scholarly journals Macroevolutionary Trade-Offs and Trends in Life History Traits of Cephalopods Through a Comparative Phylogenetic Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian M. Ibáñez ◽  
Mariana Díaz-Santana-Iturrios ◽  
Sergio A. Carrasco ◽  
Fernando A. Fernández-Álvarez ◽  
David A. López-Córdova ◽  
...  

One of the major mechanisms responsible for the animals’ fitness dynamics is fecundity. Fecundity as a trait does not evolve independently, and rather interacts with other traits such as body and egg size. Here, our aim was to correctly infer the macroevolutionary trade-offs between body length, egg length, and potential fecundity, using cephalopods as study model. The correlated evolution among those traits was inferred by comparative phylogenetic methods. Literature data on biological and reproductive traits (body length, egg length, and potential fecundity) was obtained for 90 cephalopod species, and comparative phylogenetic methods based on a previous molecular phylogeny were used to test the correlated evolution hypothesis. Additionally, we estimated the phylogenetic signal and fitted five different evolutionary models to each trait. All traits showed high phylogenetic signal, and the selected model suggested an evolutionary trend toward increasing body length, egg length, and fecundity in relation to the ancestral state. Evidence of correlated evolution between body length and fecundity was observed, although this relationship was not detected between body length and egg length. The robust inverse relationship between fecundity and egg length indicates that cephalopods evolved a directional selection that favored an increase of fecundity and a reduction of egg length in larger species, or an increase in egg length with the concomitant reduction of fecundity and body length in order to benefit offspring survival. The use of phylogenetic comparative methods allowed us to properly detect macroevolutionary trade-offs.

2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1728) ◽  
pp. 610-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin M. Winger ◽  
Irby J. Lovette ◽  
David W. Winkler

Seasonal migration in birds is known to be highly labile and subject to rapid change in response to selection, such that researchers have hypothesized that phylogenetic relationships should neither predict nor constrain the migratory behaviour of a species. Many theories on the evolution of bird migration assume a framework that extant migratory species have evolved repeatedly and relatively recently from sedentary tropical or subtropical ancestors. We performed ancestral state reconstructions of migratory behaviour using a comprehensive, well-supported phylogeny of the Parulidae (the ‘wood-warblers’), a large family of Neotropical and Nearctic migratory and sedentary songbirds, and examined the rates of gain and loss of migration throughout the Parulidae. Counter to traditional hypotheses, our results suggest that the ancestral wood-warbler was migratory and that losses of migration have been at least as prevalent as gains throughout the history of Parulidae. Therefore, extant sedentary tropical radiations in the Parulidae represent losses of latitudinal migration and colonization of the tropics from temperate regions. We also tested for phylogenetic signal in migratory behaviour, and our results indicate that although migratory behaviour is variable within some wood-warbler species and clades, phylogeny significantly predicts the migratory distance of species in the Parulidae.


Author(s):  
Carolina Manzano ◽  
Eduardo G. Virla ◽  
Maria V. Coll Araoz ◽  
Erica Luft-Albarracin

Abstract The reproductive traits of the mymarid wasp Cosmocomoidea annulicornis (Ogloblin) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) attacking eggs of the sharpshooter Tapajosa rubromarginata (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Bioassays were carried out to estimate the realized fecundity and egg load of females. The ovigeny index was calculated and different biological traits, such as body size, oöcyte length, gaster length and wing length, were analysed to assess significant associations between these traits and the species fitness. In addition, the effect of host availability and feeding on longevity and potential fecundity throughout life and the effect of female age on egg maturation dynamics were assessed. The results showed that C. annulicornis is a strongly synovigenic species. A positive correlation was found between fecundity and longevity of the females and between body size and oöcyte length. Contrary to expected, body size was not related to fecundity and longevity. Females lived significantly longer in the presence of hosts and honey than when they were host-deprived and honey-fed or both host and honey deprived. Host availability had a significant effect on the amount of eggs laid by C. annulicornis females. Female age was negatively associated with oöcyte length. Furthermore, females were able to mature additional eggs as they aged, nevertheless, when host-deprived, senescent females presented significantly less mature eggs than younger ones, suggesting a possible egg oosorption. These results might contribute to a better understanding of the reproductive potential of this species as a biocontrol agent.


