Thermal niche evolution of functional traits in a tropical marine phototroph

AbstractElucidating how ecological and evolutionary mechanisms interact to produce and maintain biodiversity is a fundamental problem in evolutionary ecology. We investigate this issue by focusing on how physiological evolution affects performance and species coexistence along the thermal niche axis in replicated radiations ofAnolislizards, groups best known for resource partitioning based on morphological divergence. We find repeated divergence in thermal physiology within these radiations, and that this divergence significantly affects performance within natural thermal environments. Morphologically similar species that co-occur invariably differ in their thermal physiology, providing evidence that physiological divergence facilitates species co-existence within anole communities. Despite repeated divergence in traits of demonstrable ecological importance, phylogenetic comparative analyses indicate that physiological traits have evolved more slowly than key morphological traits related to the structural niche. Phylogenetic analyses also reveal that physiological divergence is correlated with divergence in broad-scale habitat climatic features commonly used to estimate thermal niche evolution, but that the latter incompletely predicts variation in the former. We provide comprehensive evidence for repeated adaptive evolution of physiological divergence withinAnolisadaptive radiations, including the complementary roles of physiological and morphological divergence in promoting community-level diversity. We recommend greater integration of performance-based traits into analyses of climatic niche evolution, as they facilitate a more complete understanding of the phenotypic and ecological consequences of climatic divergence.

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Thermal niche evolution across replicated Anolis lizard adaptive radiations

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2017.2241 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 285 (1877) ◽

pp. 20172241 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Alex R. Gunderson ◽

D. Luke Mahler ◽

Manuel Leal

Keyword(s):

Species Coexistence ◽

Fundamental Problem ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Similar Species ◽

Morphological Divergence ◽

Thermal Physiology ◽

Niche Evolution ◽

Thermal Niche ◽

Anolis Lizard ◽

Adaptive Radiations

Elucidating how ecological and evolutionary mechanisms interact to produce and maintain biodiversity is a fundamental problem in evolutionary ecology. Here, we focus on how physiological evolution affects performance and species coexistence along the thermal niche axis in replicated radiations of Anolis lizards best known for resource partitioning based on morphological divergence. We find repeated divergence in thermal physiology within these radiations, and that this divergence significantly affects performance within natural thermal environments. Morphologically similar species that co-occur invariably differ in their thermal physiology, providing evidence that physiological divergence facilitates species coexistence within anole communities. Despite repeated divergence, phylogenetic comparative analyses indicate that physiological traits have evolved more slowly than key morphological traits related to the structural niche. Phylogenetic analyses also reveal that physiological divergence is correlated with divergence in broad-scale habitat climatic features commonly used to estimate thermal niche evolution, but that the latter incompletely predicts variation in the former. We provide comprehensive evidence for repeated adaptive evolution of physiological divergence within Anolis adaptive radiations, including the complementary roles of physiological and morphological divergence in promoting community-level diversity. We recommend greater integration of performance-based traits into analyses of climatic niche evolution, as they facilitate a more complete understanding of the phenotypic and ecological consequences of climatic divergence.

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Thermal niche evolution and geographical range expansion in a species complex of western Mediterranean diving beetles

BMC Evolutionary Biology ◽

10.1186/s12862-014-0187-y ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Amparo Hidalgo-Galiana ◽

David Sánchez-Fernández ◽

David T Bilton ◽

Alexandra Cieslak ◽

Ignacio Ribera

Keyword(s):

Range Expansion ◽

Species Complex ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Geographical Range ◽

Niche Evolution ◽

Thermal Niche ◽

Diving Beetles

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Ecology and biogeography in the introduction to “De bestiis marinis” by Georg Wilhelm Steller

Archives of Natural History ◽

10.3366/anh.2019.0554 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 63-74

Author(s):

Stefano Mattioli

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Phenotypic Plasticity ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

Functional Traits ◽

Marine Mammals ◽

Main Part ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Restricted Range ◽

Direct Influence ◽

Modern Biology

The rediscovery of the original, unedited Latin manuscript of Georg Wilhelm Steller's “De bestiis marinis” (“On marine mammals”), first published in 1751, calls for a new translation into English. The main part of the treatise contains detailed descriptions of four marine mammals, but the introduction is devoted to more general issues, including innovative speculation on morphology, ecology and biogeography, anticipating arguments and concepts of modern biology. Steller noted early that climate and food have a direct influence on body size, pelage and functional traits of mammals, potentially affecting reversible changes (phenotypic plasticity). Feeding and other behavioural habits have an impact on the geographical distribution of mammals. Species with a broad diet tend to have a wide distribution, whereas animals with a narrow diet more likely have only a restricted range. According to Steller, both sea and land then still concealed countless animals unknown to science.

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