scholarly journals An evolutionary perspective on conflict and compensation in physiological and functional traits

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 755-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry F. Husak ◽  
Simon P. Lailvaux
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Sexual Conflict ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Selection Pressures ◽  
Intralocus Sexual Conflict ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectories ◽  
And Function ◽  
Genetic Conflicts ◽  
Interacting Phenotypes ◽  
Natural And Sexual Selection

Abstract Physiological and functional traits, especially those related to behavior and whole-organism performance capacities, are subject to a variety of both parallel and opposing natural and sexual selection pressures. These selection pressures show considerable interspecific variation, shaping contemporary behavioral and functional diversity, but the form and intensity of selection on physiological and functional traits can also vary intraspecifically. The same suites of traits can experience quite different selection pressures, depending on the sex or age of a given individual, as well as the presence and nature of alternative reproductive strategies and tactics. These interand intra-locus genetic conflicts have potentially important consequences for the evolutionary trajectories of traits subject to them. Consequently, any intraspecific conflicts which could displace traits from their selective optima in certain classes of individuals relative to others are expected to result in selection for mechanisms to compensate for deviation from those optima. Such conflicts include interlocus sexual conflict, intralocus sexual conflict, and interacting phenotypes, as well as conflict within a sex. In this paper, we consider the evidence for, and implications of, such conflicts for physiological and functional traits in diverse taxa, including both vertebrates and invertebrates, and evaluate the various mechanisms, ranging from behavioral and mechanical to energetic and genetic, enabling compensation. We also discuss how preand post-mating conflicts, as well as interacting phenotypes, might affect the evolution of behavior and physiological and functional traits. Investigators that seek to understand the links among behavior, morphology, physiology, and function should consider such conflicts.

Network properties as functional traits for fungi

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Aguilar-Trigueros ◽  
Mark Fricker ◽  
Matthias Rillig
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Ecological Strategies ◽  
Body Type ◽  
Network Growth ◽  
Transport Efficiency ◽  
Network Parameters ◽  
Phylogenetic Affiliation ◽  
Network Properties

<p>Fungal mycelia consist of an interconnected network of filamentous hyphae and represent the dominant phase of the lifecycle in all major fungal phyla, from basal to more recent clades. Indeed, the ecological success of fungi on land is partly due to such filamentous network growth. Nevertheless, fungal ecologists rarely use network features as functional traits. Given the widespread occurrence of this body type, we hypothesized that interspecific variation in network features may reflect both phylogenetic affiliation and distinct ecological strategies among species. We show first that there is high interspecific variation in network parameters of fungi, which partly correlates with taxonomy; and second that network parameters, related to predicted-mycelial transport mechanisms during the exploration phase, reveal the trait space in mycelium architecture across species.  This space predicts a continuum of ecological strategies along two extremes: from highly connected mycelia with high resilience to damage but limited transport efficiency, to poorly connected mycelia with low resilience but high transport efficiency. We argue that mycelial networks are potentially a rich source of information to inform functional trait analysis in fungi, but we also note the challenges in establishing common principles and processing pipelines that are required to facilitate widespread use of network properties as functional traits in fungal ecology.</p>

scholarly journals Seed Functional Traits Provide Support for Ecological Restoration and ex situ Conservation in the Threatened Amazon Ironstone Outcrop Flora

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcilio Zanetti ◽  
Roberta L. C. Dayrell ◽  
Mariana V. Wardil ◽  
Alexandre Damasceno ◽  
Tais Fernandes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperatures ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Seed Traits ◽  
Physical Dormancy ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
Germination Traits

Cangas (ironstone outcrops) host a specialized flora, characterized by high degree of edaphic endemism and an apparent lack of natural history knowledge of its flora. Due to intense pressure from iron ore mining this ecosystem is under threat and in need of restoration. We studied seed functional traits that are relevant for restoration, translocation and ex situ conservation in 48 species from cangas in eastern Amazon. Were determined the thermal niche breadth, classified seed dormancy and determined methods to overcome it, determined the effect of seed storage on germination, tested the association between germination traits and functional groups, and tested whether seed traits are phylogenetically conserved. We found a broad interspecific variation in most seed traits, except for seed water content. Large interspecific variation in the temperature niche breadth was found among the studied species, but only four species, showed optimum germination at high temperatures of 35–40°C, despite high temperatures under natural conditions. Only 35% of the studied species produced dormant seeds. Mechanical scarification was effective in overcoming physical dormancy and application of gibberellic acid was effective in overcoming physiological dormancy in five species. For the 29 species that seeds were stored for 24 months, 76% showed decreases in the germination percentage. The weak association between germination traits and life-history traits indicate that no particular plant functional type requires specific methods for seed-based translocations. Exceptions were the lianas which showed relatively larger seeds compared to the other growth-forms. Dormancy was the only trait strongly related to phylogeny, suggesting that phylogenetic relatedness may not be a good predictor of regeneration from seeds in cangas. Our study provides support to better manage seed sourcing, use, storage and enhancement techniques with expected reduced costs and increased seedling establishment success.

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