Comparing life histories using phylogenies

1991 ◽  
Vol 332 (1262) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Selective Forces ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Optimality Models

The comparative method as recently developed can be used to identify statistically independent instances of life-history evolution. When life-history traits show evidence for correlated evolutionary change with each other or with ecological differences, it is often possible to single out the trade-offs and selective forces responsible for the evolution of life-history diversity. Suites of life-history characters often evolve in concert, and recent optimality models incorporating few variables show promise for interpreting that evolution in terms of few selective forces. Because hosts provide well-defined environments for their parasites, when host-parasite phylogenies are congruent it is possible to test ideas about the evolution of particular life-history and size-related traits.

scholarly journals The Phylogenetic Approach to Avian Life Histories: An Important Complement to Within-Population Studies

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Winkler
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Statistical Convergence ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Life History Variation ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Character Variation

Abstract In recent years, two approaches have emerged for the analysis of character evolution: the largely statistical “convergence” approach and the mainly cladistic “homology” approach. I discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches as they apply to phylogenetic analyses of life-history variation in birds. Using examples from analyses of character variation in swallows, I suggest that the phylogenetic approach yields distinctive insights into the selective role of the environment and other characters of the organism on the evolution of life-history traits. This view thus has the potential of bringing together micro- and macro-evolutionary views of life-history evolution.

Ecophysiological responses in life-history evolution: evidence for their importance in a geographically widespread insect species complex

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 875-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Tauber ◽  
Maurice J. Tauber
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Physiological Basis ◽  
Geographical Patterns ◽  
Species Complexes ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Ecophysiological Responses ◽  
History Evolution

Geographical patterns of variation among North American populations of Chrysoperla carnea provide strong evidence that ecophysiological traits are central to the evolution of life histories. Selection pressure and the types and amounts of genetic variability underlying the traits vary geographically. Western populations exhibit considerable genetic variability in their reproductive responses to both photoperiod and prey. This variability is expressed both at the interpopulation level by the diversity of locally adapted populations and at the intrapopulation level in the form of genetic polymorphisms. By contrast, eastern, midwestern, and northwestern regions contain two types of reproductively isolated, monomorphic populations. The two types differ in their photoperiodic requirements for reproduction, but neither uses prey as a cue to stimulate reproduction. Although most of the characteristic responses to photoperiod and prey can vary independently of each other, the separate traits tend to covary to form coadaptive sets. The covariance of a few responses appears to have a genetic or physiological basis, a condition that places constraints on the evolution of life histories. Our results also demonstrate that comparative studies at the intraspecific level are highly significant to the analysis of life-history evolution and to the taxonomic treatment of species complexes.

scholarly journals The roles of environmental variation and parasite survival in virulence–transmission relationships

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 210088
Author(s):  
Wendy C. Turner ◽  
Pauline L. Kamath ◽  
Henriette van Heerden ◽  
Yen-Hua Huang ◽  
Zoe R. Barandongo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Adaptive Dynamics ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Environmental Context ◽  
Parasite Life Cycle ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Evolution Of Virulence ◽  
Parasite Survival ◽  
Host Parasite

Disease outbreaks are a consequence of interactions among the three components of a host–parasite system: the infectious agent, the host and the environment. While virulence and transmission are widely investigated, most studies of parasite life-history trade-offs are conducted with theoretical models or tractable experimental systems where transmission is standardized and the environment controlled. Yet, biotic and abiotic environmental factors can strongly affect disease dynamics, and ultimately, host–parasite coevolution. Here, we review research on how environmental context alters virulence–transmission relationships, focusing on the off-host portion of the parasite life cycle, and how variation in parasite survival affects the evolution of virulence and transmission. We review three inter-related ‘approaches’ that have dominated the study of the evolution of virulence and transmission for different host–parasite systems: (i) evolutionary trade-off theory, (ii) parasite local adaptation and (iii) parasite phylodynamics. These approaches consider the role of the environment in virulence and transmission evolution from different angles, which entail different advantages and potential biases. We suggest improvements to how to investigate virulence–transmission relationships, through conceptual and methodological developments and taking environmental context into consideration. By combining developments in life-history evolution, phylogenetics, adaptive dynamics and comparative genomics, we can improve our understanding of virulence–transmission relationships across a diversity of host–parasite systems that have eluded experimental study of parasite life history.

Constraints in the evolution of life histories

1991 ◽  
Vol 332 (1262) ◽  
pp. 3-13 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Local Optima ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Diversity Of Life ◽  
Irreversible Evolution

The life history favoured by natural selection maximizes fitness, and this implies maximization of fecundity and survival at all ages. The observed diversity in life histories suggests that there are constraints on what can be achieved in practice. Functional constraints occur if only certain combinations of age-specific fertility and survival are possible, either because of the physiology of the organism or because of the ecological impact of its environment. The resulting constrained optimization means that the organism is involved in making trade-offs between life-history characters. A major task for the future is the measurement of trade-off functions in the environment in which the life-history evolved. Natural variation between individuals and populations, genetic studies and experimental manipulations have all been used to detect trade-offs. The last two methods are the most satisfactory, and can be complementary. Experimental manipulations are at their best when based on sound physiological understanding of the traits under manipulation. Constraints can also operate on the long-term. Local optima, evolutionary lags and irreversible evolution may all have contributed to the diversity of life histories.

