Department of Theoretical Biology, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.
The KLI Institute, Klosterneuburg, Austria.
PLoS One. 2018 Jan 10;13(1):e0189985. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189985. eCollection 2018.
Advances in imaging and modeling facilitate the calculation of biomechanical forces in biological specimens. These factors play a significant role during ontogenetic development of cichlid pharyngeal jaws, a key innovation responsible for one of the most prolific species diversifications in recent times. MicroCT imaging of radiopaque-stained vertebrate embryos were used to accurately capture the spatial relationships of the pharyngeal jaw apparatus in two cichlid species (Haplochromis elegans and Amatitlania nigrofasciata) for the purpose of creating a time series of developmental stages using finite element models, which can be used to assess the effects of biomechanical forces present in a system at multiple points of its ontogeny. Changes in muscle vector orientations, bite forces, force on the neurocranium where cartilage originates, and stress on upper pharyngeal jaws are analyzed in a comparative context. In addition, microCT scanning revealed the presence of previously unreported cement glands in A. nigrofasciata. The data obtained provide an underrepresented dimension of information on physical forces present in developmental processes and assist in interpreting the role of developmental dynamics in evolution.
成像和建模技术的进步有助于计算生物标本中的生物力学力。这些因素在慈鲷咽颅的个体发育过程中起着重要作用，咽颅是最近物种多样化的关键创新之一。对放射性造影的脊椎动物胚胎进行微计算机断层扫描成像，以准确捕捉两种慈鲷（秀丽隐杆线虫和阿马蒂拉尼亚黑腹）咽颅器官的空间关系，目的是使用有限元模型创建发育阶段的时间序列，可用于评估生物力学力在系统的多个发育点的影响。在比较的背景下分析肌肉向量方向的变化、咬合力、起源于软颅骨的力以及上咽颅的应力。此外，微计算机断层扫描揭示了 A. nigrofasciata 中存在以前未报道的粘蛋白腺。获得的数据提供了关于发育过程中存在的物理力的代表性不足的信息维度，并有助于解释发育动态在进化中的作用。
