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1.
Evolution ; 2024 Sep 18.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39290094

RESUMEN

Although species evolve in response to many intrinsic and extrinsic factors, frequently one factor has a dominating influence on a given organ system. In this context, mouthpart shape and function are thought to correlate strongly with dietary niche and this was advocated for decades, e.g., for insects. Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, and allies) are a prominent case in this respect because mandible shape has been even used to predict feeding preferences. Here, we analysed mandible shape, force transmission efficiency, and their potential correlation with dietary categories in a phylogenetic framework for 153 extant Orthoptera. The mechanical advantage profile was used as a descriptor of gnathal edge shape and bite force transmission efficiency in order to understand how mandible shape is linked to biting efficiency and diet, and how these traits are influenced by phylogeny and allometry. Results show that mandible shape in fact is a poor predictor of feeding ecology and phylogenetic history has a strong influence on gnathal edge shape. Being ancestrally phytophagous, Orthoptera evolved in an environment with food sources being always abundant so that selective pressures leading to more specialized mouthpart shapes and force transmission efficiencies were low.

2.
Biol Lett ; 20(9): 20240301, 2024 Sep.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39255843

RESUMEN

Sexual dimorphism is widespread among animals, with diverse patterns and proposed explanations observed across the Tree of Life. Here we present the first formal analysis of the patterns of sexual dimorphism in body size and cephalic sensory appendages across 40 species (from 10 genera) of armoured tardigrades (Echiniscidae). Phylogenetic signal was found for body size traits and the cephalic papilla relative size, indicating that the association between these traits between the sexes has high evolutionary persistence. The Echiniscidae body size dimorphism is generally female-biased, which would be in accordance with the fecundity hypothesis. No strong evidence of allometric patterns of body size sexual dimorphism was found. In contrast, some of the cephalic appendages show male-biased sexual dimorphism, particularly those that, by being more innervated, are thought to function as chemodetection organs used by males during mate search. The latter is consistent with the sexual selection hypothesis. As the first systematic quantification and analysis of the patterns of sexual dimorphism in the phylum Tardigrada, this study provides important insights into their ecology and evolution, such as corroborating the suggestion that cephalic appendages evolved for mate searching.


Asunto(s)
Tamaño Corporal , Filogenia , Caracteres Sexuales , Tardigrada , Animales , Masculino , Tardigrada/anatomía & histología , Tardigrada/fisiología , Tardigrada/clasificación , Femenino , Evolución Biológica
3.
Biol Lett ; 20(8): 20240053, 2024 Aug.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39191286

RESUMEN

Nest characteristics are highly variable in the Passeriformes, but the macroevolutionary patterns observable for birds in general are not necessarily valid for specific families, suggesting that both global and within-family studies are needed. Here, we used phylogenetic comparative methods to address the evolutionary patterns of nest type, nest site and habitat in the Troglodytidae, a passerine group with diversified nest and habitat characteristics. The common ancestor of the Troglodytidae likely constructed enclosed nests within sheltered sites (cavity or crevice), but the radiation of the group was characterized by (i) shifts to exposed nest sites (vegetation) with retention of enclosed nests or (ii) retention of sheltered sites with nest simplification (cup nests). Nest site and nest type presented strong phylogenetic conservatism and evolved interdependently, while habitat was poorly correlated with nest evolution. A phylogenetic mixed modelling approach showed that sheltered nest sites were associated with small body size, likely to avoid competition with other animals for these places. With these results, we improve the understanding of nest character evolution in the Troglodytidae and reveal evolutionary aspects not observed so far for passerine birds.


Asunto(s)
Tamaño Corporal , Ecosistema , Comportamiento de Nidificación , Passeriformes , Filogenia , Animales , Passeriformes/fisiología , Passeriformes/clasificación , Passeriformes/genética , Evolución Biológica
4.
Mar Pollut Bull ; 207: 116863, 2024 Oct.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39213886

RESUMEN

Marine macroalgae are widely used indicator species for monitoring environmental radioactivity. Empirical studies have demonstrated a range in radionuclide transfer coefficients, or concentration ratios (CRs), between taxonomic groups, however the CR values used for dose estimation assume that macroalgae are a homogenous group, represented by a single CR. This study demonstrates the presence of a taxonomic signal in macroalgae CRs for multiple anthropogenic and naturally occurring radionuclides (137Cs, 241Am, 239+240Pu, 210Po) based on a collation of available data. A Residual Maximum Likelihood (REML) mixed model was applied, producing relative estimate CRs specific to each species within the datasets. The collated data was also analysed for a phylogenetic signal, but only a weak signal was found for one radionuclide in one group (239+240Pu in Phaeophyceae). A theoretical case study using the estimated CRs and the ERICA tool was carried out to demonstrate the implications of these findings in a real-world scenario.


