Topographically complex regions on land and in the oceans feature hotspots of biodiversity
that reflect geological influences on ecological and evolutionary processes. Over geologic …

The foods consumed by animals reflect their adaptations and ecological roles, which makes
diet an important trait for ecological, evolutionary, and paleobiological research. Rodents …

Evolutionary radiations on continents are less well-understood and appreciated than those
occurring on islands. The extent of ecological influence on species divergence can be …

For many vertebrate species, bite force plays an important functional role. Ecological
characteristics of a species' niche, such as diet, are often associated with bite force. Previous …

Jaw morphology is closely linked to both diet and biomechanical performance, and jaws are
one of the most common Mesozoic mammal fossil elements. Knowledge of the dietary and …

Selection for divergent performance optima has been proposed as a central mechanism
underlying adaptive radiation. Uncovering multiple optima requires identifying forms …

Specialized carnivory is relatively uncommon across mammals, and bats constitute one of
the few groups in which this diet has evolved multiple times. While size and morphological …

The mammalian masticatory apparatus is a highly plastic region of the skull. In this study, a
quantification of shape variation, the separation of phylogeny from ecology in the genesis of …

To understand the functional meaning of morphological features, we need to relate what we
know about morphology and ecology in a meaningful, quantitative framework. Closely …

The placental skull has evolved into myriad forms, from longirostrine whales to globular
primates, and with a diverse array of appendages from antlers to tusks. This disparity has …