No Morphological Integration of Dorsal Profiles in the Araucanian Horse (Colombia).
Abstract: The aim of this research was to determine if the division between the cervical, dorsal, and croup profiles (three regions commonly assessed for descriptive profile purposes) has a modular basis as well as a morphological integration. For this, a total of 135 digital photographs were obtained, in a lateral view, of adult horses (14 females and 121 geldings; age range: 2-20 years), of the Araucanian breed, an equine population typical of the flooded savannah of Arauca, NE Colombia. From each image, 25 reference points (semi-landmarks) were obtained at the dorsal level of the neck, back, and croup. The hypothesis of the modularity of different body profiles based on differentiated regions was tested using the coefficient, and an analysis of two blocks of partial least-squares allowed the evaluation of the level of morphological integration. The results showed that each alloidic group reflected high integration but low modularity. The covariation between the modules was centered mainly on the withers, the loin, and the croup. For the studied profile blocks, no module can be considered. The absence of the fragmentation of the alloidic sets would promote the adaptive capacity of the breed by linking coordinated functional responses to similar selection pressures, e.g., field work. Although the integration between the neck, back, and croup profiles was proven, their modular covariation was low.
Publication Date: 2022-07-05 PubMed ID: 35804630PubMed Central: PMC9264922DOI: 10.3390/ani12131731Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research explores if the classification of an Araucanian horse’s body profile into cervical, dorsal, and croup sections has a modular structure and shows morphological integration. It was found that these profile sections are highly integrated but minimally modular.
Research Methodology
- The study involved the analysis of 135 digital profile photographs of Araucanian horses. These horses, were aged between 2 to 20 years and they belonged to a breed native to the flooded savannah of Arauca in Northeastern Colombia.
- Each profile photograph was divided into three sections – cervical (neck), dorsal (back), and croup (hindquarters). Twenty-five reference points were assigned to each section at the dorsal level. These points served as semi-landmarks for delineating the three sections.
Analysis and Findings
- The researchers used two statistical methods to explore the modularity and morphological integration between the horse’s body profiles. These methods were the coefficient and an analysis of two blocks of partial least squares.
- These methods and tests provided evidence that the cervical, dorsal, and croup profiles in Araucanian horses showed a high degree of integration but a low degree of modularity.
- In other words, the different sections of a horse’s body profile were closely related and connected, rather than being separate or independent modules.
- The areas where covariation between the profile sections was the most pronounced were the withers (the highest part of a horse’s back), the loin (lower back) and the croup (the horse’s hindquarters).
Implications and Conclusion
- The study found that there were no clear divisions or ‘modules’ within the profile blocks of the Araucanian horses. Therefore, these horses’ body profiles are seen more as an integrated whole, rather than as separate parts.
- This high level of morphological integration could potentially increase the adaptive capacity of the Araucanian breed. By linking the functional responses of different sections of a horse’s body to similar selection pressures, such as field work, the breed could potentially adapt better to different environments and tasks.
- Even though there’s a clear connection between the horse’s neck, back, and croup profiles, their modular covariation is low. That is, while the body profiles are integrated and connected, they do not function or change as separate modules.
Cite This Article
APA
Salamanca-Carreño A, Parés-Casanova PM, Rangel-Pachón DE, Bentez-Molano J, Vélez-Terranova OM.
(2022).
No Morphological Integration of Dorsal Profiles in the Araucanian Horse (Colombia).
Animals (Basel), 12(13), 1731.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12131731 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Villavicencio 500001, Colombia.
- Acuerdo de Cooperación de Investigación, 25798 Catalonia, Spain.
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Villavicencio 500001, Colombia.
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Villavicencio 500001, Colombia.
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Palmira 763531, Colombia.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that there are no competing interests regarding the publication of this paper.
References
This article includes 31 references
- Sañudo C. Valoración Morfológica de Los Animales Domésticos. .
- Maśko M, Wierzbicka M, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Sikorska U, Pawliński B, Domino M. Comparison of Donkey, Pony, and Horse Dorsal Profiles and Head Shapes Using Geometric Morphometrics.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 5;12(7).
- Adams DC, Rohlf FJ, Slice DE. A field comes of age: Geometric morphometrics in the 21st century. Hystrix 2013;24:7–14.
- Bookstein FL. Morphometric Tools for Landmark Data: Geometry and Biology. .
- Adams DC, Rohlf FJ, Dennis ESE. Geometric morphometrics: Ten years of progress following the ‘revolution’. Ital. J. Zool. 2004;71:5–16.
- Zelditch ML, Swiderski DL, Sheets HD, Fink WL. Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists: A Primer. 2004. p. 416.
- Gunza P, Mitteroecker P. Semilandmarks: A method for quantifying curves and surfaces. Hystrix 2013;24:103–109.
