scholarly journals Contrasting global-scale evolutionary radiations: phylogeny, diversification, and morphological evolution in the major clades of iguanian lizards

2012 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Blankers ◽  
Ted M. Townsend ◽  
Kristen Pepe ◽  
Tod W. Reeder ◽  
John J. Wiens
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Evolutionary Radiations

scholarly journals Macroevolutionary pattern of Saussurea (Asteraceae) provides insights into the drivers of radiating diversification

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1962) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Jacob B. Landis ◽  
Yanxia Sun ◽  
Huajie Zhang ◽  
Nan Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Ecological Distribution ◽  
Rapid Radiation ◽  
Diversification Rates ◽  
Intrinsic Factors ◽  
Evolutionary Radiations

Evolutionary radiations have intrigued biologists for more than a century, yet our understanding of the drivers of radiating diversification is still limited. We investigate the roles of environmental and species-intrinsic factors in driving the rapid radiation of Saussurea (Asteraceae) by deploying a number of palaeoenvironment-, diversity- and trait-dependent models, as well as ecological distribution data. We show that three main clades of Saussurea began to diversify in the Miocene almost simultaneously, with increasing diversification rates (DRs) negatively dependent on palaeotemperature but not dependent on species diversity. Our trait-dependent models detect some adaptive morphological innovations associated with DR shifts, while indicating additional unobserved traits are also likely driving diversification. Accounting for ecological niche data, we further reveal that accelerations in DRs are correlated with niche breadth and the size of species' range. Our results point out a macroevolutionary scenario where both adaptive morphological evolution and ecological opportunities provided by palaeoenvironmental fluctuations triggered an exceptionally radiating diversification. Our study highlights the importance of integrating phylogenomic, morphological, ecological and model-based approaches to illustrate evolutionary dynamics of lineages in biodiversity hotspots.

scholarly journals A Tale of Two Deltas: Dam-Induced Hydro-Morphological Evolution of the Volta River Delta (Ghana) and Yellow River Delta (China)

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 3198
Author(s):  
Dongxue Li ◽  
Weilun Gao ◽  
Dongdong Shao ◽  
Mawusi Amenuvor ◽  
Yao Tong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yellow River ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
River Mouth ◽  
Yellow River Delta ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
River Delta ◽  
The Yellow River ◽  
Quasi Equilibrium ◽  
The Yellow River Delta ◽  
Future Evolution

Previous studies mostly focus on an individual delta, or deltas at a global scale, to explore dam effects on deltaic hydrological alteration and morphological evolution, while comparative studies on selected similar deltas remain scarce. In this study, we compare the alteration of river discharge and sediment load, as well as the associated deltaic area and shoreline, of two deltas, namely, the Volta River Delta in Ghana and the Yellow River Delta in China, which are subject to similar forcings and mainstem dam influences. The results show that the sediment loads of the Volta River Delta and Yellow River Delta have decreased abruptly and gradually, respectively, to ~10% of the pre-dam level, presumably due to differences in reservoir capacity and upstream dam location. Sediment decline has led to a decrease of the fluvial dominance ratio, which has also been affected by the river mouth location and shoreline orientation. As a consequence, the area of the Volta River Delta has shifted to a new quasi-equilibrium, whereas the Yellow River Delta has kept prograding. This comparative study provides references for understanding the future evolution of similar deltas around the world.

scholarly journals Craniofacial allometry is a rule in evolutionary radiations of placentals

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cardini Andrea
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Important Research ◽  
Ontogenetic Changes ◽  
General Rules ◽  
Evolutionary Radiation ◽  
Evolutionary Radiations ◽  
Land Vertebrates

AbstractIt has been suggested that larger species of mammals tend to become long-faced when they diverge in size during an evolutionary radiation. However, whether this allometric pattern, reminiscent of ontogenetic changes in skull proportions, is indeed a rule has yet to be thoroughly tested. Using ~6000 adult specimens from 14 phylogenetically well separated and ecomorphologically distinctive lineages, 11 orders, and all superorders of the placentals, I tested each group for positive craniofacial allometry (CREA). The evidence supporting CREA is overwhelming, with virtually all analyses showing proportionally longer faces in bigger species. This corroborates previous studies in other groups, consolidates CREA as a pervasive morphological trend in placental evolution and opens important research avenues for connecting micro- and macro-evolution. If found in even more lineages of non-placental mammals, confirmed in birds, and possibly discovered in other tetrapods, CREA could become one of the most general rules of morphological evolution in land vertebrates.

