Morphological integration and cranial modularity in six genera of echimyid rodents (Rodentia: Echimyidae)

Abstract

Abstract Rodents of the family Echimyidae present a wide variety of life histories and ecomorphological adaptations. This study evaluated morphological integration patterns, modularity, and evolutionary flexibility in six Echimyid genera representing ecomorphological extremes within the family. The relationships between traits were evaluated by comparing estimated covariance and correlations matrices of populations. The presence of modules was investigated by comparing the patterns of integration between traits and using hypothetical matrices based on shared development/function and masticatory stress. The results point to a common covariance and correlation pattern among the six echimyid genera, suggesting a conserved pattern of covariation (associations among traits) throughout the evolution of this group. The overall magnitude of integration, however, varied greatly. We also found a high degree of modularity in all six echimyid genera. Finally, we observed a clear association between flexibility, i.e., the ability of a species to respond to the direction of selection, with the overall magnitude of integration and degree of modularization. The results of this study provide hypotheses concerning the underlying effects of the association among traits, which may have facilitated or constrained the evolution of morphological variation in the diverse family Echimyidae.