It is important to quantify patterns of morphological diversity to enhance our understanding of variation in ecological and evolutionary traits. Here, we present a quantitative analysis of morphological diversity in a family of small mammals, the tenrecs (Afrosoricida, Tenrecidae). Tenrecs are often cited as an example of an exceptionally morphologically diverse group. However, this assumption ...

Estimates of genetic diversity can be based on different types of data. The aim of this research were to study genetic diversity among Croatian wheat cultivars by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, morphological traits and pedigree records; to analyse differences between wheat cultivars from two breeding centres; and to evaluate usability of RAPD markers for estimation of genetic ...

Of the 600 known yam species, only 10 are utilized as food, and the Dioscorea cayenensis/D. rotundata species complex is among the most cultivated. In Brazil, these species are commercially cultivated in the northeast region and are cultivated in the south and southeast regions as subsistence crops by traditional agriculturists. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity of 21 local var...

Morphological and molecular characterization of twenty six landraces rice and four high yielding rice accessions were studied to observe genetic diversity assessment and identification of superior genotypes for crop improvement program. Fourteen morphological and twenty seven DNA based molecular markers, simple sequence repeat (SSR), were used extensively to carry out this study. A wide range o...

Seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L. var. asperma) is one of the few crops that is only cultivated in eastern parts of Iran. As a new crop there has not been any study to identify phylogenetic relationships of this plant with other related species existing in Iran. In this study, Amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers based on four selected primer combinations (EcoRI/Tru1I...

The association between diversification and evolutionary innovations has been well documented and tested in studies of taxonomic richness but the impact that such innovations have on the diversity of form and function is less well understood. Using phylogenetically rigorous techniques, we investigated the association between morphological diversity and two design breakthroughs within the jaws o...

The relationship between species richness and the occupation of niche space can provide insight into the processes that shape patterns of biodiversity. For example, if species interactions constrained coexistence, one might expect tendencies toward even spacing within niche space and positive relationships between diversity and total niche volume. I use morphological diversity of passerine bird...