Ecomorphological convergence following niche shifts in montane ground beetles (Carabidae: Nebria)

Data files

May 12, 2025 version files 1.36 MB

Abstract

Aim: A critical step towards uncovering generalizable patterns of phenotype-niche relationships is understanding how functional traits have evolved as species occupy new habitats. Ecomorphological traits impact how organisms function in their environment and are predictive of habitat use and niche. Studying ecomorphological variation in the context of strong environmental filtering can provide opportunities to understand the role of convergent evolution in forming trait-habitat use patterns. By integrating a molecular phylogeny, habitat use, and morphometrics, this study aimed to understand the role of ancestry and convergent evolution in ecomorphological trait evolution.

Location: Montane and alpine streambeds, talus, and snowfields in Holarctic mountain ranges (0-5000 m. above sea level).

Time period: 1970-2021

Major Taxa Studied: Seventy-nine species comprising three species complexes in the ground beetle genus Nebria (Carabidae: Nebriini).

Methods: Morphological measurements including pronotal ratio (widest point divided by the base), elytral length, elytral ratio (length divided by width), antennal scape length, and pronotal and elytral shape (Fourier decomposition) were used in this study, in conjunction with measurements of habitat use habitat where specimens were collected. Morphological variation was examined in relation to habitat use and phylogenetic relatedness, and morphological trait evolution was tested for convergence.

Results: Ecomorphological traits are evolving slower than expected under a null model of Brownian motion evolution. Nebria species cluster in multivariate morphospace according to relatedness, but habitat use and relatedness together are the best predictors of morphological variation. There is evidence for convergence in riparian species based on morphologicy alone, and additional evidence for morphological convergence in riparian and alpine species when phylogenetic distance is considered.

Main conclusions: In species assemblages of Nebria, we found evidence of rapid diversification followed by a slow rate of ecomorphological evolution, with convergent evolution playing a significant role in shaping trait-habitat use patterns and niche acquisition.

https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m63xsj486

Description of the data and file structure

"Ecomorphological_convergence_following_niche_shifts_in_montane_ground_beetles_(Carabidae_Nebria)_all_specimens_no_NA.csv" contains measurements of each individual specimen.

Included in this file are the variables (in order left to right):

subspecies: Subspecies identifiers

id: An id number to distinguish specimens

sex: The sex of the specimen

pronotum_wide: The pronotum width at the widest point (mm)

pronotum_base: Pronotum width at the posterior end (mm)

elytra_width: Elytron width at the widest point (mm)

elytra_length: Elytron length at the longest point (mm)

scape: Scape length (mm)

elevation: Elevation where the specimen was collected (m)

substrate: Substrate type where the specimen was collected (1 = gravel (<10 cm in diameter), 2 = medium rocks (10-50 cm in diameter), 3 = large rocks (>50 cm in diameter, 4 = vegetation covered rocks, 5 = alpine (talus and/or snowfield))

color: Color used to identify the species for making figures

pronotum_ratio: The ratio of the pronotum at its widest point to its base

index: An identifying index number

Color: An identifying color (but not saved as type "character")

elytra_ratio: The ratio of the elytron at its widest point to its length

E1 - 28: Fourier decomposition features for elytral shape (denoted by the letter E).

P1 - 44: Fourier decomposition features for pronotal shape (denoted by the letter P).

Some entries under the last two variables are "NA". This stands for "not applicable" because these specific Fourier features were not required to accurately estimate the shape of the morphology.

The zip file named "Nebria_spp" contains images of all the specimens used in this study.

Elevation and coordinates (WGS84) for collection localities was estimated using Google Maps. Climatic variable information can be accessed at this site: https://www.worldclim.org/data/worldclim21.html. Variables used in this study included: mean annual temperature (Celsius), mean maximum temperature (Celsius), mean minimum temperature (Celsius), mean solar radiation (kJ per square meter per day), mean vapor pressure (kPa), mean precipitation (mm) and mean wind speed (meters per second).

Code/Software

R statistical software v4.2.0.1 was used for analysis (R Core Team 2021). The file "Ecomorphological convergence following niche shifts in montane ground beetles (Carabidae Nebria).R" contains analyses performed in this study.

Ecomorphological convergence following niche shifts in montane ground beetles (Carabidae: Nebria)

Data files

Abstract

README: Ecomorphological convergence following niche shifts in montane ground beetles (Carabidae: Nebria)

Description of the data and file structure

Code/Software

Methods

Works referencing this dataset