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Rates of speciation and morphological evolution are correlated across the largest vertebrate radiation

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel L. Rabosky

    (Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California
    Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan)

  • Francesco Santini

    (Università di Torino)

  • Jonathan Eastman

    (University of Idaho)

  • Stephen A. Smith

    (Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan)

  • Brian Sidlauskas

    (Oregon State University)

  • Jonathan Chang

    (University of California)

  • Michael E. Alfaro

    (University of California)

Abstract

Several evolutionary theories predict that rates of morphological change should be positively associated with the rate at which new species arise. For example, the theory of punctuated equilibrium proposes that phenotypic change typically occurs in rapid bursts associated with speciation events. However, recent phylogenetic studies have found little evidence linking these processes in nature. Here we demonstrate that rates of species diversification are highly correlated with the rate of body size evolution across the 30,000+ living species of ray-finned fishes that comprise the majority of vertebrate biological diversity. This coupling is a general feature of fish evolution and transcends vast differences in ecology and body-plan organization. Our results may reflect a widespread speciational mode of character change in living fishes. Alternatively, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that phenotypic ‘evolvability’—the capacity of organisms to evolve—shapes the dynamics of speciation through time at the largest phylogenetic scales.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel L. Rabosky & Francesco Santini & Jonathan Eastman & Stephen A. Smith & Brian Sidlauskas & Jonathan Chang & Michael E. Alfaro, 2013. "Rates of speciation and morphological evolution are correlated across the largest vertebrate radiation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-8, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2958
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2958
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    Cited by:

    1. Mark Pagel & Ciara O’Donovan & Andrew Meade, 2022. "General statistical model shows that macroevolutionary patterns and processes are consistent with Darwinian gradualism," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Rodríguez, Ricardo A. & Herrera, Ada Ma. & Santander, Jacobo & Miranda, Jezahel V. & Fernández-Rodríguez, María J. & Quirós, Ángel & Riera, Rodrigo & Fernández-Palacios, José Mª. & Otto, Rüdiger & Esc, 2015. "Uncertainty principle in niche assessment: A solution to the dilemma redundancy vs. competitive exclusion, and some analytical consequences," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 316(C), pages 87-110.
    3. Bonnie B. Blaimer & Bernardo F. Santos & Astrid Cruaud & Michael W. Gates & Robert R. Kula & István Mikó & Jean-Yves Rasplus & David R. Smith & Elijah J. Talamas & Seán G. Brady & Matthew L. Buffingto, 2023. "Key innovations and the diversification of Hymenoptera," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, December.

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