Asunto(s)
Filogenia , Algas Marinas , Medición de Riesgo , Monitoreo de Radiación , Contaminantes Radiactivos del Agua/análisis
5.
Proc Biol Sci ; 291(2027): 20240206, 2024 Aug.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39043235

RESUMEN

Sulfur (S) is an essential bioelement with vital roles in serving regulatory and catalytic functions and tightly coupled with N and P in plants. However, globally stoichiometric patterns of leaf S and its relationships to leaf N and P are less well studied. We compiled 31 939 records of leaf-based data for 2600 plant species across 6652 sites worldwide. All plant species were divided into different phylogenetic taxa and growth forms. Standard major axis analysis was employed to fit the bivariate element relationships. A phylogenetic linear mixed-effect model and a multiple-regression model were used to partition the variations of bioelements into phylogeny and environments, and then to estimate the importance of environmental variables. Global geometric mean leaf S, N and P concentrations were 1.44, 15.70 and 1.27 mg g-1, respectively, with significant differences among plant groups. Leaf S-N-P positively correlated with each other, ignoring plant groups. The scaling exponents of LN-LS, LP-LS and LN-LP were 0.64, 0.76 and 0.79, respectively, for all species, but differed among plant groups. Both phylogeny and environments regulated the bioelements. The variability, rather than mean temperature, controlled the bioelements. Phylogeny explained more for the concentrations of all the three bioelements than environments, of which S was the one most affected by phylogenetic taxa.


Asunto(s)
Nitrógeno , Fósforo , Filogenia , Hojas de la Planta , Azufre , Fósforo/metabolismo , Azufre/metabolismo , Nitrógeno/metabolismo , Plantas , Ambiente
6.
Anat Rec (Hoboken) ; 2024 Jul 24.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39045807

RESUMEN

The potential connection between trends of within species variation, such as those of allometric change in morphology, and phylogenetic divergence has been a central topic in evolutionary biology for more than a century, including in the context of human evolution. In this study, I focus on size-related shape change in craniofacial proportions using a sample of more than 3200 adult Old World monkeys belonging to 78 species, of which 2942 specimens of 51 species are selected for the analysis. Using geometric morphometrics, I assess whether the divergence in the direction of static allometries increases in relation to phyletic differences. Because both small samples and taxonomic sampling may bias the results, I explore the sensitivity of the main analyses to the inclusion of more or less taxa depending on the choice of a threshold for the minimum sample size of a species. To better understand the impact of sampling error, I also use randomized subsampling experiments in the largest species samples. The study shows that static allometries vary broadly in directions without any evident phylogenetic signal. This variation is much larger than previously found in ontogenetic trajectories of Old World monkeys, but the conclusion of no congruence with phylogenetic divergence is the same. Yet, the effect of sampling error clearly contributes to inaccuracies and tends to magnify the differences in allometric change. Thus, morphometric research at the boundary between micro- and macro-evolution in primates, and more generally in mammals, critically needs very large and representative samples. Besides sampling error, I suggest other non-mutually exclusive explanations for the lack of correspondence between allometric and phylogenetic divergence in Old World monkeys, and also discuss why directions might be more variable in static compared to ontogenetic trajectories. Even if allometric variation may be a poor source of information in relation to phylogeny, the evolution of allometry is a fascinating subject and the study of size-related shape changes remains a fundamental piece of the puzzle to understand morphological variation within and between species in primates and other animals.

