@conference{
author = "Urošević, Aleksandar and Ajduković, Maja and Vučić, Tijana and Scholtes, Stefan and Arntzen, Jan and Ivanović, Ana",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Serially homologous structures, such as the vertebral column, often undergo
functional and evolutionary diversification and are a good model-system for studies of
regionalization and morphological integration. We studied these topics in the vertebral
column (atlas, trunk and sacral vertebrae) of the closely related taxa of small-bodied
newts – Lissotriton schmidtleri, L. vulgaris ampelensis, L. v. meridionalis and L. v.
vulgaris, using 3D geometric morphometrics on models that were acquired with micro CT scanning. Two different statistical approaches were employed to test for vertebral
regionalization and overall morphological integration, namely segmented linear
regression (SLR) and a partial least squares method (PLS) We observed a common
pattern of regionalization, with a transition point after the 5th trunk vertebra. It
corresponds with the antero-posterior transition common for tetrapods.
Morphological integration, accessed via PLS analysis, is strongest at the 6th and 7th
trunk vertebrae, while the anterior and distal parts of the vertebral column are less
integrated. The PLS analysis of the asymmetric component of shape variation revealed
a weak integration, statistically significant only among subsequent trunk vertebrae. In
summary, the vertebral column of the closely related Lissotriton newts is subtly
regionalized, while being morphologically integrated overall. There is a complex
relationship between regionalization and morphological integration of the vertebral
column, most likely influenced by the newt’s bi-phasic life cycle that instigates different
functional constraints in the aquatic and terrestrial life stages",
publisher = "Belgrade: Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"– National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade",
journal = "Program and Book of Abstracts: the 21st European Congress of Herpetology; 2022 Sep 5-9; Belgrade, Serbia",
title = "Vertebral regionalization vs. morphological integration in Lissotriton newts",
pages = "38",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5231"
}