2D geometric morphometrics reveals temporal patterns in the evolution of modern and Pleistocene Arvicola (Rodentia, Cricetidae) in Europe
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study applies a comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) geometric morphometric framework to investigate dental morphological variation in modern and Pleistocene populations of the genus Arvicola.A reference dataset of 390 first lower molars (m/1) representing four extant species (A.amphibius, A. sapidus, A. italicus, and A. persicus) was analysed using Elliptic Fourier Analysis combined with multivariate statistics (PCA, MANOVA, LDA, CDA, Random Forest, and Mahalanobis distances).All modern species of Arvicola exhibit highly significant morphological differences, demonstrating that m/1 outlines shape reliably discriminates species-specific variation.This validated classification framework was applied to fossil assemblages from five well-dated localities spanning the late Middle Pleistocene to Upper Pleistocene (MIS 6 to MIS 3).The MIS 6 assemblage from Lazaret Cave displays a heterogenous and intermediate morphospace distribution, reflecting the presence of archaic lineages attributed to Arvicola ex gr.cantianus/amphibius and Arvicola ex gr.cantianus/sapidus.By MIS 5.5 (Baume Moula-Guercy), Arvicola amphibius-like morphologies dominate, although several specimens retain plesiomorphic traits.In contrast, MIS 3 assemblages (Abauntz Cave, Cova Eirós, and Trou Al'Wesse) exhibit predominantly modern morphologies, with high classification agreement (up to 100%) and clear species-level assignment.A temporal trend emerges in which discrimination accuracy and morphological distinctiveness increase from the late Middle Pleistocene to MIS 3, documenting the evolutionary transition from archaic Arvicola forms to fully differentiated modern species.The results further suggest a complex biogeographic history of Arvicola sapidus, involving multiple Middle and early Late Pleistocene dispersal events into Western Europe.Overall, this study demonstrates that 2D outline-based geometric morphometrics of the m/1 is a robust and informative tool for resolving Arvicola systematics and for reconstructing evolutionary and palaeoenvironmental patterns in the Pleistocene of Europe.
Source: Palaeontologia Electronica
DOI: 10.26879/1683
Authors: Emmanuel Desclaux, Amanda Lindahl, Daniela C. Kalthoff, Oleksandr Kovalchuk, Alejandro Centeno-Cuadros, Jacinto Román, Mikel Arlegi, Andion Arteaga-Brieba, Zoltán Barkaszi, Jessica Cohen, Alban Defleur, Mónica Fernández-García, Damien Flas, Karl Frafjord, Monika Vlasta Knul, Arturo de Lombera-Hermida, Ahmad Mahmoudi, Boyan Milchev, Adam Nadachowski, Piroska Pazonyi, Iván Rey-Rodríguez, Xosé Pedro Rodríguez-Álvarez, Vincent Bonhomme, Lové Dalén, John R. Stewart
Institutions: Centre for Palaeogenetics, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Côte d'Azur, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Cultures et Environnements. Préhistoire, Antiquité, Moyen Âge, National Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Universidad de Cádiz, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Stockholm University, University of Cambridge, Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, University of Lancashire, University of Liège, University of Wrocław, Urmia University, University of Forestry, Eötvös Loránd University, Université de Montpellier, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Xunta de Galicia
Awards: G659153159, G7457672397
OpenAlex ID: W7212000200