7.
Ann Bot ; 2024 Jul 31.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39081226

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Over the last few decades, many plant species have shown changes in phenology, such as the date on which they germinate, bud or flower. However, some species are changing slower than others, potentially due to daylength (photoperiod) requirements. METHODS: We combined data on flowering time advancement with published records of photoperiod sensitivity to try to predict which species are advancing their flowering time. Data availability limited us to the Northern Hemisphere. KEY RESULTS: Cross-species analyses showed that short day plants advanced their flowering time by 1.4 days per decade, day neutral plants advanced by 0.9 days per decade, but long day plants delayed their flowering by 0.2 days per decade. However, photoperiod sensitivity status was moderately phylogenetically conserved, and the differences in flowering time advancement were not significant after phylogeny was accounted for. Both annual and perennial herbs were more likely to have long day photoperiod cues than woody species, which were instead more likely to have short day photoperiod cues. CONCLUSIONS: Short day plants are keeping up with plants that do not have photoperiod requirements, suggesting that daylength requirements do not hinder changes in phenology. However, long day plants are not changing their phenology and may risk falling behind as competitors and pollinators adapt to climate change.

8.
Front Plant Sci ; 15: 1405253, 2024.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39081519

RESUMEN

The unresolved phylogenetic framework within the Selaginellaceae subfamily Gymnogynoideae (ca. 130 species) has hindered our comprehension of the diversification and evolution of Selaginellaceae, one of the most important lineages in land plant evolution. Here, based on plastid and nuclear data extracted from genomic sequencing of more than 90% species of all genera except two in Gymnogynoideae, a phylogenomic study focusing on the contentious relationships among the genera in Gymnogynoideae was conducted. Our major results included the following: (1) Only single-copy region (named NR) and only one ribosomal operon was firstly found in Afroselaginella among vascular plants, the plastome structure of Gymnogynoideae is diverse among the six genera, and the direct repeats (DR) type is inferred as the ancestral state in the subfamily; (2) The first strong evidence was found to support Afroselaginella as a sister to Megaloselaginella. Alternative placements of Ericetorum and Gymnogynum were detected, and their relationships were investigated by analyzing the variation of phylogenetic signals; and (3) The most likely genus-level relationships in Gymnogynoideae might be: ((Bryodesma, Lepidoselaginella), (((Megaloselaginella, Afroselaginella), Ericetorum), Gymnogynum)), which was supported by maximum likelihood phylogeny based on plastid datasets, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference based on SCG dataset and concatenated nuclear and plastid datasets and the highest proportion of phylogenetic signals of plastid genes.

9.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39081593

RESUMEN

The tick Ixodes ricinus parasitizes a wide range of vertebrates. These hosts vary in the relative contribution to the feeding of the different tick life stages, and their interplay is pivotal in the transmission dynamics of tick-borne pathogens. We aimed to know if there is a phylogenetic signal in the feeding and propagation hosts of I. ricinus, independently of other traits, as well as in the amplification of Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) in feeding larvae. We used a compilation of 1127 published field surveys in Europe, providing data for 96,586 hosts, resulting in 265,124 larvae, 72,080 nymphs and 37,726 adults. The load of immature ticks on hosts showed a significant phylogenetic signal towards the genera Psammodromus, Podarcis, and Lacerta (nymphs only). We hypothesize that such signal is the background hallmark of the primitive hosts associations of I. ricinus, probably in the glaciation refugia. A secondary phylogenetic signal for tick immatures appeared for some genera of Rodentia and Eulipotyphla. Results suggest the notion that the tick gained these hosts after spread from glaciation refugia. Analyses support a phylogenetic signal in the tick adults, firmly linked to Cetartiodactyla, but not to Carnivora or Aves. This study provides the first demonstration of host preferences in the generalist tick I. ricinus. We further demonstrate that combinations of vertebrates contribute in different proportions supporting the tick life-cycle in biogeographical regions of the Western Palaearctic as each region has unique combinations of dominant hosts. Analysis of the amplification of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) demonstrated that each genospecies is better amplified by competent reservoirs with which a strong phylogenetic signal exists. These vertebrates are the same along the spatial range: environmental traits do not change the reservoirs along the large territory studied. The transmission of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) is amplified by a few species of vertebrates, that share biogeographical regions with the tick vector in variable proportions.

