Evolutionary bursts drive morphological novelty in the world’s largest skinks

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 29, 2024

Summary Animal phenotypes evolve and diverge as a result of differing selective pressures drift. These processes leave unique signatures in patterns trait evolution, impacting the tempo mode morphological macroevolution. While there is broad understanding history some organismal traits (e.g. body size), little consensus about evolutionary most others. This includes relative contribution prolonged (Darwinian gradualist) episodic (Simpsonian jump) changes towards evolution novel morphologies. Here we use new exon-capture linear datasets to investigate Australo-Melanesian Tiliquini skinks. We generate well-supported time-calibrated phylogenomic tree from ∼400 nuclear markers for more than 100 specimens including undescribed diversity, provide unprecedented resolution rapid Miocene diversification these lizards. By collecting dataset that encompasses lizard plan (19 across head, body, limb, tail) are able identify conservatively but infrequent bursts novelty. phenotypic discontinuities occur via rate increases along individual branches, inconsistent with both gradualistic punctuated equilibrial modes. Instead, this ‘punctuated gradualism’ has resulted blue-tongued giants armored dwarves ∼20 million years since colonizing Australia. results outline pathway morphologies highlight heterogeneity mode, even within traits.

Language: Английский

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Evolvability: filling the explanatory gap between adaptedness and the long-term mathematical conception of fitness

Biology & Philosophy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(4)

Published: July 16, 2024

Abstract The new foundation for the propensity interpretation of fitness (PIF), developed by Pence and Ramsey (Br J Philos Sci 64:851–881, 2013), describes as a probability distribution that encompasses all possible daughter populations to which organism may give rise, including in traits might change environments members encounter. This long-term definition is general enough avoid counterexamples faced previous mathematical conceptions PIF. However, there seem be downsides its generality: ecological role involves describing degree adaptedness between an specific environment it inhabits. When changes population encounter are included concept, becomes difficult see how can fulfill this role. In paper, we argue feature Ramsey’s view rather than bug: accommodates evolvability considerations, concern variation plays evolutionary processes. Building on foundations, show fitness— F —can partitioned into fourths: adaptedness, robustness two facets evolvability. Conceptualizing these last three components forces us consider played grains description both organisms when thinking about fitness. They track possibility could type way responding environmental challenges, or persists face novel environments. We just salient Together, decomposition provides more accurate picture factors involved success.

Language: Английский

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Conserved variation across scales unveils dialectical relationships of micro- and macroevolution

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 3, 2024

Abstract Variation enables short-term evolution (microevolution), but its role in long-term (macroevolution) is debated. Here, we analyzed a dataset of Drosophila wing variation across six levels biological organization to demonstrate that microevolutionary and macroevolutionary divergence are positively correlated at all from within an individual 40 million years macroevolution. Surprisingly, the strongest relationship was between developmental noise divergence—levels thought be most distant—whereas standing genetic population modest, despite established theoretical predictions. Our results indicate congruence system with history fluctuation adaptive peaks creates dialectical relationships microevolution

Language: Английский

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Evolvability

Elsevier eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

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An introduction to the special issue: inferring macroevolutionary patterns and processes from microevolutionary mechanisms

Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 37(12), P. 1395 - 1401

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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