TY - JOUR
T1 - Phylogenetic and environmental effects on limb bone structure in gorillas
AU - Ruff, Christopher B.
AU - Burgess, M. Loring
AU - Junno, Juho Antti
AU - Mudakikwa, Antoine
AU - Zollikofer, Christophe P.E.
AU - de Leóon, Marcia S.Ponce
AU - McFarlin, Shannon C.
N1 - Funding Information:
National Science Foundation, Grant Numbers: BCS 0852866, 0964944, 1316104; Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, Grant Number: 8657; L.S.B. Leakey Foundation, National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration, Grant Number: 8486-08; University of Oulu, Government of Rwanda and RDB Department of Tourism and Conservation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International’s Karisoke Research Center
Funding Information:
Research funding and other support for this project was provided by the National Science Foundation (BCS 0852866, 0964944, 1316104, 1419564), Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research (8657), L.S.B. Leakey Foundation, National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration (8486-08), University of Oulu, Rwanda Development Board’s Department of Tourism and Conservation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International’s Karisoke Research Center, Gorilla Doctors, New York University College of Dentistry (Dr. Timothy Bromage), and The George Washington University. The authors also thank Matt Tocheri for assistance in locating suitable museum specimens, providing locality information, and, with Rene Dommain, making Figure 1 available; Martha Robbins, Melissa Remis, and Diane Doran-Sheehy for providing unpublished data on gorilla locomotor/positional behavior; Vladimir Sladék and Margit Berner for assistance in CT scanning of specimens in Vienna; Jordi Galbany and Keely Arbenz-Smith for assistance with specimens of the Mountain Gorilla Skeletal Project; and all of the people who provided help in accessing museum specimens in their care: Emmanuel Gilissen, Wim Wendelen, Inbal Livne, Georges Leng-let, Daniella Kalthoff, Darin Lunde, and Frank Zachos. We gratefully acknowledge the Rwandan government for permission to study skeletal remains curated by the Mountain Gorilla Skeletal Project. Two reviewers provided helpful suggestions on a previous version of the paper.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2018/6
Y1 - 2018/6
N2 - Objectives: The effects of phylogeny and locomotor behavior on long bone structural proportions are assessed through comparisons between adult and ontogenetic samples of extant gorillas. Materials and Methods: A total of 281 wild-collected individuals were included in the study, divided into four groups that vary taxonomically and ecologically: western lowland gorillas (G. g. gorilla), lowland and highland grauer gorillas (G. b. graueri), and Virunga mountain gorillas (G. b. beringei). Lengths and articular breadths of the major long bones (except the fibula) were measured, and diaphyseal cross-sectional geometric properties determined using computed tomography. Ages of immature specimens (n = 145) were known or estimated from dental development. Differences between groups in hind limb to forelimb proportions were assessed in both adults and during development. Results: Diaphyseal strength proportions among adults vary in parallel with behavioral/ecological differences, and not phylogeny. The more arboreal western lowland and lowland grauer gorillas have relatively stronger forelimbs than the more terrestrial Virunga mountain gorillas, while the behaviorally intermediate highland grauer gorillas have intermediate proportions. Diaphyseal strength proportions are similar in young infants but diverge after 2 years of age in western lowland and mountain gorillas, at the same time that changes in locomotor behavior occur. There are no differences between groups in length or articular proportions among either adults or immature individuals. Conclusion: Long bone diaphyseal strength proportions in gorillas are developmentally plastic, reflecting behavior, while length and articular proportions are much more genetically canalized. These findings have implications for interpreting morphological variation among fossil taxa.
AB - Objectives: The effects of phylogeny and locomotor behavior on long bone structural proportions are assessed through comparisons between adult and ontogenetic samples of extant gorillas. Materials and Methods: A total of 281 wild-collected individuals were included in the study, divided into four groups that vary taxonomically and ecologically: western lowland gorillas (G. g. gorilla), lowland and highland grauer gorillas (G. b. graueri), and Virunga mountain gorillas (G. b. beringei). Lengths and articular breadths of the major long bones (except the fibula) were measured, and diaphyseal cross-sectional geometric properties determined using computed tomography. Ages of immature specimens (n = 145) were known or estimated from dental development. Differences between groups in hind limb to forelimb proportions were assessed in both adults and during development. Results: Diaphyseal strength proportions among adults vary in parallel with behavioral/ecological differences, and not phylogeny. The more arboreal western lowland and lowland grauer gorillas have relatively stronger forelimbs than the more terrestrial Virunga mountain gorillas, while the behaviorally intermediate highland grauer gorillas have intermediate proportions. Diaphyseal strength proportions are similar in young infants but diverge after 2 years of age in western lowland and mountain gorillas, at the same time that changes in locomotor behavior occur. There are no differences between groups in length or articular proportions among either adults or immature individuals. Conclusion: Long bone diaphyseal strength proportions in gorillas are developmentally plastic, reflecting behavior, while length and articular proportions are much more genetically canalized. These findings have implications for interpreting morphological variation among fossil taxa.
KW - Development
KW - Gorilla
KW - Locomotion
KW - Long bone
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U2 - 10.1002/ajpa.23437
DO - 10.1002/ajpa.23437
M3 - Article
C2 - 29430624
AN - SCOPUS:85041699699
SN - 0002-9483
VL - 166
SP - 353
EP - 372
JO - American journal of physical anthropology
JF - American journal of physical anthropology
IS - 2
ER -