External morphology explains the success of biological invasions

Azzurro, Ernesto; Tuset, Víctor M.; Lombarte, Antoni; Maynou, Francesc; Simberloff, Daniel; Rodríguez-Pérez, Ana; Solé, Ricard V.

doi:10.1111/ele.12351

Cited by 106 publications

(125 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Third, the ecomorphological paradigm assumes that clusters of specimens or species within morphological spaces represent functional groups (Thuiller et al 2010;Azzurro et al 2014). Although some aspects of fish morphology provide reasonable surrogates for components of ecological performance, and Toussaint et al's (2016) finding for highest FD in the tropics is consistent with prior research (e.g.…”

supporting

confidence: 75%

We need better understanding about functional diversity and vulnerability of tropical freshwater fishes

et al. 2016

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Here we extend a discussion initiated by Toussaint et al. (Sci Rep 6:22125, 2016) concerning the relationship between global patterns of freshwater fish functional diversity (FD) and its vulnerability to human impacts. Based on a set of morphological traits, they concluded that Neotropical freshwater fishes have highest FD, but low vulnerability given high levels of functional redundancy. This conclusion implies that conservation efforts for freshwater fishes should emphasize temperate regions. This

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confidence: 75%

We need better understanding about functional diversity and vulnerability of tropical freshwater fishes

et al. 2016

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“…Overall, the morphological positions of vagrant species were strongly skewed to the upper and lower left-hand corners of the convex hull. Azzuro et al [13] also found that species belonging to the family Chaetodontidae had a high invasion probability in the Mediterranean, but argued that habitat constraints (obligate association with coral of the species concerned) not accounted for in the methodology meant that they would remain rare. The butterflyfishes identified by our study as having strong range-shift potential actually show versatility in their habitat associations, even within reef environments.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A database of 110 species of bony fishes was compiled (electronic supplementary material, table S1) and an image of each species (left-hand side of adult individual) was sourced from online resources. Species' morphology was then characterized using 27 anatomical landmarks with ecological significance (following [13,16,17]; electronic supplementary material, table S1). Landmarking of images was done using tpsDig v. 1.40 [18], and scaled via a generalized least-squares procedure (generalized Procrustes) to eliminate the effect of isometric body-size variation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the position of the tropical species within the convex hull of the resident community (table 1), their distance from neighbouring species and Voronoi polygon area, the potential to establish successful populations in the future was classified (table 2). Since the receiving community could be precisely defined, and was based on a single specific habitat type, the position of vagrant species was considered in relation to the whole native fish community, rather than just in relation to pre-assigned guild members (see approach in Azzurrro et al [13]). This meant that consideration of vagrants' potential to establish a niche was not a priori constrained alongside species with an assumed similar functional role.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Predicting range-shift success potential for tropical marine fishes using external morphology

et al. 2016

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With global change accelerating the rate of species' range shifts, predicting which are most likely to establish viable populations in their new habitats is key to understanding how biological systems will respond. Annually, in Australia, tropical fish larvae from the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are transported south via the East Australian Current (EAC), settling into temperate coastal habitats for the summer period, before experiencing near-100% mortality in winter. However, within 10 years, predicted winter ocean temperatures for the southeast coast of Australia will remain high enough for more of these so-called 'tropical vagrants' to survive over winter. We used a method of morphological niche analysis, previously shown to be an effective predictor of invasion success by fishes, to project which vagrants have the greatest likelihood of undergoing successful range shifts under these new climatic conditions. We find that species from the family of butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae), and the moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus, are most likely to be able to exploit new niches within the ecosystem once physiological barriers to overwintering by tropical vagrant species are removed. Overall, the position of vagrants within the morphospace was strongly skewed, suggesting that impending competitive pressures may impact disproportionately on particular parts of the native community.

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“…1B, morphospace 2) (Young et al 2009, Friedman 2010; and third, a partial combination of the first two methods, including the shape, size and position of all fins and sensorial organs (Fig. 1C, morphospace 3) (Recasens et al 2006, Farré et al 2013, Azzurro et al 2014. We digitized the landmarks and semilandmarks in one standardized image of the left profile of species previously obtained as a consensus figure from different specimens using tpsDig v. 2.16 software (Rohlf 2003a) for geometric morphometric analysis.…”

Section: Building Morphospacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection of landmarks and semilandmarks in fishes for geometric morphometric analyses: a comparative study based on analytical methods

Farré¹,

Tuset²,

Maynou³

et al. 2016

Sci. Mar.

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Summary: We applied and compared three different sets of landmarks and semilandmarks commonly used in studies of fish assemblages to identify a standardized method of landmark selection that includes the maximum amount of morphological information of species. The different landmark-based methods used produced differences regarding the distribution of casestudy species within the morphospace. We suggest that adding landmarks and semilandmarks that provide more specific information about anatomical structures with important roles in the biology of species, such as transformed fins or sensory organs, contributes to a clearer differentiation of species within the morphospace and a better interpretation of their occupancy. In addition, three types of method were used to establish how species are distributed within morphospace. The results demonstrated that aggregation points methods, including analyses based on quadrants or distances, are more appropriate for this purpose than indices of morphological disparity. The results also confirmed that although numerical methods are needed to test the statistical significance of outcomes, graphical methods provide a more intuitive interpretation of morphospace occupancy. The kernel density and Gabriel graph were useful to infer the morphospace zone where species are more densely grouped, improving the knowledge of space occupancy and structural complexity of fish assemblages.Keywords: morphological traits; landmarks; geometric morphometrics; diversity; point pattern; morphospace; marine fishes. Selección de puntos homólogos (landmarks) y equidistantes (semilandmarks) en peces para análisis de morfometría geométrica: un estudio comparativo basado en métodos analíticosResumen: En el presente estudio se compara la estructura de una comunidad de peces a partir del análisis morfológico de puntos homólogos (landmarks) y equidistantes (semilandmarks) en las especies de dicha comunidad. Para este propósito, se utilizaron tres metodologías distintas descritas en la literatura a la hora de definir dichos puntos con el fin de identificar cuál de ellas incluía la máxima cantidad de información morfológica posible sobre las especies. Las tres opciones proporcionaron diferentes resultados en relación a la distribución de las especies dentro del morfoespacio. Los resultados sugirieron que la incorporación de puntos que proporcionen información más específica sobre estructuras anatómicas que tienen papeles importantes en la biología de las especies, como aletas modificadas u órganos sensoriales, contribuye a una diferenciación más clara de las especies y a una mejor interpretación de la ocupación del morfoespacio. Adicionalmente, varios métodos numéri-cos y gráficos se emplearon con el fin de establecer cómo las especies se distribuyen dentro del morfoespacio. Los resultados demostraron que los métodos de agregación de puntos, incluyendo análisis basados en cuadrantes o distancias, fueron más apropiados para este propósito que los índices de disparidad morfológica. Además, los resultados tam...

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External morphology explains the success of biological invasions

Cited by 106 publications

References 44 publications

We need better understanding about functional diversity and vulnerability of tropical freshwater fishes

We need better understanding about functional diversity and vulnerability of tropical freshwater fishes

Predicting range-shift success potential for tropical marine fishes using external morphology

Selection of landmarks and semilandmarks in fishes for geometric morphometric analyses: a comparative study based on analytical methods

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