Primate Systematics and Morphological Integration

We have been exploring the evolutionary bases for craniofacial morphological variation among primate species using phylogenetically-informed tests of the roles of genetic drift and natural selection as sources of interspecific morphological differentiation. This work uses microevolutionary models of response to selection and genetic drift to interpret interspecific differences in craniofacial morphology. A key feature of these models relates to the patterns of morphological variation within species and the stability of these patterns over evolutionary time and taxonomic range. We have found that, in general, patterns of craniofacial morphological variation reflect patterns of functional and developmental relationships between traits and that these general patterns are consistent across primates. When possible, we have studied the heritable basis of morphological variation in these taxa. We have applied these evolutionary concepts to the differentiation of cranial morphology in the New World Monkeys among genera across the whole group and across species within genera. We discovered strong evidence for ecologically-driven size selection in the differentiation of New World Monkey genera and various combinations of genetic drift and selection for differences among taxa within genera. We are also applying these approaches to paleontological samples and to differentiation among the Old World Monkeys.

Collaborators

Dr. Becky Ackermann, University of Cape Town

Dr. Gabriel Marroig, University of Sao Paolo

Dr. Charles Roseman, University of Illinois

Grant Funding

Supported by NSF grant BCS-0725068

Publications on the Topic

Wagner, G. P., M. Pavlicev, and J. M. Cheverud. 2007. The road to modularity. Nature Reviews Genetics, 8: 921-931.

Cheverud, J. M. and G. Marroig. 2007. Comparing covariance matrices: Random Skewers method compared to the Common Principal Components model. Genetics and Molecular Biology 30: 461-469.

Ackermann, R. R., J. Rogers and J. M. Cheverud 2006. Identifying the morphological signatures of hybridization in primate and human evolution. J. Hum. Evol. 51: 632-645.

Marroig, G. and J. Cheverud 2005. Size as a line of least evolutionary resistance: Diet and adaptive morphological radiation in New World Monkeys. Evolution 59: 1128-1142.

Harmon, L. J., J. J. Kolbe, J. M. Cheverud and J. B. Losos 2005. Convergence and the multidimensional niche. Evolution 59: 409-421.

Ackermann, R. R. and J. M. Cheverud 2004. Detecting genetic drift versus selection in human evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101: 17946-17951.

Marriog, G. and J. Cheverud 2004. Cranial evolution in sakis (Pithecia, Platyrrhini) I: Interspecific differentiation and allometric patterns. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 125:266-278.

Marriog, G. and J. Cheverud 2004. Did natural selection or genetic drift produce the cranial diversification of Neotropical monkeys? American Naturalist 163: 417-428.

Marroig, G., M. de Vivo and J. Cheverud 2004. Cranial evolution in sakis (Pithecia, Platyrrhini) II: Evolutionary processes and morphological integration. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 17:144-155.

Marroig, G., S. N. Cropp and J. M. Cheverud 2004. Systematics and evolution of the Jacchus group of marmosets. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 123:11-22.

Cheverud, J. M. 2004. Darwinian evolution by the natural selection of heritable variation: Definition of parameters and application to social behaviors. In: The Origins and Nature of Sociality, R. W. Sussman and A. R. Chapman (eds.), Aldine Publishing, New York, pp. 140-157.

Ackermann, R. R. and J. M. Cheverud. 2004. Morphological integration in primate evolution. In: Phenotypic Integration: Studying the Ecology and Evolution of Complex Phenotypes. M. Pigliucci and K. Preston (eds.), Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 302-319.

Ackermann, R. and J. Cheverud 2002. Discerning evolutionary processes in patterns of tamarin (genus Saguinus) craniofacial variation. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 117:260-271.

Smith, R. and J. Cheverud 2002. Scaling of sexual dimorphism in body mass: A phylogenetic analysis of Rensch’s rule in Primates. International Journal of Primatology, 23: 1095-1135.

Marroig, G. and J. Cheverud 2001. A comparison of phenotypic variation and covariation patterns and the role of phylogeny, ecology and ontogeny during cranial evolution of New World Monkeys. Evolution 55: 2576-2600.

Kohn, L. A. P., L. B. Lansgton and J. M. Cheverud 2001. Subspecific genetic differences in the saddle-back tamarin (Saguinus fuscicollis) postcranial skeleton. American Journal of Primatology, 54: 41-56.

Ackermann, R. and J. Cheverud 2000 Phenotypic covariance structure in tamarins (genus Saguinus): A comparison of variation patterns using matrix correlations and common principal component analysis. . American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 111: 489-501.

Cropp, S. J., A. Larson and J. M. Cheverud, 1999. Historical biogeography of the tamarins, Genus Saguinus: The molecular phylogenetic evidence. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 108: 65-89.

Kohn, L. A. P., P. Olson and J. Cheverud 1997. Age of epiphyseal closure in tamarins and marmosets. American Journal of Primatology 41: 129-139.

Cheverud, J., 1996. Quantitative genetic analysis of cranial morphology in the cotton-top (Saguinus oedipus) and saddle-back (S. fuscicollis) tamarins. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 9: 5-42.

Jacobs, S., A. Larson and J. Cheverud 1995. Phylogenetic relationships and orthogenetic evolution of coat color among tamarins (genus Saguinus). Systematic Biology 44: 515-532.

Hutchison, D. and J. Cheverud 1995. Fluctuating asymmetry in tamarin (Saguinus) cranial morphology: Intra- and interspecific comparisons between taxa with varying levels of genetic heterozygosity. J. Heredity, 86:280-288.

