Dataset Information

Convergent evolution of bird-mammal shared characteristics for adapting to nocturnality.

ABSTRACT: The diapsid lineage (birds) and synapsid lineage (mammals), share a suite of functionally similar characteristics (e.g. endothermy) that are considered to be a result of their convergent evolution, but the candidate selections leading to this convergent evolution are still under debate. Here, we used a newly developed molecular phyloecological approach to reconstruct the diel activity pattern of the common ancestors of living birds. Our results strongly suggest that they had adaptations to nocturnality during their early evolution, which is remarkably similar to that of ancestral mammals. Given their similar adaptation to nocturnality, we propose that the shared traits in birds and mammals may have partly evolved as a result of the convergent evolution of their early ancestors adapting to ecological factors (e.g. low ambient temperature) associated with nocturnality. Finally, a conceptually unifying ecological model on the evolution of endothermy in diverse organisms with an emphasis on low ambient temperature is proposed. We reason that endothermy may evolve as an adaptive strategy to enable organisms to effectively implement various life-cycle activities under relatively low-temperature environments. In particular, a habitat shift from high-temperature to relatively low-temperature environments is identified as a common factor underlying the evolution of endothermy.

SUBMITTER: Wu Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6408890 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Convergent evolution of bird-mammal shared characteristics for adapting to nocturnality.

Wu Yonghua Y Wang Haifeng H

Proceedings. Biological sciences 20190201 1897

The diapsid lineage (birds) and synapsid lineage (mammals), share a suite of functionally similar characteristics (e.g. endothermy) that are considered to be a result of their convergent evolution, but the candidate selections leading to this convergent evolution are still under debate. Here, we used a newly developed molecular phyloecological approach to reconstruct the diel activity pattern of the common ancestors of living birds. Our results strongly suggest that they had adaptations to noctu ...[more]

PMID: 30963837

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Project description:Over the past half-century, large mammal populations have declined substantially throughout East Africa, mainly due to habitat loss and unsustainable direct exploitation. While it has been acknowledged that the loss of large mammals can have direct and cascading effects on community composition and ecosystem characteristics, limited quantitative work has been done on how declines of large herbivore populations impacts the abundance of mutualistic symbionts. Using a space-for-time observational approach, we quantified the large mammal community alongside the densities, host preferences and behaviors of mutualistic red-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus), and yellow-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus africanus) in northern Tanzania. At the landscape scale, mammal community composition was substantially less diverse in highly human-dominated areas when compared with more protected areas, with an observed complete loss of large wild mammal species in two study areas. Mirroring this trend, oxpecker densities were lowest in the least protected areas, and highest in fully protected areas. Using resource selection functions implemented via generalized linear models at different scales, we found that oxpeckers (1) were predominantly (67% of red-billed oxpeckers; 70% of yellow-billed oxpeckers) feeding on larger (between 500kg and 1500kg) ungulate host species within the mammal community, (2) usually preferred feeding on larger individuals (adults and males) within a specific host species population, and (3) preferred hosts that were more tolerant of their presence. In particular, cattle were especially intolerant of oxpecker presence and were relatively effective in displacing oxpeckers. We found little evidence that oxpecker feeding was parasitic across all host species; wound feeding was only observed on giraffe, comprising 6% and 4% of feeding behavior in red-billed and yellow-billed oxpeckers respectively. Thus, a loss of large-bodied and oxpecker tolerant host species is a likely explanation for declines of oxpecker populations in human dominated landscapes, which may have further cascading effects.

Dataset Information

Convergent evolution of bird-mammal shared characteristics for adapting to nocturnality.

Publications

Convergent evolution of bird-mammal shared characteristics for adapting to nocturnality.

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