A quantitative image analysis method for the determination of cocontinuity in polymer blends

1993 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 894-895
Author(s):  
William A. Heeschen
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Polymer Blends ◽  
Quantitative Measurement ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Phase Ratio ◽  
Irregular Shapes ◽  
Quantitative Image ◽  
Discrete Domains ◽  
A Domains

Two new morphological measurements based on digital image analysis, CoContinuity and CoContinuity Balance, have been developed and implemented for quantitative measurement of morphology in polymer blends. The morphology of polymer blends varies with phase ratio, composition and processing. A typical morphological evolution for increasing phase ratio of polymer A to polymer B starts with discrete domains of A in a matrix of B (A/B < 1), moves through a cocontinuous distribution of A and B (A/B ≈ 1) and finishes with discrete domains of B in a matrix of A (A/B > 1). For low phase ratios, A is often seen as solid convex particles embedded in the continuous B phase. As the ratio increases, A domains begin to evolve into irregular shapes, though still recognizable as separate domains. Further increase in the phase ratio leads to A domains which extend into and surround the B phase while the B phase simultaneously extends into and surrounds the A phase.

Bringing the World’s Children Into Focus: Cultivating Well-Being on a Global ScaleBringing the World’s Children Into Focus: Cultivating Well-Being on a Global Scale

PsycCRITIQUES ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6060 (2828) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura E. Berk ◽  
Gregory S. Braswell ◽  
Adena B. Meyers ◽  
Rocío Rivadeneyra ◽  
Maria Schmeeckle
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Global Scale

Can Bitcoin be the Future of Digital Payments?

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 489-500
Author(s):  
Andrea Valente ◽  
◽  
David Atkinson ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Price Volatility ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Future ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
Digital Payments ◽  
Robust Regulation ◽  
Stakeholder Acceptance

This study aimed to investigate the conditions in which Bitcoin has developed as a leading cryptocurrency and, according to Nakamoto (2008), could become an instrument for everyday payments around the world. In comparison to other digital payment solutions, Bitcoin is based on a peer-to-peer electronic cash system using “the blockchain”. This innovative technology allows for decentralised storage and movement of currency in a fully anonymous way, introducing advantageous methods for encrypted security and faster transactions (Hagiu & Beach, 2014). Scepticism regards Bitcoin’s foundation, energy consumption and price volatility, however, did not take long to arise (Holthaus, 2017). Ten years from its white paper release, Bitcoin is further supported by the same drivers which could sustain its growth as the future of digital payments (Russo, 2018). In order to investigate the key drivers and feasibility of acceptance, a London based survey was used to understand the desirability of Bitcoin as a day-to-day tool for digital payments. Additionally, this research analysed Bitcoin’s stakeholders and forecast drivers of sustainability for its application to become the future of the payment industry. A space which relies on policies that involve multiple layers of society, governments, regulators and tech-firms, all on a global scale. The findings confirmed how the increasing lack of trust of political and financial institutions, coupled with the increasing cases of data-breaches by tech-firms, encouraged over 70% of respondents to consider more decentralised and anonymous methods for their day-to-day actions; like payments. Policy makers need to cope with societies increasingly separating politically but gathering together digitally (LBS, 2017). For Bitcoin to truly establish itself as a global digital payment solution, key stakeholder acceptance must converge alongside the introduction of more robust regulation.

IFEES: Enhancing Engineering Education at a Global Scale

2008 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 5-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Morell ◽  
C. Borri ◽  
H.J. Hoyer ◽  
S.A. Rajala ◽  
S. Ramakrishna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Education ◽  
Global Scale

Pendidikan Islam dan Pluralisme Beragama

1970 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14
Author(s):  
M Slamet Yahya
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Islamic Education ◽  
Religious Texts ◽  
Life Orientation ◽  
Religious Plurality ◽  
Prophetic Mission

Islam is a religion that has prophetic mission, namely rahmatan lil ‘alamin, blessing to universe. To realize this mission, Islamic education must able to produce outputs that have inclusive character, pluralist, and appreciative to pluralism. Pluralism in Islam not only normatively supported by religious texts, but also on praxis-empiric level. Islam also has practiced life orientation that reflected religious plurality. Therefore, on global scale, acknowledgment to religious plurality became essential and significant matter. To realize this, it’s urgently needed wisdom to suppress emotional and radical attitude on everyday life. 

Constitutional aspects of the reform of the Polish justice system in 2017–2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 276-293
Author(s):  
Mateusz Radajewski
Keyword(s):  
Supreme Court ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
National Council ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
European Regulations

Summary The article concerns the issue of constitutionality of the reform of the justice system in Poland in 2017–2018, which resulted in significant changes of the functioning of the National Council of the Judiciary and the Supreme Court. When discussing the reform of the Supreme Court, the author first of all points to the constitutional problems associated with the premature retirement of some of its judges, which is also connected with the interruption of the six-year term of the First President of the Supreme Court. A separate issue discussed in the article is the introduction to the Supreme Court the lay judges, which is a unique phenomenon on the global scale. The analyses lead the author to formulate final conclusions, also referring to the European regulations and to refer to the unconstitutionality of the solutions adopted by the Polish parliament.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document