Environmental and Ecological Features of the Genus Ctenomys

Galiano, Daniel; Kubiak, Bruno Busnello

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-61679-3_9

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 78 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our results show that C. lami specimens of the major group AB have a deeper and stronger rostrum and a larger zygomatic arch than CD karyotypic blocks (Figure 6B), this difference could be adaptative because AB karyotypic blocks with more robust cranium live in a region far away from the coast in relation to CD karyotypic blocks that are closer to sandy soils. A similar pattern is found in related species Ctenomys minutus (Kubiak et al, 2018;Galiano and Kubiak, 2021). However, this pattern is not confirmed when comparing only the C block with the D block.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Cranial morphological variation of Ctenomys lami (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in a restricted geographical distribution

Fornel,

Maestri,

Cordeiro-Estrela

et al. 2023

Genet. Mol. Biol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The relationship between chromosomal and morphological variation in mammals is poorly understood. We analyzed the cranial size and shape variation in Ctenomys lami concerning to the geographic variation in their chromosome numbers. This subterranean rodent occurs in a narrow range of sand-dunes in the Coastal Plain of southern Brazil. This species presents a high karyotypic variation with diploid numbers varying from 2n = 54 to 2n = 58, involving the fission and fusion of chromosome pairs 1 and 2. Due to different chromosome rearrangement frequencies along their geographic distribution, four karyotypic blocks were proposed. This study, explored cranium shape and size variation in geographical, chromosomal polymorphism, and chromosome rearrangements contexts to test whether the four karyotypic blocks reflect morphologically distinct units. For this, we measured 89 craniums using geometric morphometrics and used uni and multivariate statistics to discriminate the predicted groups and test for an association among chromosomal and morphological variation. Our results show the size and shape of sexual dimorphism, with males larger than females, and support the existence of four karyotypic blocks for Ctenomys lami based on morphological variation. However, our results do not support a direct relationship between chromosomal and cranial morphological variation in C. lami.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Cranial morphological variation of Ctenomys lami (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in a restricted geographical distribution

Fornel,

Maestri,

Cordeiro-Estrela

et al. 2023

Genet. Mol. Biol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Given the high dependence of tuco-tucos on the availability of soils with high sand content (e.g. Austrich et al 2021; Galiano and Kubiak 2021) and therefore the distribution of C. flamarioni being limited to dune ridges of the Coastal Plain of Southern Brazil, the geomorphological evolution of the coastal plain may have played a central role in genetic patterns observed. During the Late Quaternary, 4 different events involving sedimentary processes were associated with transgressive–regressive fluctuations of sea level and contributed to shaping the current landscape of the Coastal Plain (Tomazelli and Villwock 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our results revealed a general pattern of low genetic diversity for the current phylogenetic lineages of C. flamarioni, with slightly higher levels in Central-North populations and a strong decrease in genetic variability observed for populations in the South. Given the high dependence of tuco-tucos on the availability of soils with high sand content (e.g Austrich et al 2021;Galiano and Kubiak 2021). and therefore the distribution of C. flamarioni being limited to dune ridges of the Coastal Plain of Southern Brazil, the geomorphological evolution of the coastal plain may have played a central role in genetic patterns observed.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic footprints of Quaternary climatic fluctuations on the endangered Tuco-tuco-das-dunas (Ctenomys flamarioni)

