Recent and rapid ecogeographical rule reversals in Northern Treeshrews
Abstract Two of the most-studied ecogeographical rules describe patterns of body size variation within species. Bergmann’s rule predicts that individuals have larger body sizes in colder climates (typically at higher latitudes), and the island rule predicts that island populations of small-bodied sp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23774-w |
| _version_ | 1828174169521520640 |
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| author | Maya M. Juman Virginie Millien Link E. Olson Eric J. Sargis |
| author_facet | Maya M. Juman Virginie Millien Link E. Olson Eric J. Sargis |
| author_sort | Maya M. Juman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Two of the most-studied ecogeographical rules describe patterns of body size variation within species. Bergmann’s rule predicts that individuals have larger body sizes in colder climates (typically at higher latitudes), and the island rule predicts that island populations of small-bodied species average larger in size than their mainland counterparts (insular gigantism). These rules are rarely tested in conjunction or assessed across space and time simultaneously. We investigated these patterns in the Northern Treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri) using museum specimens collected across a wide spatial and temporal range. Contrary to Bergmann’s rule, size increases with temperature in T. belangeri, a signal that is highly consistent across space and time. We also show that these rules are intertwined: Bergmann’s rule is reversed on the mainland but holds on islands, and therefore the island rule is upheld at higher, but not lower, latitudes. Moreover, we demonstrate a rapid reversal of both rules over time. The mechanism behind these inversions remains unclear, though temperature and precipitation are significant predictors of body size. Ecogeographical rules rely on the assumption of a constant relationship between size and the factors driving its variation. Our results highlight the need to question this assumption and reevaluate these rules in the context of accelerating and uneven climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:08:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ade3f424c16b4cb2abbda68aa414d9cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:08:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-ade3f424c16b4cb2abbda68aa414d9cb2022-12-22T03:48:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-11-011211910.1038/s41598-022-23774-wRecent and rapid ecogeographical rule reversals in Northern TreeshrewsMaya M. Juman0Virginie Millien1Link E. Olson2Eric J. Sargis3Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale UniversityRedpath Museum, McGill UniversityDepartment of Mammalogy, University of Alaska Museum, University of Alaska FairbanksDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale UniversityAbstract Two of the most-studied ecogeographical rules describe patterns of body size variation within species. Bergmann’s rule predicts that individuals have larger body sizes in colder climates (typically at higher latitudes), and the island rule predicts that island populations of small-bodied species average larger in size than their mainland counterparts (insular gigantism). These rules are rarely tested in conjunction or assessed across space and time simultaneously. We investigated these patterns in the Northern Treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri) using museum specimens collected across a wide spatial and temporal range. Contrary to Bergmann’s rule, size increases with temperature in T. belangeri, a signal that is highly consistent across space and time. We also show that these rules are intertwined: Bergmann’s rule is reversed on the mainland but holds on islands, and therefore the island rule is upheld at higher, but not lower, latitudes. Moreover, we demonstrate a rapid reversal of both rules over time. The mechanism behind these inversions remains unclear, though temperature and precipitation are significant predictors of body size. Ecogeographical rules rely on the assumption of a constant relationship between size and the factors driving its variation. Our results highlight the need to question this assumption and reevaluate these rules in the context of accelerating and uneven climate change.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23774-w |
| spellingShingle | Maya M. Juman Virginie Millien Link E. Olson Eric J. Sargis Recent and rapid ecogeographical rule reversals in Northern Treeshrews Scientific Reports |
| title | Recent and rapid ecogeographical rule reversals in Northern Treeshrews |
| title_full | Recent and rapid ecogeographical rule reversals in Northern Treeshrews |
| title_fullStr | Recent and rapid ecogeographical rule reversals in Northern Treeshrews |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent and rapid ecogeographical rule reversals in Northern Treeshrews |
| title_short | Recent and rapid ecogeographical rule reversals in Northern Treeshrews |
| title_sort | recent and rapid ecogeographical rule reversals in northern treeshrews |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23774-w |
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