10.
J Anim Ecol ; 93(8): 1160-1171, 2024 08.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38922857

RESUMEN

Species are often expected to shift their distributions either poleward or upslope to evade warming climates and colonise new suitable climatic niches. However, from 18-years of fixed transect monitoring data on 88 species of butterfly in the midwestern United States, we show that butterflies are shifting their centroids in all directions, except towards regions that are warming the fastest (southeast). Butterflies shifted their centroids at a mean rate of 4.87 km year-1. The rate of centroid shift was significantly associated with local climate change velocity (temperature by precipitation interaction), but not with mean climate change velocity throughout the species' ranges. Species tended to shift their centroids at a faster rate towards regions that are warming at slower velocities but increasing in precipitation velocity. Surprisingly, species' thermal niche breadth (range of climates butterflies experience throughout their distribution) and wingspan (often used as metric for dispersal capability) were not correlated with the rate at which species shifted their ranges. We observed high phylogenetic signal in the direction species shifted their centroids. However, we found no phylogenetic signal in the rate species shifted their centroids, suggesting less conserved processes determine the rate of range shift than the direction species shift their ranges. This research shows important signatures of multidirectional range shifts (latitudinal and longitudinal) and uniquely shows that local climate change velocities are more important in driving range shifts than the mean climate change velocity throughout a species' entire range.


Asunto(s)
Distribución Animal , Evolución Biológica , Mariposas Diurnas , Cambio Climático , Animales , Mariposas Diurnas/fisiología , Filogenia , Medio Oeste de Estados Unidos
11.
Am J Biol Anthropol ; 185(1): e24987, 2024 Sep.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38922796

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVES: Metatarsal bones constitute a key functional unit of the foot in primates. While the form-function relationships of metatarsals have been extensively studied, particularly in relation to the loss of the grasping ability of the foot in humans in contrast to apes, the effect of phyletic history on the metatarsal morphology and its variability remains largely unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we evaluate how the strength of the phylogenetic signal varies from the first to the fifth metatarsal in humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, gibbons, and Japanese macaques. We use computed tomography imaging and morphometric mapping to quantify the second moment of area around and along the metatarsal shaft and evaluate the strength of the phylogenetic signal with multivariate K-statistics. RESULTS: The shaft structure of the first metatarsal, but not the others, correlates well with the phylogeny of apes and humans. DISCUSSION: Given the importance of the first metatarsal for grasping and bipedal/quadrupedal locomotion, the strong phylogenetic but weak functional signal in its structure is unexpected. These findings suggest that the evolutionary diversification of hominoid locomotor behaviors, including human bipedality, is only partly reflected in form-function relationships of key skeletal elements, and that phylogenetic history acted as a major evolutionary constraint.


Asunto(s)
Hominidae , Huesos Metatarsianos , Filogenia , Animales , Huesos Metatarsianos/anatomía & histología , Huesos Metatarsianos/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Hominidae/anatomía & histología , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Antropología Física , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , Evolución Biológica
12.
J Microbiol Biotechnol ; 34(6): 1249-1259, 2024 Jun 28.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38938004

RESUMEN

It remains to be determined whether there is a geographical distribution pattern and phylogenetic signals for the Mycena strains with seed germination of the orchid plant Gastrodia elata. This study analyzed the community composition and phylogenetics of 72 Mycena strains associated with G. elata varieties (G. elata. f. glauca and G. elata. f. viridis) using multiple gene fragments (ITS+nLSU+SSU). We found that (1) these diverse Mycena phylogenetically belong to the Basidiospore amyloid group. (2) There is a phylogenetic signal of Mycena for germination of G. elata. Those strains phylogenetically close to M. abramsii, M. polygramma, and an unclassified Mycena had significantly higher germination rates than those to M. citrinomarginata. (3) The Mycena distribution depends on geographic site and G. elata variety. Both unclassified Mycena group 1 and the M. abramsii group were dominant for the two varieties of G. elata; in contrast, the M. citrinomarginata group was dominant in G. elata f. glauca but absent in G. elata f. viridis. Our results indicate that the community composition of numerous Mycena resources in the Zhaotong area varies by geographical location and G. elata variety. Importantly, our results also indicate that Mycena's phylogenetic status is correlated with its germination rate.


