Character displacement drives trait divergence in a continental fauna.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Sean A S Anderson, Jason T Weir

Abstract

Coexisting (sympatric) pairs of closely related species are often characterized by exaggerated trait differences. This widespread pattern is consistent with adaptation for reduced similarity due to costly interactions (i.e., "character displacement")-a classic hypothesis in evolutionary theory. But it is equally consistent with a community assembly bias in which lineages with greater trait differences are more likely to establish overlapping ranges in the first place (i.e., "species sorting"), as well as with null expectations of trait divergence through time. Few comparative analyses have explicitly modeled these alternatives, and it remains unclear whether trait divergence is a general prerequisite for sympatry or a consequence of interactions between sympatric species. Here, we develop statistical models that allow us to distinguish the signature of these processes based on patterns of trait divergence in closely related lineage pairs. We compare support for each model using a dataset of bill shape differences in 207 pairs of New World terrestrial birds representing 30 avian families. We find that character displacement models are overwhelmingly supported over species sorting and null expectations, indicating that exaggerate...Continue Reading

References

May 7, 1998·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·J C Avise, D Walker
Jul 15, 2006·Science·Peter R Grant, B Rosemary Grant
Jan 30, 2007·Ecology Letters·T Jonathan DaviesJohn L Gittleman
Apr 22, 2008·Molecular Ecology·J T Weir, D Schluter
Aug 19, 2008·The American Naturalist·J G KingsolverP Beerli
May 5, 2009·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Rebecca J Rundell, Trevor D Price
Jul 1, 1992·The American Naturalist·D Schluter, J D McPhail
Sep 12, 2009·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Paul R MartinStephen C Lougheed
Sep 3, 2011·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Dena L Grossenbacher, Justen B Whittall
Sep 6, 2012·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Jason T WeirTrevor D Price
Mar 30, 2013·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Yoel E Stuart, Jonathan B Losos
Mar 12, 2016·Systematic Biology·Jonathan DruryHélène Morlon
Jun 20, 2018·Nature Ecology & Evolution·Jay P McEnteeJ Gordon Burleigh
Oct 24, 2018·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Peter R Grant, B Rosemary Grant
Dec 21, 2019·Systematic Biology·Ignacio Quintero, Michael J Landis
Jan 15, 2020·Nature Ecology & Evolution·Alex L PigotJoseph A Tobias

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

BioRxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
Jay P McEnteeJ Gordon Burleigh
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Jay P McEnteeJ Gordon Burleigh
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Richard K SimpsonStéphanie M Doucet
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
José J Tavera, Peter C Wainwright
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved