scholarly journals The Evolution of Primate Body Size: Left-skewness, Maximum Size, and Cope’s Rule

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard C. Tillquist ◽  
Lauren G. Shoemaker ◽  
Kevin Bracy Knight ◽  
Aaron Clauset
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
The Body ◽  
Skewed Distribution ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Evolutionary Characteristic ◽  
Initial Tendency ◽  
Cope’S Rule

Body size is a key physiological, ecological, and evolutionary characteristic of species. Within most major clades, body size distributions follow a right-skewed pattern where most species are relatively small while a few are orders of magnitude larger than the median size. Using a novel database of 742 extant and extinct primate species’ sizes over the past 66 million years, we find that primates exhibit the opposite pattern: a left-skewed distribution. We investigate the long-term evolution of this distribution, first showing that the initial size radiation is consistent with plesiadapiformes (an extinct group with an uncertain ancestral relationship to primates) being ancestral to modern primates. We calculate the strength of Cope’s Rule, showing an initial tendency for descendants to increase in size relative to ancestors until the trend reverses 40 million years ago. We explore when the primate size distribution becomes left-skewed and study correlations between body size patterns and climactic trends, showing that across Old and New World radiations the body size distribution initially exhibits a right-skewed pattern. Left-skewness emerged early in Old World primates in a manner consistent with a previously unidentified possible maximum body size, which may be mechanistically related to primates’ encephalization and complex social groups.

Habitat type as strongest predictor of the body size distribution ofChydorus sphaericus(O. F. Müller) in small water bodies

2014 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 382-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Basińska ◽  
Marcin Antczak ◽  
Kasper Świdnicki ◽  
Vincent E. J. Jassey ◽  
Natalia Kuczyńska-Kippen
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
The Body ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Small Water ◽  
Small Water Bodies

scholarly journals Body Size Distribution and Ovarian Histology of Pisodonophis boro (Hamilton, 1822) (Anguillifomes: Ophichthidae) from Pranburi River Estuary, Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Phakorn Na Lampang ◽  
◽  
Amphornphan Palasai ◽  
Sinlapachai Senarat ◽  
Wannee Jiraungkoorskul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Reproductive Mode ◽  
Sex Reversal ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
The Body ◽  
Spatial Displacement ◽  
Macroscopic Observation ◽  
Commercially Important

Reproductive characteristics on the snake eel Pisodonophis boro, a commercially important and high-value food source species in Thailand, have never been reported. We determined the body size distribution and gonadal structure of P. boro during the reproductive cycle. Healthy specimens were collected by local Pranburi River stuarine fishermen during March 2015 to March 2016. The total length of P. boro ranged from 24 cm to 97 cm with mean value of 66.28 ± 2.59 cm (N = 105, mean ± SD). Subsequent macroscopic observation demonstrated that the gonad of P. boro is a paired and elongated organ located parallel to the digestive tract. Surprisingly, the 105 specimens were all female, suggesting the protogynous sex reversal or spatial displacement of sexes in this species. Furthermore, only early and late perinucleolar stage oocytes were histologically identified throughout this study (synchronous developing type), which is often observed in semelparous fish species. These unique reproductive features of this eel in Thailand warrants further investigations on the male-female distribution and precise reproductive mode.

Levantine overkill: 1.5 million years of hunting down the body size distribution

2022 ◽  
Vol 276 ◽  
pp. 107316
Author(s):  
Jacob Dembitzer ◽  
Ran Barkai ◽  
Miki Ben-Dor ◽  
Shai Meiri
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
The Body

scholarly journals The body size distribution of Filinia longiseta (Ehrenberg) in different types of small water bodies in the Wielkoposka region

Limnetica ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-181
Author(s):  
Anna Basińska ◽  
Natalia Kuczyńska-Kippen ◽  
Kasper Świdnicki
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
The Body ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Small Water ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Small Water Bodies

Life history and reproductive biology of the invasive amphipod Melita palmata (Amphipoda: Melitidae) in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Argentina

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 1381-1387 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Obenat ◽  
E. Spivak ◽  
L. Garrido
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Coastal Lagoon ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
The Body ◽  
Invasive Amphipod

The life history and reproductive biology of the gammaridean amphipod Melita palmata was studied in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Argentina). The animals were collected fortnightly or monthly from Ficopomatus enigmaticus reefs from December 2000 to March 2002. The population density reached a maximum of 1556.67±1560 ind/m3 (mean±SD) in March 2001, decreased dramatically after intense rainfalls in winter 2001, and had a minimum value of 141.67±27.54 ind/m3 (mean±SD) in March 2002. Size differed significantly between sexes. The maximum size of males was 11.5 mm and this was 1.4 times longer than the length of females. The average sex ratio (0.44) did not differ significantly from an expected 1:1 value. Ovigerous females were present from December to March, when the temperature was above 18°C. The body size of ovigerous females ranged from 2.9 to 6.81 mm. There was a positive correlation between the brood size and body length of ovigerous females, and the maximum number of eggs per female was ten. Recruitment took place during the whole breeding season; juveniles recruited at the beginning of the season matured at the end of the same season, those recruited late would probably reach maturity in the following season.

Morphometric analysis of Crocodylus porosus from the north coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia

1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
. Webb.G.J.W ◽  
H Messel
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Specific Problem ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
The Body ◽  
Tissue Loss ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
The North ◽  
Crocodylus Porosus ◽  
Mandibular Teeth

Utilizing measurements from 1354 C. porosus, we have derived formulae for predicting snout-vent length from 17 other attributes. The specific problem of predicting body size from an isolated head or skull is treated separately and some data are presented on proportional tissue loss in skull preparation. Sexual dimorphism was examined, and is demonstrated in interocular width, the width at the midpoint of the cranial platform, and the length of the tail. Discriminant analysis has been used to distinguish males from females on the basis of external measurements of both the whole animal and the isolated head. Hatchling C. porosus from Arnhem Bay and the Blyth River have longer heads than those from the Liverpool River. C. porosus from Sarawak have longer tails and are heavier than those from northern Australia. Predicting the maximum size of C. porosus from large skulls in museums is difficult because of variations in basic skull shape. The body size at which mandibular teeth protrude through the premaxilla is quantified.

scholarly journals Distribution and Size of Crab (Portunus pelagicus) in Betahwalang Waters, Demak, Central JavaSex Ratio, Size Distribution and Length-Weight Relationship of Portunus pelagicus Linnaeus, 1758 (Malacostraca : Portunidae) in Betahwalang, Demak, Central Java

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-140
Author(s):  
Sri Redjeki ◽  
Muhammad Zainuri ◽  
Ita Widowati ◽  
Ambariyanto Ambariyanto ◽  
Rudhi Pribadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Carapace Width ◽  
The Body ◽  
Swimming Crab ◽  
Portunus Pelagicus ◽  
Male And Female

Blue Swimming Crab (P. pelagicus, Linnaeus, 1758) is the main fisheries product from Betahwalang peoples. Fishing activity of Blue Swimming Crab by the fisherman almost every day in Betahwalang waters. Distribution and body size data of Blue Swimming Crab can be used for sustain management reference. The purpose of this study was to determine distribution pattern and body size of Blue Swimming Crab, started from July to November 2018 in Betahwalang waters, Demak. The data analyze consist of sex ratio, carapace width distribution and relationship between carapace width and body weight. 11790 samples Blue Swimming crab from Betahwalang waters consist of 7070 female crabs and 4720 male crabs. The result showed that sex-ratio between male and female crabs are balanced (1.0:1.37), with the most female crabs found at July and August. Body size distribution of male and female crabs are dominated in class 103-111 mm carapace width. Male and female crabs have a positive allometric on growth parameters, that means growth of the body weight is faster than carapace width. The result showed that Blue Swimming Crab in Betahwalang waters are support for sustainable fisheries. 

scholarly journals Energetic tradeoffs control the size distribution of aquatic mammals

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (16) ◽  
pp. 4194-4199 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Gearty ◽  
Craig R. McClain ◽  
Jonathan L. Payne
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
The Body ◽  
Minimum Size ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Optimum Size ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Aquatic Mammal ◽  
Feeding Efficiency ◽  
Aquatic Mammals

Four extant lineages of mammals have invaded and diversified in the water: Sirenia, Cetacea, Pinnipedia, and Lutrinae. Most of these aquatic clades are larger bodied, on average, than their closest land-dwelling relatives, but the extent to which potential ecological, biomechanical, and physiological controls contributed to this pattern remains untested quantitatively. Here, we use previously published data on the body masses of 3,859 living and 2,999 fossil mammal species to examine the evolutionary trajectories of body size in aquatic mammals through both comparative phylogenetic analysis and examination of the fossil record. Both methods indicate that the evolution of an aquatic lifestyle is driving three of the four extant aquatic mammal clades toward a size attractor at ∼500 kg. The existence of this body size attractor and the relatively rapid selection toward, and limited deviation from, this attractor rule out most hypothesized drivers of size increase. These three independent body size increases and a shared aquatic optimum size are consistent with control by differences in the scaling of energetic intake and cost functions with body size between the terrestrial and aquatic realms. Under this energetic model, thermoregulatory costs constrain minimum size, whereas limitations on feeding efficiency constrain maximum size. The optimum size occurs at an intermediate value where thermoregulatory costs are low but feeding efficiency remains high. Rather than being released from size pressures, water-dwelling mammals are driven and confined to larger body sizes by the strict energetic demands of the aquatic medium.

scholarly journals Associations of Nativity, Age at Migration, and Percent of Life in the U.S. with Midlife Body Mass Index and Waist Size in New York City Latinas

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2436
Author(s):  
Carmen B. Rodriguez ◽  
Ying Wei ◽  
Mary Beth Terry ◽  
Katarzyna Wyka ◽  
Shweta Athilat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
New York ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Quantile Regression ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Central Obesity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Waist Size ◽  
The U.S

Migration to the U.S. has been associated with increased body size and obesity risk in Latinas, but results for Caribbean immigrant women are limited and inconclusive. Emerging evidence also suggests that early-life environment associations with women’s midlife body mass index (BMI) may be different for larger and smaller women, but this has not been tested within migration life-course history. We examined the associations of nativity and migration timing with midlife body size in a sample of majority Caribbean Latinas and whether these associations varied across the body size distribution. We used interview data from 787 self-identified Latinas (ages 40–65 years) and assessed overall obesity using BMI (kg/m2) and central obesity based on waist circumference (WC, cm). We used linear and quantile regression to examine the association of migration history with BMI and WC and logistic regression for the probability of obesity. Foreign birthplace, later migration age, and lower percent of life in the U.S. were associated with lower BMI and WC means and lower odds of overall and central obesity. Quantile regression showed only inverse associations in the upper quantiles of BMI and WC. For example, relative to U.S.-born women, women living <50% of their lives in the U.S. had lower BMI in the 75th BMI percentile (β = −4.10, 95% CI: −6.75, −0.81), with minimal differences in the 25th (β = 0.04, 95% CI: −1.01, 0.96) and 50th BMI percentiles (β = −1.54, 95% CI: −2.90, 0.30). Our results support that migration to and increasing time in the U.S. are associated with greater body size in midlife Latina women, with stronger influences at higher body size distribution.

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