Asunto(s)
Gastrodia , Germinación , Filogenia , Gastrodia/microbiología , Gastrodia/genética , ADN de Hongos/genética , Semillas/microbiología , Semillas/crecimiento & desarrollo , Basidiomycota/genética , Basidiomycota/clasificación , Basidiomycota/fisiología
13.
Front Microbiol ; 15: 1379825, 2024.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38835487

RESUMEN

Fungi are an integral part of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in trophic networks, as they participate in biomass decomposition and facilitate plant nutrition through root symbioses. Nutrient content varies considerably between the main fungal habitats, such as soil, plant litter or decomposing dead wood, but there are also large differences within habitats. While some soils are heavily loaded with N, others are limited by N or P. One way in which nutrient availability can be reflected in fungi is their content in biomass. In this study, we determined the C, N, and P content (in dry mass) of fruiting bodies of 214 fungal species to inspect how phylogeny and membership in ecological guilds (soil saprotrophs, wood saprotrophs, and ectomycorrhizal fungi) affect the nutrient content of fungal biomass. The C content of fruiting bodies (415 ± 25 mg g-1) showed little variation (324-494 mg g-1), while the range of N (46 ± 20 mg g-1) and P (5.5 ± 3.0 mg g-1) contents was within one order of magnitude (8-103 mg g-1 and 1.0-18.9 mg g-1, respectively). Importantly, the N and P contents were significantly higher in the biomass of soil saprotrophic fungi compared to wood saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungi. While the average C/N ratio in fungal biomass was 11.2, values exceeding 40 were recorded for some fungi living on dead wood, typically characterized by low N content. The N and P content of fungal mycelium also showed a significant phylogenetic signal, with differences in nutrient content being relatively low within species and genera of fungi. A strong correlation was found between N and P content in fungal biomass, while the correlation of N content and the N-containing fungal cell wall biopolymer-chitin showed only weak significance. The content of macronutrients in fungal biomass is influenced by the fungal life style and nutrient availability and is also limited by phylogeny.

14.
Bioinform Biol Insights ; 18: 11779322241257991, 2024.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38860163

RESUMEN

Nucleotide base composition plays an influential role in the molecular mechanisms involved in gene function, phenotype, and amino acid composition. GC content (proportion of guanine and cytosine in DNA sequences) shows a high level of variation within and among species. Many studies measure GC content in a small number of genes, which may not be representative of genome-wide GC variation. One challenge when assembling extensive genomic data sets for these studies is the significant amount of resources (monetary and computational) associated with data processing, and many bioinformatic tools have not been optimized for resource efficiency. Using a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster, we manipulated resources provided to the targeted gene assembly program, automated target restricted assembly method (aTRAM), to determine an optimum way to run the program to maximize resource use. Using our optimum assembly approach, we assembled and measured GC content of all of the protein-coding genes of a diverse group of parasitic feather lice. Of the 499 426 genes assembled across 57 species, feather lice were GC-poor (mean GC = 42.96%) with a significant amount of variation within and between species (GC range = 19.57%-73.33%). We found a significant correlation between GC content and standard deviation per taxon for overall GC and GC3, which could indicate selection for G and C nucleotides in some species. Phylogenetic signal of GC content was detected in both GC and GC3. This research provides a large-scale investigation of GC content in parasitic lice laying the foundation for understanding the basis of variation in base composition across species.

15.
BMC Plant Biol ; 24(1): 414, 2024 May 17.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38760680

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Variations in hydraulic conductivity may arise from species-specific differences in the anatomical structure and function of the xylem, reflecting a spectrum of plant strategies along a slow-fast resource economy continuum. Spruce (Picea spp.), a widely distributed and highly adaptable tree species, is crucial in preventing soil erosion and enabling climate regulation. However, a comprehensive understanding of the variability in anatomical traits of stems and their underlying drivers in the Picea genus is currently lacking especially in a common garden. RESULTS: We assessed 19 stem economic properties and hydraulic characteristics of 17 Picea species grown in a common garden in Tianshui, Gansu Province, China. Significant interspecific differences in growth and anatomical characteristics were observed among the species. Specifically, xylem hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and hydraulic diameter exhibited a significant negative correlation with the thickness to span ratio (TSR), cell wall ratio, and tracheid density and a significant positive correlation with fiber length, and size of the radial tracheid. PCA revealed that the first two axes accounted for 64.40% of the variance, with PC1 reflecting the trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and mechanical support and PC2 representing the trade-off between high embolism resistance and strong pit flexibility. Regression analysis and structural equation modelling further confirmed that tracheid size positively influenced Ks, whereas the traits DWT, D_r, and TSR have influenced Ks indirectly. All traits failed to show significant phylogenetic associations. Pearson's correlation analysis demonstrated strong correlations between most traits and longitude, with the notable influence of the mean temperature during the driest quarter, annual precipitation, precipitation during the wettest quarter, and aridity index. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that xylem anatomical traits demonstrated considerable variability across phylogenies, consistent with the pattern of parallel sympatric radiation evolution and global diversity in spruce. By integrating the anatomical structure of the stem xylem as well as environmental factors of origin and evolutionary relationships, our findings provide novel insights into the ecological adaptations of the Picea genus.


