RT Journal Article
T1 Facial asymmetry tracks genetic diversity among Gorilla subspecies
A1 McGrath, Kate
A1 Eriksen, Amandine B.
A1 García Martínez, Daniel
A1 Galbany, Jordi
A1 Gómez Robles, Aida
A1 Massey, Jason S.
A1 Fatica, M.
A1 Glowacka, Halszka
A1 Arbenz Smith, Keely
A1 Muvunyi, Richard
A1 Stoinski, Tara S.
A1 Cranfield, Michael R.
A1 Gilardi, Kirsten
A1 Shalukoma, Chantal
A1 Merode, Emmanuel de
A1 Gilissen, Emmanuel
A1 Tocheri, Matthew W.
A1 McFarlin, Shannon C.
A1 Heuzé, Yann
AB Mountain gorillas are particularly inbred compared to other gorillas and even the most inbred human populations. As mountain gorilla skeletal material accumulated during the 1970s, researchers noted their pronounced facial asymmetry and hypothesized that it reflects a population-wide chewing side preference. However, asymmetry has also been linked to environmental and genetic stress in experimental models. Here, we examine facial asymmetry in 114 crania from three Gorilla subspecies using 3D geometric morphometrics. We measure fluctuating asymmetry (FA), defined as random deviations from perfect symmetry, and population-specific patterns of directional asymmetry (DA). Mountain gorillas, with a current population size of about 1000 individuals, have the highest degree of facial FA (explaining 17% of total facial shape variation), followed by Grauer gorillas (9%) and western lowland gorillas (6%), despite the latter experiencing the greatest ecological and dietary variability. DA, while significant in all three taxa, explains relatively less shape variation than FA does. Facial asymmetry correlates neither with tooth wear asymmetry nor increases with age in a mountain gorilla subsample, undermining the hypothesis that facial asymmetry is driven by chewing side preference. An examination of temporal trends shows that stress-induced developmental instability has increased over the last 100 years in these endangered apes.
PB The Royal Society
SN 0962-8452 Electronic: 1471-2954
YR 2022
FD 2022-02-23
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/71830
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/71830
LA eng
NO Unión Europea. Horizonte 2020
NO Unión Europea. FP7
NO National Geographic Society
NO National Science Foundation
NO The Ohio State University President's Postdoctoral Scholars Program
NO German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
NO French Government
DS Docta Complutense
RD 9 abr 2025