Gasparetto,

Fernández,

Carnovale

et al. 2023

Journal of Mammalogy

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The biogeographic history of a species results from responses to past and current processes, and understanding those responses at both temporal scales is essential. We explored phylogeographic and current genetic variation structure in Ctenomys flamarioni—a subterranean rodent that inhabits a small region of the coastal plain of Brazil—and contrasted the roles of “present-day niche suitability” versus “historical climate stability” to understand current and past intraspecific genetic diversity. We used both mitochondrial DNA sequences (concatenated Cytb and D-loop, n = 78) and nuclear DNA (9 microsatellites loci, n = 154) molecular markers for individuals across the entire distribution of the species. We used phylogeographic trees, Bayesian clustering, and haplotype networks to explore genetic variation and diversity. We correlated genetic diversity with measures of current niche suitability and potential areas of Late Quaternary paleostability. Phylogeographic patterns confirmed low levels of genetic diversity structured at different hierarchical levels. We also found a weak but significant pattern of isolation by distance, indicating that geographical distance partially modulates genetic differences among populations. We also observed a positive correlation between genetic diversity and climate paleostability for microsatellites at local and regional scales. However, we found no significant association between genetic diversity and niche suitability for microsatellites at local or regional scales. We observed several signatures of bottleneck and population expansion at different geographic scales. Our results suggest that Quaternary climatic fluctuations—acting together with habitat suitability and other contemporary factors—played a fundamental role in elucidating the evolutionary history of the species—including patterns of historical dispersal, and current patterns of habitat occupation and genetic structure. In addition, based on our molecular and environmental data sets from the across the range of the species and considering the restricted endemism of C. flamarioni, we emphasize the urgency of conservation actions to protect this endangered species.

show abstract

“…In employing this analysis, our goal was not to characterize the soil properties preferred by Wyoming pocket gophers, but rather to test the null hypothesis that associations between Wyoming pocket gophers and Gardner's Saltbush were not merely due to overlapping soil requirements. Consequently, we did not attempt to quantify an exhaustive suite of soil properties determinative of the distributions of other fossorial rodents (e.g., Luna and Antinuchi 2006; Lövy et al 2015; Galiano and Kubiak 2021), but instead focused on predictors known to constrain the distribution of Gardner's Saltbush and other members of the genus Atriplex (Stubbendieck et al 1981; Ansley and Abernethy 1984). Additionally, we included distance to natural gas infrastructure because of its hypothesized effects on soil compaction, which could influence gopher presence.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet selection, commonness, and rarity in a pair of smooth-toothed pocket gophers

Brito

Bjornlie

Carling

et al. 2023

Journal of Mammalogy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding the determinants of species rarity is a perennial challenge for ecologists and conservation biologists. In addition to resource specialization, competitive interactions may limit the abundance and distribution of species, thereby accentuating rarity. However, resource partitioning can reduce or altogether offset such competitive effects, and thus permit species to thrive alongside more common, widespread competitors within a narrow range of environmental conditions. In south-central Wyoming, the Wyoming Pocket Gopher (Thomomys clusius) is restricted to areas dominated by Gardner’s Saltbush (Atriplex gardneri); it inhabits a geographic range that is entirely encompassed by a relatively abundant and widespread congener (T. talpoides, the Northern Pocket Gopher). However, the consumer–resource dynamics underlying the relationships among Wyoming pocket gophers, northern pocket gophers, and Gardner’s Saltbush are poorly understood. We assessed one dimension of consumer–resource interactions—diet selection—between Wyoming pocket gophers, northern pocket gophers, and Gardner’s Saltbush, using a combination of path analysis, DNA metabarcoding, and cafeteria-style feeding experiments. We rejected the null hypothesis that Wyoming pocket gophers and Gardner’s Saltbush co-occur solely because they require similar soil conditions. Although we could not distinguish between obligate and facultative specialization by Wyoming pocket gophers, the checkerboard-like distributions of these two Thomomys likely reflect the outcome of selection and avoidance of Gardner’s Saltbush. We suggest that Wyoming pocket gophers can persist within their small geographic range by capitalizing on Gardner’s Saltbush, a halophyte that probably requires some combination of physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations to exploit. Low abundances, restricted geographic ranges, or both are hallmarks of rarity, each of which are shaped by diet selection and other consumer–resource interactions. Quantifying consumer–resource interactions can therefore provide a mechanistic basis for the further refinement and testing of hypotheses on the abundance and distribution of closely related species.

show abstract

Environmental and Ecological Features of the Genus Ctenomys

Cited by 5 publications

References 78 publications

Cranial morphological variation of Ctenomys lami (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in a restricted geographical distribution

Cranial morphological variation of Ctenomys lami (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in a restricted geographical distribution

Genetic footprints of Quaternary climatic fluctuations on the endangered Tuco-tuco-das-dunas (Ctenomys flamarioni)

Diet selection, commonness, and rarity in a pair of smooth-toothed pocket gophers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About