How Can Phenotypic Evolution be Characterized Over Time and Through Environmental Changes?

Rapid phenotypic evolution is observed in response to rapid environmental changes. These variations can occur at different scales, from the population community. We intended characterize these multiscale responses rodents archaeological site El Harhoura 2 (Rabat, Morocco), dated Late Pleistocene Holocene, and relate them paleoenvironmental variations. Upper lower first molars were used as proxies for phenotype. Their shape was quantified using a landmark-free method. To account both intra- interspecific variations, we morpho-groups units. Those identified unsupervised clustering. Three indicators computed: number of morpho-groups, morpho-group disparity changes mean over time. evaluate this little-used approach on small mammals, compared it three widely biodiversity indices: taxa, Shannon index, Simpson index. Phenotypic between within species highlighted. Morpho-groups seemed be units representing ecological groups that transversed species. Variations shapes partly related changes; however, not. Thus, deduced fossil microvertebrate communities did not seem main determinants characterized