Cheverud, J., 1995. Morphological integration in the saddle-back tamarin (Saguinus fuscicollis) cranium. American Naturalist, 145: 63-89.

Cheverud, J., E. Routman, C. Jaquish, S. Tardif, G. Peterson, N. Belfiore and L. Forman 1994. Quantitative and molecular genetic variation in captive cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus). Conservation Biology, 8: 95-105.

Richtsmeier, J., B. Corner, H. Grausz, J. Cheverud and S. Danahey 1993. The role of postnatal growth pattern in the production of facial morphology. Systematic Biology, 42: 307-330.

Cheverud, J., S. C. Jacobs and A. J. Moore 1993. Genetic differences among subspecies of the Saddle-back Tamarin (Saguinus fuscicollis): Evidence from hybrids. American Journal of Primatology, 31: 23-39.

Richtsmeier, J. T., J. M. Cheverud, S. E. Dahaney, B. D. Corner and S. Lele 1993 Sexual dimorphism of ontogeny in the crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis). Journal of Human Evolution, 25: 1-30.

Cheverud, J., W. P. J. Dittus and P. Wilson 1992 Primate population studies at Polonnaruwa. III. Somatometric growth in a natural population of toque macaques (Macaca sinica). Journal of Human Evolution, 23: 51-78.

Moore, A. and J. Cheverud 1992 The systematics of bare-face tamarins (Saguinus oedipus, S. geoffroyi, S. leucopus): Evidence from facial morphology. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 89: 73-84.

Cheverud, J. and W. Dittus 1992 Primate population studies at Polonnaruwa. II. Heritability of body measurements in a natural population of toque macaques (Macaca sinica). American Journal of Primatology, 27: 145-156..

Konigsberg, L. and J. Cheverud 1992 Uncertain paternity in primate quantitative genetic studies. American Journal of Primatology, 27: 133-144.

Richtsmeier, J., J. Cheverud, and S. Lele 1992 Advances in anthropological morphometrics. Annual Reviews in Anthropology, 21: 283-305.

Leigh, S. and J. Cheverud 1991 Sexual dimorphism in the baboon facial skeleton. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 84: 193-208.

Cheverud, J. M. and A. J. Moore 1990 Subspecific morphological variation in the saddle-back tamarin (Saguinus fuscicollis). American Journal of Primatology, 21: 1-16.

Cheverud, J. 1990 The evolution of morphological variation patterns. In: M. Nitecki (ed.), Evolutionary Innovations. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, pp. 133-146.

Cheverud, J., G. Wagner and M. Dow 1989 Methods for the comparative analysis of variation patterns. Systematic Zoology, 38: 201-213.

Cheverud, J. 1989 A comparative analysis of morphological variation patterns in the papionins. Evolution, 43:1737-1747.

Cheverud, J. 1989 Evolution of morphological integration. In: H. Splectna and H. Helge (eds.). Trends in Vertebrate Morphology, Proceedings of the 2 nd International Symposium on Vertebrate Morphology, Fortschritte der Zoologie, vol. 35, Gustav Fisher Verlag, New York, pp. 196-197.

Cheverud, J. 1988 The evolution of genetic correlation and developmental constraints. In: G. de Jong (ed.), Population Genetics and Evolution. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 94-101.

Cheverud, J. 1988 A comparison of genetic and phenotypic correlations. Evolution 42: 958-968.

Cheverud J., M. Dow, and W. Leutenegger 1986 A phylogenetic autocorrelation analysis of sexual dimorphism in primates. Amer. Anthropol. 88: 916-922.

Cheverud, J., M. Dow, and W. Leutenegger 1985 The quantitative assessment of phylogenetic constraints in comparative analyses: Sexual dimorphism in body weight among primates. Evolution, 39: 1335-1351.

Richtsmeier, J., J. Cheverud, and J. Buikstra 1984 The relationship between cranial metric and nonmetric traits in the rhesus macaques from Cayo Santiago. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 64: 213-222.

McGrath, J., J. Cheverud, and J. Buikstra 1984 Genetic correlations between sides and heritability of asymmetry for nonmetric traits in rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago. Am J. Phys. Anthropol. 64: 401-412.

Cheverud, J. 1984 Quantitative genetics and developmental constraints on evolution by selection. J. Theor. Biol., 110: 155-172.

Cheverud, J. 1982 Phenotypic, genetic, and environmental morphological integration in the cranium. Evolution 36: 499-516.

Leutenegger, W. and J. Cheverud 1982 Correlates of sexual dimorphism in primates. Int. J. Primatol. 3(4): 387-402.

Cheverud, J. 1982 Relationships among ontogenetic, static, and evolutionary allometry. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 59: 139-149.

Cheverud, J. and J. Buikstra 1982 Quantitative genetics of skeletal non-metric traits in the rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago. III. Relative heritability of skeletal non-metric and metric traits. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 59: 151-155.

Cheverud, J. and J. Buikstra 1981 Quantitative genetics of skeletal non-metric traits in the rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago. I. Single trait heritabilities. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 54: 43-49.

Cheverud, J. and J. Buikstra 1981 Quantitative genetics of skeletal non-metric traits in the rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago. II. Phenotypic, genetic, and environmental correlations between traits. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 54: 51-58.

Cheverud, J. 1981 Variation in highly and lowly heritable morphological traits among social groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) on Cayo Santiago. Evolution 35: 75-83.