scholarly journals The role of telomeres in the mechanisms and evolution of life-history trade-offs and ageing

2018 ◽  
Vol 373 (1741) ◽  
pp. 20160452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Young
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Telomere Maintenance ◽  
Causal Role ◽  
Telomere Attrition ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Telomere Biology

Evolutionary biology and biomedicine have seen a surge of recent interest in the possibility that telomeres play a role in life-history trade-offs and ageing. Here, I evaluate alternative hypotheses for the role of telomeres in the mechanisms and evolution of life-history trade-offs and ageing, and highlight outstanding challenges. First, while recent findings underscore the possibility of a proximate causal role for telomeres in current–future trade-offs and ageing, it is currently unclear (i) whether telomeres ever play a causal role in either and (ii) whether any causal role for telomeres arises via shortening or length-independent mechanisms. Second, I consider why, if telomeres do play a proximate causal role, selection has not decoupled such a telomere-mediated trade-off between current and future performance. Evidence suggests that evolutionary constraints have not rendered such decoupling impossible. Instead, a causal role for telomeres would more plausibly reflect an adaptive strategy, born of telomere maintenance costs and/or a function for telomere attrition (e.g. in countering cancer), the relative importance of which is currently unclear. Finally, I consider the potential for telomere biology to clarify the constraints at play in life-history evolution, and to explain the form of the current–future trade-offs and ageing trajectories that we observe today. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics’.

Hormones and Behavior

2019 ◽  
pp. 11-26
Author(s):  
Maren N. Vitousek ◽  
Laura A. Schoenle
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
And Behavior

Hormones mediate the expression of life history traits—phenotypic traits that contribute to lifetime fitness (i.e., reproductive timing, growth rate, number and size of offspring). The endocrine system shapes phenotype by organizing tissues during developmental periods and by activating changes in behavior, physiology, and morphology in response to varying physical and social environments. Because hormones can simultaneously regulate many traits (hormonal pleiotropy), they are important mediators of life history trade-offs among growth, reproduction, and survival. This chapter reviews the role of hormones in shaping life histories with an emphasis on developmental plasticity and reversible flexibility in endocrine and life history traits. It also discusses the advantages of studying hormone–behavior interactions from an evolutionary perspective. Recent research in evolutionary endocrinology has provided insight into the heritability of endocrine traits, how selection on hormone systems may influence the evolution of life histories, and the role of hormonal pleiotropy in driving or constraining evolution.

scholarly journals The physiological costs of reproduction in small mammals

2007 ◽  
Vol 363 (1490) ◽  
pp. 375-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R Speakman
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Direct Costs ◽  
Costs Of Reproduction ◽  
Dominant Component ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Almost All

Life-history trade-offs between components of fitness arise because reproduction entails both gains and costs. Costs of reproduction can be divided into ecological and physiological costs. The latter have been rarely studied yet are probably a dominant component of the effect. A deeper understanding of life-history evolution will only come about once these physiological costs are better understood. Physiological costs may be direct or indirect. Direct costs include the energy and nutrient demands of the reproductive event, and the morphological changes that are necessary to facilitate achieving these demands. Indirect costs may be optional ‘compensatory costs’ whereby the animal chooses to reduce investment in some other aspect of its physiology to maximize the input of resource to reproduction. Such costs may be distinguished from consequential costs that are an inescapable consequence of the reproductive event. In small mammals, the direct costs of reproduction involve increased energy, protein and calcium demands during pregnancy, but most particularly during lactation. Organ remodelling is necessary to achieve the high demands of lactation and involves growth of the alimentary tract and associated organs such as the liver and pancreas. Compensatory indirect costs include reductions in thermogenesis, immune function and physical activity. Obligatory consequential costs include hyperthermia, bone loss, disruption of sleep patterns and oxidative stress. This is unlikely to be a complete list. Our knowledge of these physiological costs is currently at best described as rudimentary. For some, we do not even know whether they are compensatory or obligatory. For almost all of them, we have no idea of exact mechanisms or how these costs translate into fitness trade-offs.

scholarly journals Life‐history evolution in the anthropocene: effects of increasing nutrients on traits and trade‐offs

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 635-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Snell‐Rood ◽  
Rickey Cothran ◽  
Anne Espeset ◽  
Punidan Jeyasingh ◽  
Sarah Hobbie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
History Evolution

A Primer of Life Histories

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey A. Hutchings
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Academic Experience ◽  
Sustainable Exploitation ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Opportune Time

Life histories describe how genotypes schedule their reproductive effort throughout life in response to factors that affect their survival and fecundity. Life histories are solutions that selection has produced to solve the problem of how to persist in a given environment. These solutions differ tremendously within and among species. Some organisms mature within months of attaining life, others within decades; some produce few, large offspring as opposed to numerous, small offspring; some reproduce many times throughout their lives while others die after reproducing just once. The exponential pace of life-history research provides an opportune time to engage and re-engage new generations of students and researchers on the fundamentals and applications of life-history theory. Chapters 1 through 4 describe the fundamentals of life-history theory. Chapters 5 through 8 focus on the evolution of life-history traits. Chapters 9 and 10 summarize how life-history theory and prediction has been applied within the contexts of conservation and sustainable exploitation. This primer offers an effective means of rendering the topic accessible to readers from a broad range of academic experience and research expertise.

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