The transition to flying insects: lessons from evo-devo and fossils

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 101332 - 101332

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Insects are the only arthropod group to achieve powered flight, which facilitated their explosive radiation on land. It remains a significant challenge understand evolutionary transition from non-flying (apterygote) flying (pterygote) insects due large gap in fossil record. Under such situation, ontogenic information has historically been used compensate evidence. Recent evo-devo studies support and refine paleontology-based classical hypothesis that an ancestral exite incorporated into body wall contributed origin of insect wings. The modern locates precoxa leg segment with within hexapod lateral tergum, reframing long-standing debate wing origin. A current focus is contributions homolog surrounding tissues, as pleuron medial bona fide evolution. In parallel, recent analyses Paleozoic fossils have confirmed thoracic abdominal outgrowths transitional precursors, suggest possible role respiratory organs aquatic or semiaquatic environments. These revised our understanding insects. This review highlights progress both paleontology, discusses future challenges, including evolution metamorphic development.

Language: Английский

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Recent progress in bio-inspired macrostructure array materials with special wettability—from surface engineering to functional applications

International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(1), P. 012008 - 012008

Published: Oct. 18, 2023

Abstract Bio-inspired macrostructure array (MAA, size: submillimeter to millimeter scale) materials with special wettability (MAAMs-SW) have attracted significant research attention due their outstanding performance in many applications, including oil repellency, liquid/droplet manipulation, anti-icing, heat transfer, water collection, and oil–water separation. In this review, we focus on recent developments the theory, design, fabrication, application of bio-inspired MAAMs-SW. We first review history basic theory discuss representative structures corresponding functions some biological surfaces, thus setting stage for design fabrication then summarize methods wetting MAAs terms three categories: additive manufacturing, subtractive formative as well diverse functional providing insights into development these Finally, challenges directions future MAAMs-SW are briefly addressed. Worldwide efforts, progress, breakthroughs from surface engineering applications elaborated herein will promote practical

Language: Английский

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Innovation in ant larval feeding facilitated queen–worker divergence and social complexity

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(9)

Published: Feb. 25, 2025

Building differences between genetically equivalent units is a fundamental challenge for all multicellular organisms and superorganisms. In ants, reproductive or worker fate typically determined during the larval stage, through feeding regimes managed by adult caretakers. However, care provided to larvae varies significantly across as does phenotypic divergence queen castes. Here, we employed comparative phylogenetic methods causal inference investigate relationships care, caste size dimorphism, social complexity ant diversity. We digitized life’s work of George Jeanette Wheeler, cataloging morphology over 700 species, compiled data on species diets behaviors from literature our own observations. measured queen–worker dimorphism in 392 gathered colony size, polymorphism, reproduction. Our analyses revealed that ancestral active-feeding evolved passive morphologies when adults began them individually, with processed material often following shift nonpredatory diets. Greater coevolved passiveness, alongside traits indicative increased complexity, including larger sizes, subcastes, reduction workers’ potential. Likelihood comparisons models support extended alloparental facilitated stronger which, turn along promoted higher complexity. results suggest enhanced control development enabled greater specialization within colonies, profound implications evolution.

Language: Английский

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Domains and Major Transitions of Social Evolution

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 3, 2022

Abstract Evolutionary change is usually incremental and continuous, but some increases in organizational complexity have been radical divisive. biologists, who refer to such events as “major transitions,” not always appreciated that these advances were novel forms of pairwise commitment subjugated previously independent agents. Inclusive fitness theory convincingly explains cooperation conflict societies animals free-living cells, deserve its eminent status it should also capture how major transitions originated: from prokaryote cells eukaryote via differentiated multicellularity, colonies with specialized queen worker castes. As yet, no attempt has made apply inclusive principles the origins events. Domains Major Transitions Social Evolution develops idea evolutionary involved new levels informational closure moved beyond looser partnerships. Early neo-Darwinians understood this principle, later social gradient thinking obscured discontinuity life’s fundamental transitions. The author argues required maximal kinship simple ancestors—not reduction already elaborate societies. Reviewing more than a century literature, he makes testable predictions, proposing open closed organisms require very different explanations. It appears only human ancestors lived complex before our cultural transition occurred. We therefore impose trajectory own history on rest nature. This thought-provoking text suitable for graduate-level students taking courses biology, behavioral ecology, organismal developmental genetics, well professional researchers fields. will appeal broader, interdisciplinary audience, including sciences humanities. Jacobus J. Boomsma Professor Ecology at University Copenhagen.

Language: Английский

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Defense in Social Insects: Diversity, Division of Labor, and Evolution

Annual Review of Entomology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 67(1), P. 407 - 436

Published: Jan. 7, 2022

All social insects defend their colony from predators, parasites, and pathogens. In Oster Wilson's classic work, they posed one of the key paradoxes about defense in insects: Given universal necessity defense, why then is there so much diversity mechanisms? Ecological factors undoubtedly are important: Predation usurpation have imposed strong selection on eusocial insects, active by colonies a ubiquitous feature all insects. The description diverse insect groups with castes sterile workers whose main duty has broadened purview evolution particular respect to caste behavior. Defense central axes along which we can begin organize understand sociality With establishment models such as honey bee, new discoveries emerging regarding endocrine, neural, gene regulatory mechanisms underlying morphological behavioral traits may be shared across groups, providing opportunities for identifying both conserved novel at work. Emerging themes highlight context dependency interaction between that regulate

Language: Английский

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Trait evolution is reversible, repeatable, and decoupled in the soldier caste of turtle ants

