and slow‐living species may be less vulnerable to environmental stochasticity (due to low demographic variability). Our results call for broader analyses testing the general influence of life history strategy in biogeographic dispersal success, which would help explain species distribution patterns on Earth.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chameleon biogeographic dispersal is associated with extreme life history strategies

et al. 2022

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“…They are the major groups of freshwater, land, air, and marine life, and they are the only two major groups that have adapted to dry environments. The other major group is the amniotes, whose live members are reptiles, birds, and warm-blooded animals [ 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the Soil Arthropod Diversity in Urban Forest in Dera Ghazi Khan

Mohsin

Ahmad²,

Nasir

et al. 2022

BioMed Research International

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Arthropods can be either large or too small to be seen from the microscope. Their legs are jointed and perform a specific function in the soil. Several arthropods have been identified to date. Therefore, it is essential to identify them in a different type of soil. An experiment to quantify the soil arthropods in the urban forests of D.G. Khan was conducted at the Zoology lab of Ghazi University on four tree plants, i.e., neem (Azadirachta indica), mango (Mangifera indica), guava (Psidium guajava), and phalsa (Grewia asiatica). Soil samples were taken from different areas and on different months. The diversity of arthropods was analyzed through the Shannon index. The results were all significant. The total number of arthropods found in the experiment was 5151, with the following distributions: millipedes were 132 in neem, 133 in guava, 113 in mango, and 121 in phalsa; centipedes were 136 in neem, 142 in guava, 118 in mango, and 132 in phalsa; springtails were 138 in neem, 130 in guava, 120 in mango, and 134 in phalsa. There were a total of 12 different species of arthropods found. Neem (Azadirachta indica) have mites, centipede, and ants; guava (Psidium guajava) have centipedes and ants. Mango (Mangifera indica) have millipedes, centipedes, mites, springtail, and ants, and phalsa (Grewia asiatica) have mites, ants, and centipedes. The study reveals that millipedes, centipedes, springtails, and ants were found abundantly in the urban forest area of D.G. Khan, resulting in increased organic matter decomposition and appropriate distribution of nutrients through the soil having beneficial effects on the terrestrial ecosystem.

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“…Using the data in TetraDENSITY (Santini et al 2018), across 11,085 populations with reported sampling area, I obtained a log-log relationship with sampling area explaining 68% of the variation in density. Across 19,494 amniote populations a model with log-mass (from Meiri et al, 2021, slope = -0.56, not -0.75) explained only 43% of the variation in log-density.…”

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confidence: 96%

Population sizes of T. rex cannot be precisely estimated

Meiri¹

2022

Frontiers of Biogeography

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Marshall et al. recently estimated population densities, range sizes, instant and cumulative total population sizes for Tyrannosaurus rex with narrow ranges of uncertainly. I revisit the assumptions that led them to these conclusions and show that many of these parameters are associated with much wider margins of error than they estimated. Biogeographic estimates seem to have been especially unrealistic, seriously hampering the effort to calculate population level parameters. I posit that biogeographic and ecological uncertainties make it extremely unlikely to be able to estimate population sizes of long-extinct species. 2 Main Text"We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty" / Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."The earth itself is generally supposed to be about four and a half thousand million years old. These dates are incorrect. Medieval Jewish scholars put the date of the Creation at 3760 B.C. Greek Orthodox theologians put Creation as far back as 5508 B.C. These suggestions are also incorrect. Archbishop James Usher… suggested that the Heaven and the Earth were created in 4004 B.C. One of his aides took the calculation further, and was able to announce triumphantly

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Different solutions lead to similar life history traits across the great divides of the amniote tree of life

Cited by 13 publications

References 174 publications

Chameleon biogeographic dispersal is associated with extreme life history strategies

Chameleon biogeographic dispersal is associated with extreme life history strategies

Quantifying the Soil Arthropod Diversity in Urban Forest in Dera Ghazi Khan

Population sizes of T. rex cannot be precisely estimated

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