Li Zihan, Guo Xuecheng, Guo Zeguang, Shi Xiaoqin, Zhou Jin, Liu Zhidong, Xiao Qi, Chen Youhua
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Jan 24;14(3):369. doi: 10.3390/ani14030369.
Morphology plays a crucial role in understanding the intricacies of biological forms. Traditional morphometric methods, focusing on one- or two-dimensional geometric levels, often fall short of accurately capturing the three-dimensional (3D) structure of organisms. The advent of 3D scanning techniques has revolutionized the study of organismal morphology, enabling comprehensive and accurate measurements. This study employs a 3D structured light scanning system to analyze the morphological variations in the Chinese toad ( Cantor, 1842) along the Yellow River Basin. The 3D digital model obtained from the scan was used to calculate various morphological parameters including body surface area, volume, fractal dimensions, and limb size. The research explores geographic variability patterns and identifies environmental drivers affecting the 3D phenotypic variation of . Results reveal a bimodal pattern of variation in the toad population, with higher elevations exhibiting smaller body sizes, greater appendage proportions, and more complex body structures. Linear regression analyses highlight the influence of elevation and annual mean temperature on the morphological variation of , with elevation playing a significant role. This study underscores the significance of 3D morphometric analysis in unraveling the intricacies of organismal morphology and understanding the adaptive strategies of species in diverse environments.
形态学在理解生物形态的复杂性方面起着至关重要的作用。传统的形态测量方法侧重于一维或二维几何层面，往往无法准确捕捉生物体的三维（3D）结构。3D扫描技术的出现彻底改变了生物体形态学的研究，能够进行全面而准确的测量。本研究采用3D结构光扫描系统来分析黄河流域中华蟾蜍（Cantor，1842）的形态变化。从扫描中获得的3D数字模型用于计算各种形态参数，包括体表面积、体积、分形维数和肢体大小。该研究探索了地理变异模式，并确定了影响中华蟾蜍3D表型变异的环境驱动因素。结果揭示了蟾蜍种群变异的双峰模式，海拔较高处的蟾蜍体型较小、附属肢体比例更大且身体结构更复杂。线性回归分析突出了海拔和年平均温度对中华蟾蜍形态变异的影响，其中海拔起着重要作用。本研究强调了3D形态测量分析在揭示生物体形态复杂性以及理解物种在不同环境中的适应策略方面的重要性。