Asunto(s)
Clima , Picea , Madera , Xilema , Picea/anatomía & histología , Picea/fisiología , Picea/crecimiento & desarrollo , Madera/anatomía & histología , Xilema/anatomía & histología , Xilema/fisiología , China , Especificidad de la Especie , Tallos de la Planta/anatomía & histología , Tallos de la Planta/fisiología , Tallos de la Planta/crecimiento & desarrollo
16.
Cell Rep ; 43(6): 114268, 2024 Jun 25.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38776226

RESUMEN

We investigate the distribution and evolution of prokaryotic cell size based on a compilation of 5,380 species. Size spans four orders of magnitude, from 100 nm (Mycoplasma) to more than 1 cm (Thiomargarita); however, most species congregate heavily around the mean. The distribution approximates but is distinct from log normality. Comparative phylogenetics suggests that size is heritable, yet the phylogenetic signal is moderate, and the degree of heritability is independent of taxonomic scale (i.e., fractal). Evolutionary modeling indicates the presence of an optimal cell size to which most species gravitate. The size is equivalent to a coccus of 0.70 µm in diameter. Analyses of 1,361 species with sequenced genomes show that genomic traits contribute to size evolution moderately and synergistically. Given our results, scaling theory, and empirical evidence, we discuss potential drivers that may expand or shrink cells around the optimum and propose a stability landscape model for prokaryotic cell size.


Asunto(s)
Filogenia , Células Procariotas , Células Procariotas/metabolismo , Evolución Biológica , Tamaño de la Célula , Bacterias/genética
17.
Ann Bot ; 2024 Apr 27.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38676472

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The size and shape of reproductive structures is especially relevant in evolution because these characters are directly related to the capacity of pollination and seed dispersal, a process that plays a basic role in evolutionary patterns. The evolutionary trajectories of reproductive phenotypes in gymnosperms have received special attention in terms of pollination and innovations related to the emergence of the Spermatophytes. However, variability of reproductive structures, evolutionary trends and the role of environment in the evolution of cycad species have not been well documented and explored. This study considered this topic under an explicitly phylogenetic and evolutionary approach that included a broad sampling of reproductive structures in the genus Ceratozamia. METHODS: We sampled 1400 individuals of 36 Ceratozamia species to explore evolutionary pattern and identify and evaluate factors that potentially drove their evolution. We analyzed characters for both pollen and ovulate strobili within a phylogenetic framework using different methods and characters (i. e., molecular and both quantitative and qualitative morphological) to infer phylogenetic relationships. Using this phylogenetic framework, evolutionary models of trait evolution for strobilar size were evaluated. In addition, quantitative morphological variation and its relation to environmental variables across species were analyzed. KEY RESULTS: We found contrasting phylogenetic signals between characters of pollen and ovulate strobili. These structures exhibited high morphological disparity in several characters related to size. Results of analyses of evolutionary trajectories suggested a stabilizing selection model. In regards to phenotype-environment, the analysis produced mixed results and differences for groups in the vegetation type where the species occur; however, a positive relationship with climatic variables was found. CONCLUSIONS: The integrated approach synthesized reproductive phenotypic variation with current phylogenetic hypotheses and provided explicit statements of character evolution. The characters of volume for ovulate strobili were the most informative, which could provide a reference for further study of the evolutionary complexity in Ceratozamia. Finally, heterogeneous environments, which are under changing weather conditions, promote variability of reproductive structures.

