Evolvability and Constraint in the Primate Basicranium, Shoulder, and Hip and the Importance of Multi-trait Evolution

The scapula shares developmental and functional relationships with traits of the basicranium, vertebral column, humerus, and clavicle. As a limb girdle, it also shares analogous characteristics with the pelvis. Despite these relationships, studies of primate shoulder evolution often focus on traits of the scapula in isolation. Such analyses may lead to spurious conclusions, as they implicitly model the scapula as evolving independent of other anatomical regions. Traits of the shoulder girdle share genetic covariances with each other, as well as potential covariances with dimensions of other skeletal elements. To create accurate models of shoulder evolution, it is imperative to account for the constraints imposed by these sources of covariance. Here, we use evolutionary quantitative methods to test a model in which shoulder morphological evolution is influenced by its developmental and functional covariances with the basicranium in the Colobus genus. This evolutionary relationship is also assessed with morphology of the pelvis to provide context to the evolutionary covariance among traits of the basicranium and shoulder girdle. Our results indicate potential evolutionary implications arising from covariances among the basicranium, shoulder, and pelvis. We further propose that the shoulder and basicranium may be examples of developmental, functional, and genetic covariances among traits that manifest an evolutionary suite of mutually constrained morphologies. We demonstrate novel evolutionary relationships among the shoulder girdle and basicranium that affect not only models of primate shoulder evolution but have broader implications for modeling trait evolution across the skeleton.

Automated summary

The scapula is closely related to the basicranium, vertebral column, humerus, and clavicle in terms of development and function. However, isolating the study of the scapula in primate shoulder evolution may lead to misleading conclusions as it ignores the genetic covariances with other skeletal elements. Taking into account these genetic covariances, accurate models of shoulder evolution should consider the relationships with traits of the basicranium and potential covariances with dimensions of other skeletal elements. The study suggests that understanding the evolutionary relationships among the shoulder girdle, basicranium, and pelvis can provide insights into broader implications for modeling trait evolution across the skeleton.