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Phenotypic Disparity
Phenotypic disparity, also known as morphological diversity, morphological variety, morphological disparity, morphodisparity or simply disparity, refers to the variation of observable characteristics within biological groups. It was originally proposed in paleontology, and has also been introduced into the study of extant organisms. Some biologists view phenotypic disparity as an important aspect of biodiversity, while others believe that they are two different concepts. History Biologists' interest in phenotypic disparity predates the formal concept. Douglas Erwin argued that it had been central to the organismal biology since Georges Cuvier, who utilized it as a criterion for animal classification. However, prior to the development of quantitative methods for measuring disparity, the disparity recognized within the Linnaean taxonomy faced criticism for being unnatural. This concept was first proposed in the 1980s, utilized to explore the evolutionary patterns of variation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Birds Vs Mammals Disparity
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweight skeleton. Birds live worldwide and range in size from the bee hummingbird to the common ostrich. There are over 11,000 living species and they are split into 44 orders. More than half are passerine or "perching" birds. Birds have wings whose development varies according to species; the only known groups without wings are the extinct moa and elephant birds. Wings, which are modified forelimbs, gave birds the ability to fly, although further evolution has led to the loss of flight in some birds, including ratites, penguins, and diverse endemic island species. The digestive and respiratory systems of birds are also uniquely adapted for flight. Some bird species of aquatic environments, particularly seabirds and some waterbirds, have further ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