2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1885) ◽  
pp. 20180951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Tuni ◽  
Chang S. Han ◽  
Niels J. Dingemanse

Reproductive traits involved in mate acquisition (pre-mating traits) are predicted to covary with those involved in fertilization success (post-mating traits). Variation in male quality may give rise to positive, and resource allocation trade-offs to negative, covariances between pre- and post-mating traits. Empirical studies have yielded mixed results. Progress is hampered as researchers often fail to appreciate that mentioned biological mechanisms can act simultaneously but at different hierarchical levels of biological variation: genetic correlations may, for example, be negative due to genetic trade-offs but environmental correlations may instead be positive due to individual variation in resource acquisition. We measured pre-mating (aggression, body weight) and post-mating (ejaculate size) reproductive traits in a pedigreed population of southern field crickets ( Gryllus bimaculatus ). To create environmental variation, crickets were raised on either a low or a high nymphal density treatment. We estimated genetic and environmental sources of correlations between pre- and post-mating traits. We found positive genetic correlations between pre- and post-mating traits, implying the existence of genetic variation in male quality. Over repeated trials of the same individual (testing order), positive changes in one trait were matched with negative changes in other traits, suggesting energy allocating trade-offs within individuals among days. These findings demonstrate the need for research on pre- and post-mating traits to consider the hierarchical structure of trait correlations. Only by doing so was our study able to conclude that multiple mechanisms jointly shape phenotypic associations between pre- and post-mating traits in crickets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 191 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-235
Author(s):  
Vania Jiménez-Lobato ◽  
Marcial Escudero ◽  
Zoila Díaz Lifante ◽  
Cristina Andrés Camacho ◽  
Alejandra de Castro ◽  
...  

Abstract In flowering plants, the shift from outcrossing to selfing is associated with a set of correlated changes in morphological and reproductive features known as the ‘selfing syndrome’. Species of the sub-endemic Mediterranean genus Centaurium Hill (Gentianaceae) exhibit a wide array of flower traits related to pollination biology and different ploidy levels. We explored if the evolutionary transitions of seven flower traits and life cycle, typically associated with the selfing syndrome, are related to polyploidy, diversification patterns, divergence times and the geological and climatic history of the Mediterranean Basin. Using 26 species of Centaurium we reconstructed a phylogenetic tree, inferred the ancestral states of the selected traits, estimated their phylogenetic signal and tested the correlative evolution among them. We found a significant increase in diversification rates during the Quaternary. Anther length, flower size, herkogamy and polyploidy undergo rapid state transitions without phylogenetic signal that could be the result of adaptation for selfing. Changes in character states do not show evidence of correlative evolution among them, as would be predicted during the evolution of selfing syndrome. The evolution of reproductive traits in Centaurium has probably relied on a more diverse array of drivers than just reproductive assurance or polyploidy events.


2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1786) ◽  
pp. 20140479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilian J. Telford ◽  
Christopher J. Lowe ◽  
Christopher B. Cameron ◽  
Olga Ortega-Martinez ◽  
Jochanan Aronowicz ◽  
...  

While some aspects of the phylogeny of the five living echinoderm classes are clear, the position of the ophiuroids (brittlestars) relative to asteroids (starfish), echinoids (sea urchins) and holothurians (sea cucumbers) is controversial. Ophiuroids have a pluteus-type larva in common with echinoids giving some support to an ophiuroid/echinoid/holothurian clade named Cryptosyringida. Most molecular phylogenetic studies, however, support an ophiuroid/asteroid clade (Asterozoa) implying either convergent evolution of the pluteus or reversals to an auricularia-type larva in asteroids and holothurians. A recent study of 10 genes from four of the five echinoderm classes used ‘phylogenetic signal dissection’ to separate alignment positions into subsets of (i) suboptimal, heterogeneously evolving sites (invariant plus rapidly changing) and (ii) the remaining optimal, homogeneously evolving sites. Along with most previous molecular phylogenetic studies, their set of heterogeneous sites, expected to be more prone to systematic error, support Asterozoa. The homogeneous sites, in contrast, support an ophiuroid/echinoid grouping, consistent with the cryptosyringid clade, leading them to posit homology of the ophiopluteus and echinopluteus. Our new dataset comprises 219 genes from all echinoderm classes; analyses using probabilistic Bayesian phylogenetic methods strongly support Asterozoa. The most reliable, slowly evolving quartile of genes also gives highest support for Asterozoa; this support diminishes in second and third quartiles and the fastest changing quartile places the ophiuroids close to the root. Using phylogenetic signal dissection, we find heterogenous sites support an unlikely grouping of Ophiuroidea + Holothuria while homogeneous sites again strongly support Asterozoa. Our large and taxonomically complete dataset finds no support for the cryptosyringid hypothesis; in showing strong support for the Asterozoa, our preferred topology leaves the question of homology of pluteus larvae open.


2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1855) ◽  
pp. 20170132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liam R. Dougherty ◽  
Emile van Lieshout ◽  
Kathryn B. McNamara ◽  
Joe A. Moschilla ◽  
Göran Arnqvist ◽  
...  