18.
J Morphol ; 285(4): e21691, 2024 Apr.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38555512

RESUMEN

The feeding organ of cephalopod species, the beak, can be used to reveal important ecological information. In this study, geometric morphometric approaches were employed to investigate the phylogenetic relevance and classification effect of beak lateral profile shape. The two-dimensional beak morphologies of 1164 pairs of 24 species from 13 genera and five families were constructed, and their evolutionary relationships and taxonomic status were confirmed using geometric morphometrics and molecular biology approaches. We also assessed the phylogenetic signals of beak shape. The analysis results show shape variation in the beak mainly in the rostrum, hood, and lateral wall. The overall shape parameters (all PCs) of the upper and lower beak are more useful for species identification. The shapes of the upper and lower beak show a strong phylogenetic signal, and the phenogram based on the beak shape basically reflected the families' taxonomic positions. We also hypothesized that the shape variation in the beaks of cephalopods may be ascribed to genetic and environmental differences. In summary, beaks are a reliable material for the classification of cephalopod species. Geometric morphometric approaches are a powerful tool to reveal the identification, phylogenetic relevance and phenotypic diversity of beak shape in cephalopods.


Asunto(s)
Cefalópodos , Humanos , Animales , Filogenia , Pico/anatomía & histología , Evolución Biológica
19.
J Evol Biol ; 37(5): 526-537, 2024 May 06.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38491928

RESUMEN

Locomotory performance is an important determinant of fitness in most animals, including flying insects. Strong selective pressures on wing morphology are therefore expected. Previous studies on wing shape in Lepidoptera have found some support for hypotheses relating wing shape to environment-specific selective pressures on aerodynamic performance. Here, we present a phylogenetic comparative study on wing shape in the lepidopteran family Geometridae, covering 374 species of the northern European fauna. We focused on 11 wing traits including aspect ratio, wing roundness, and the pointedness of the apex, as well as the ratio of forewing and hindwing areas. All measures were taken from images available on the internet, using a combination of tools available in Fiji software and R. We found that wing shape demonstrates a phylogenetically conservative pattern of evolution in Geometridae, showing similar or stronger phylogenetic signal than many of its potential predictors. Several wing traits showed statistically significant associations with predictors such as body size, phenology, and preference for forest habitats. Overall, however, all of these associations remained notably weak, with no wing shape being excluded for any value of the predictors, including body size. We conclude that, in geometrids, wing traits do not readily respond to selective pressures optimizing aerodynamic performance of the moths in different environments. Selection on wing shape may nevertheless operate through other functions of the wings, with the effectiveness of crypsis at rest being a promising candidate for further studies.


Asunto(s)
Evolución Biológica , Mariposas Nocturnas , Filogenia , Alas de Animales , Animales , Alas de Animales/anatomía & histología , Mariposas Nocturnas/anatomía & histología , Mariposas Nocturnas/genética , Mariposas Nocturnas/fisiología
20.
J Genet Genomics ; 51(7): 762-768, 2024 Jul.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38417547

RESUMEN

The molecular clock model is fundamental for inferring species divergence times from molecular sequences. However, its direct application may introduce significant biases due to sequencing errors, recombination events, and inaccurately labeled sampling times. Improving accuracy necessitates rigorous quality control measures to identify and remove potentially erroneous sequences. Furthermore, while not all branches of a phylogenetic tree may exhibit a clear temporal signal, specific branches may still adhere to the assumptions, with varying evolutionary rates. Supporting a relaxed molecular clock model better aligns with the complexities of evolution. The root-to-tip regression method has been widely used to analyze the temporal signal in phylogenetic studies and can be generalized for detecting other phylogenetic signals. Despite its utility, there remains a lack of corresponding software implementations for broader applications. To address this gap, we present shinyTempSignal, an interactive web application implemented with the shiny framework, available as an R package and publicly accessible at https://github.com/YuLab-SMU/shinyTempSignal. This tool facilitates the analysis of temporal and other phylogenetic signals under both strict and relaxed models. By extending the root-to-tip regression method to diverse signals, shinyTempSignal helps in the detection of evolving features or traits, thereby laying the foundation for deeper insights and subsequent analyses.


Asunto(s)
Filogenia , Programas Informáticos , Evolución Molecular
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