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 117(12), P. 6608 - 6615

Published: March 9, 2020

The scope of adaptive phenotypic change within a lineage is shaped by how functional traits evolve. Castes are defining in complex insect societies, and caste evolution expected to be phylogenetically conserved developmentally constrained at broad phylogenetic scales. Yet castes evolve the species level has remained largely unaddressed. Turtle ant soldiers (genus Cephalotes), an iconic example specialization, defend nest entrances using their elaborately armored heads as living barricades. Across species, soldier morphotype determines entrance specialization defensive strategy, while head size sets specific defended entrances. Our species-level comparative analyses reveal that these key ecomorphological extensively reversible, repeatable, decoupled between queen castes. Repeated evolutionary gains losses four morphotypes were reconstructed consistently across multiple analyses. In addition, did not predict mean three most common morphotypes, distributions overlapped broadly all morphotypes. Concordantly, model-fitting approaches suggested best explained process divergent pulses change. Finally, coupled disparity was from both morphotype. These findings demonstrate can highly dynamic level, reshaping our understanding morphological social lineages.

Language: Английский

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Competitive and Coordinative Interactions between Body Parts Produce Adaptive Developmental Outcomes

BioEssays, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 42(8)

Published: June 30, 2020

Abstract Large‐scale patterns of correlated growth in development are partially driven by competition for metabolic and informational resources. It is argued that between organs limited resources an important mesoscale morphogenetic mechanism produces fitness‐enhancing growth. At the genetic level, individual characters appears independent, or “modular,” because expression transcription often highly localized, mutations have trait‐specific effects, gene complexes can be co‐opted as a unit to produce novel traits. However, body parts known interact over course ontogeny, these reciprocal exchanges determinant developmental outcomes. Genetic mechanisms underlie cell tissue behaviors allow communicate with one another, but they also create evolutionarily adaptive competitive dynamics physiological biophysical processes. Advances understanding closely related coordinative interactions across scales will complement existing research programs emphasize role cellular morphogenesis. Study large‐scale order produced promises facilitate advances basic evolutionary biology, well applied fields such bioengineering regenerative medicine aim regulate patterning

Language: Английский

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Evolution and systematics of the Aculeata and kin (Hymenoptera), with emphasis on the ants (Formicoidea: †@@@idae fam. nov., Formicidae)

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 25, 2022

ABSTRACT Fossils provide unique opportunity to understand the tempo and mode of evolution are essential for modeling history lineage diversification. Here, we interrogate Mesozoic fossil record Aculeata, with emphasis on ants (Formicidae), conduct an extended series ancestral state estimation exercises distributions tip-dated combined-evidence phylogenies. We developed illustrated from ground-up a 576 morphological characters which scored 144 extant 431 taxa, including all families Trigonaloidea, Evanioidea, †Ephialtitoidea. used average posterior probability support guide composition target matrix 303 integrated strongly filtered ultraconserved element (UCE) data 115 living species. also implemented reversible jump MCMC (rjMCMC) hidden methods model complex behavioral test hypotheses about pathway obligate eusociality. In addition revising higher classification sampled groups family or subfamily level using estimated character polarities diagnose nodes across phylogeny, find that mid-Cretaceous genera † Camelomecia Camelosphecia form clade is robustly supported as sister Formicidae. For this reason, name extinct †@@@idae fam. nov. definition expanded Formicoidea. Based our results, recognize three major phases in early ants: (1) origin Formicoidea ground-adapted huntresses during Late Jurassic “stinging aggressor” guild (Aculeata) among various lineages “sneaking parasitoids” (non-aculeate Vespina); (2) first formicoid radiation Early Cretaceous, by end linages originated; (3) turnover at end-Cretaceous leading second radiation. conclude concentrated considerations future directions study dataset beyond.

Language: Английский

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One genome, multiple phenotypes: decoding the evolution and mechanisms of environmentally induced developmental plasticity in insects

Biochemical Society Transactions, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 51(2), P. 675 - 689

Published: March 16, 2023

Plasticity in developmental processes gives rise to remarkable environmentally induced phenotypes. Some of the most striking and well-studied examples plasticity are seen insects. For example, beetle horn size responds nutritional state, butterfly eyespots enlarged response temperature humidity, environmental cues also give queen worker castes eusocial These phenotypes arise from essentially identical genomes an cue during development. Developmental is taxonomically widespread, affects individual fitness, may act as a rapid-response mechanism allowing individuals adapt changing environments. Despite importance prevalence plasticity, there remains scant mechanistic understanding how it works or evolves. In this review, we use key discuss what known about insects identify fundamental gaps current knowledge. We highlight working towards fully integrated diverse range species. Furthermore, advocate for comparative studies evo-devo framework address

Language: Английский

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Mandibular morphology, task specialization and bite mechanics in Pheidole ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 18(179), P. 20210318 - 20210318

Published: June 1, 2021

Ants show remarkable ecological and evolutionary success due to their social life history division of labour among colony members. In some lineages, the worker force became subdivided into morphologically distinct individuals (i.e. minor versus major workers), allowing for differential performance particular roles in colony. However, functional significance these morphological differences are not well understood. Here, we applied finite element analysis (FEA) explore biomechanical between ant mandibles. Analyses were carried out on mandibles two Pheidole species, a dimorphic genus. We tested whether evolved minimize stress when compared minors using combinations apical tooth masticatory margin bites under strike pressure conditions. Majors performed better conditions yet, contrary our expectations, bite scenarios. Moreover, demonstrated that even small might lead substantial responses loading. These results also underscore potential FEA uncover consequences within workers.

Language: Английский

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