Traumatic mating (or copulatory wounding) is an extreme form of sexual conflict whereby male genitalia physically harm females during mating. In such species females are expected to evolve counter-adaptations to reduce male-induced harm. Importantly, female counter-adaptations may include both genital and non-genital traits. In this study, we examine evolutionary associations between harmful male genital morphology and female reproductive tract morphology and immune function across 13 populations of the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus . We detected positive correlated evolution between the injuriousness of male genitalia and putative female resistance adaptations across populations. Moreover, we found evidence for a negative relationship between female immunity and population productivity, which suggests that investment in female resistance may be costly due to the resource trade-offs that are predicted between immunity and reproduction. Finally, the degree of female tract scarring (harm to females) was greater in those populations with both longer aedeagal spines and a thinner female tract lining. Our results are thus consistent with a sexual arms race, which is only apparent when both male and female traits are taken into account. Importantly, our study provides rare evidence for sexually antagonistic coevolution of male and female traits at the within-species level.


2018 ◽  
Vol 274 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Rodriguez Forti ◽  
Camila Zornosa-Torres ◽  
Rafael Márquez ◽  
Luís Felipe Toledo

Paleobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Emily S. Hughes ◽  
James C. Lamsdell

Abstract Eurypterids are generally considered to comprise a mixture of active nektonic to nektobenthic predators and benthic scavenger-predators exhibiting a mode of life similar to modern horseshoe crabs. However, two groups of benthic stylonurine eurypterids, the Stylonuroidea and Mycteropoidea, independently evolved modifications to the armature of their anterior appendages that have been considered adaptations toward a sweep-feeding life habit, and it has been suggested the evolution toward sweep-feeding may have permitted stylonurines to capture smaller prey species and may have been critical for the survival of mycteropoids during the Late Devonian mass extinction. There is a linear correlation between the average spacing of feeding structures and prey sizes among extant suspension feeders. Here, we extrapolate this relationship to sweep-feeding eurypterids in order to estimate the range of prey sizes that they could capture and examine prey size in a phylogenetic context to determine what role prey size played in determining survivorship during the Late Devonian. The mycteropoid Cyrtoctenus was the most specialized sweep-feeder, with comblike appendage armature capable of capturing mesoplankton out of suspension, while the majority of stylonurines possess armature corresponding to a prey size range of 1.6–52 mm, suggesting they were suited for capturing small benthic macroinvertebrates such as crustaceans, mollusks, and wormlike organisms. There is no clear phylogenetic signal to prey size distribution and no evolutionary trend toward decreasing prey sizes among Stylonurina. Rather than prey size, species survivorship during the Late Devonian was likely mediated by geographic distribution and ability to capitalize on the expanding freshwater benthos.


1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Morris ◽  
R. L. Baker ◽  
S. M. Hickey ◽  
D. L. Johnson ◽  
N. G. Cullen ◽  
...  

AbstractA total of 161 bulls from 11 breeds were used to generate crossbred calves from Angus cows in 1973 to 1977 at each of three diverse New Zealand locations, and from Hereford cows at one of the locations in the same years. The bulls comprised four local breeds, Angus, Friesian, Hereford, and Jersey, and seven recently imported breeds, Blonde d'Aquitaine, Charolais, Chianina, Limousin, Maine Anjou, Simmental and South Devon. This paper reports the reproductive and maternal performance of the straightbred and first-cross cows over the first four calvings, with first mating as yearlings at 14 to 16 months of age. A total of 7575 mating records from 2109 cows were analysed. Location differences were greater for reproduction than for growth traits and resulted in genotype × environment interactions for some components of cow performance and particularly the composite traits, weight of calf weaned per cow joined (productivity) and cow ‘efficiency’ (the ratio of productivity to cow weight). At all locations the Friesian-cross cows weaned the greatest weight of calf per head but were matched or surpassed by the lighter Jersey crosses in terms of efficiency of calf production. Most of the European crosses performed relatively much better in the most favourable environment than in the harsh environment and this was particularly marked for the productivity of Simmental crosses. Heterosis as a proportion of the purebred mean was important for cow performance and particularly pregnancy rate (0·12), productivity (0·21) and the efficiency ratio (0·16). Heritabilities for weight and age at puberty were both 0·34 (s.e. 0·08). Repeatabilities and heritabilities for cow reproductive traits were low (0·0 to 0·10) but higher for calf weights up to weaning as a trait of the cow (0·09 to 0·38). In general, the large European breeds which excelled in growth and carcass production produced female progeny which reached puberty at greater ages, had lower reproductive performance (especially in less favourable environments) and larger mature size. Some breed utilization strategies to achieve trade-offs between these genetic antagonisms are discussed.


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