Open AccessHindlimb morphology and locomotor performance in waders: an evolutionary approach
Author(s) -
BARBOSA A.,
MORENO E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1999.tb01936.x
Subject(s) - biology , stride , osteology , hindlimb , myology , anatomy , terrestrial locomotion , adaptation (eye) , quadrupedalism , evolutionary biology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , neuroscience , medicine
Locomotion performance (measured as stride frequency and stride length) was studied in 16 species of waders. Differences in hindlimb morphology (osteology and myology) were analysed among species. Evolutionary changes in both locomotion and morphological variables were analysed using comparative methods revealing the existence of some ecomorphological patterns relating these two sets of characters. Evolutionary changes in stride frequency were correlated with changes in the muscles M. iliotibialis cranialis, M. iliotibiales lateralis and M. gastrocnemius, whereas changes in stride length showed correlated evolution with changes in the length of distal segments of the leg. We identify two different evolutionary strategies in locomotion of waders. One is a change in distal leg segments (skeletal system), an adaptive modification that increases stride length; the second is a change in the skeletal‐muscular system, providing an increase in muscular performance (force or speed of contraction) in several muscles, and is an adaptation that increases stride frequency.