- Jojić V, Budinski I, Blagojević J, Vujošević M. Mandibular and Cranial Modularity in the Greater Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae). Hystrix 2015;26:163–165.
- Heck L, Wilson LAB, Evin A, Stange M, Sánchez-Villagra MR. Shape variation and modularity of skull and teeth in domesticated horses and wild equids.. Front Zool 2018;15:14.
- Romaniuk A. Functional and Phylogenetic Aspect in Modularity of Palearctic Mustelids (Carnivora, Mustelidae) Mandible. Vestn. Zool. 2018;52:165–176.
- Segura V, Cassini GH, Prevosti FJ, Andrade MF. Integration or Modularity in the Mandible of Canids (Carnivora: Canidae): A Geometric Morphometric Approach. J. Mammal. Evol. 2020;28:145–157.
- Adams DC. Evaluating Modularity in Morphometric Data: Challenges with the RV Coefficient and a New Test Measure. Methods Ecol. Evol. 2016;7:565–572.
- Püschel T. Modularidad e Integración Morfológica en Cráneos Humanos: Un Enfoque Morfométrico Geométrico. Int. J. Morphol. 2014;32:299–304.
- Klingenberg CP. Studying morphological integration and modularity at multiple levels: concepts and analysis.. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2014 Aug 19;369(1649):20130249.
- Salamanca CA, Monroy N, Parés-Casanova PM, Crosby RA. Aporte a la evaluación para la preservación del Caballo Criollo Araucano en Colombia. Zootec. Trop. 2015;33:317–325.
- Salamanca CA, Parés-Casanova PM, Crosby RA, Monroy N. Biometric analysis of araucano criollo horse. Arch. Zootec. 2017;66:267–278.
- Salamanca-Carreño A, Jordana J, Crosby-Granados RA, Bentez-Molano J, Parés-Casanova PM. Lineal Discrimination of Horses and Mules. A Sympatric Case from Arauca, Colombia.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Apr 13;10(4).
- Rohlf FJ. The Tps Series of Software. Hystrix Ital. J. Mamm. 2015;26:9–12.
- Klingenberg CP. MorphoJ: an integrated software package for geometric morphometrics.. Mol Ecol Resour 2011 Mar;11(2):353-7.
- Klingenberg CP. Morphometric integration and modularity in configurations of landmarks: tools for evaluating a priori hypotheses.. Evol Dev 2009 Jul-Aug;11(4):405-21.
- Goswami A, Polly PD. Methods for studying morphological integration and modularity. Paleontol. Soc. Pap. 2010;16:213–243.
- Goodwin D, Levine M, McGreevy PD. Preliminary investigation of morphological differences between ten breeds of horses suggests selection for paedomorphosis.. J Appl Anim Welf Sci 2008;11(3):204-12.
- Carter RA, Geor RJ, Burton Staniar W, Cubitt TA, Harris PA. Apparent adiposity assessed by standardised scoring systems and morphometric measurements in horses and ponies.. Vet J 2009 Feb;179(2):204-10.
- Maśko M, Wierzbicka M, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Pawliński B, Domino M. Characteristics of the Donkey's Dorsal Profile in Relation to Its Functional Body Condition Assessment.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 29;11(11).
- Sénèque E, Lesimple C, Morisset S, Hausberger M. Could posture reflect welfare state? A study using geometric morphometrics in riding school horses.. PLoS One 2019;14(2):e0211852.
- Sénèque E, Morisset S, Lesimple C, Hausberger M. Testing optimal methods to compare horse postures using geometric morphometrics.. PLoS One 2018;13(10):e0204208.
- Tallet C, Senèque E, Megnin C, Morisset S, Val-Laillet D, Meunier-Salaun M-C, Fureix C, Hausberger M. Assessing walking posture with geometric morphometrics: Effects of rearing environment in pigs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2016;174:32–41.
- Valle E, Raspa F, Giribaldi M, Barbero R, Bergagna S, Antoniazzi S, Mc Lean AK, Minero M, Cavallarin L. A functional approach to the body condition assessment of lactating donkeys as a tool for welfare evaluation.. PeerJ 2017;5:e3001.
- Veneziano A, Meloro C, Irish JD, Stringer C, Profico A, De Groote I. Neuromandibular integration in humans and chimpanzees: Implications for dental and mandibular reduction in Homo.. Am J Phys Anthropol 2018 Sep;167(1):84-96.
- Parés-Casanova PM. Age-dependent mandibular asymmetries in domestic pigs. Research 2014;1:4–7.
- Parés-Casanova PM, Cabello M. Patterns of mandibular asymmetries in two types of companion rabbits.. Anat Histol Embryol 2020 Mar;49(2):227-232.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
