Evolvability in the Cephalothoracic Structural Complexity of <i>Aegla araucaniensis</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda) Determined by a Developmental System with Low Covariational Constraint
The integration of complex structures is proportional to the intensity of the structural fusion; its consequences are better known than the covariational effects under less restrictive mechanisms. The synthesis of a palimpsest model based on two early parallel pathways and a later direct pathway exp...
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| author | Erwin M. Barría Hugo A. Benítez Cristián E. Hernández |
| author_facet | Erwin M. Barría Hugo A. Benítez Cristián E. Hernández |
| author_sort | Erwin M. Barría |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The integration of complex structures is proportional to the intensity of the structural fusion; its consequences are better known than the covariational effects under less restrictive mechanisms. The synthesis of a palimpsest model based on two early parallel pathways and a later direct pathway explains the cephalothoracic complexity of decapod crustaceans. Using this model, we tested the evolvability of the developmental modularity in <i>Aegla araucaniensis</i>, an anomuran crab with an evident adaptive sexual dimorphism. The asymmetric patterns found on the landmark configurations suggest independent perturbations of the parallel pathways in each module and a stable asymmetry variance near the fusion by canalization of the direct pathway, which was more intense in males. The greater covariational flexibility imposed by the parallel pathways promotes the expression of gonadic modularity that favors the reproductive output in females and agonistic modularity that contributes to mating success in males. Under these divergent expressions of evolvability, the smaller difference between developmental modularity and agonistic modularity in males suggests higher levels of canalization due to a relatively more intense structural fusion. We conclude that: (1) the cephalothorax of <i>A. araucaniensis</i> is an evolvable structure, where parallel pathways promote sexual disruptions in the expressions of functional modularity, which are more restricted in males, and (2) the cephalothoracic palimpsest of decapods has empirical advantages in studying the developmental causes of evolution of complex structures. |
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| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:22:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
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| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-40f2f5c1008448f7b6a9676a5b82cd632023-12-01T21:54:08ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372022-06-0111795810.3390/biology11070958Evolvability in the Cephalothoracic Structural Complexity of <i>Aegla araucaniensis</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda) Determined by a Developmental System with Low Covariational ConstraintErwin M. Barría0Hugo A. Benítez1Cristián E. Hernández2Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Los Carrera 753, Osorno 5290000, ChileLaboratorio de Ecología y Morfometría Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3466706, ChileLaboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva y Filoinformática, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción 4070386, ChileThe integration of complex structures is proportional to the intensity of the structural fusion; its consequences are better known than the covariational effects under less restrictive mechanisms. The synthesis of a palimpsest model based on two early parallel pathways and a later direct pathway explains the cephalothoracic complexity of decapod crustaceans. Using this model, we tested the evolvability of the developmental modularity in <i>Aegla araucaniensis</i>, an anomuran crab with an evident adaptive sexual dimorphism. The asymmetric patterns found on the landmark configurations suggest independent perturbations of the parallel pathways in each module and a stable asymmetry variance near the fusion by canalization of the direct pathway, which was more intense in males. The greater covariational flexibility imposed by the parallel pathways promotes the expression of gonadic modularity that favors the reproductive output in females and agonistic modularity that contributes to mating success in males. Under these divergent expressions of evolvability, the smaller difference between developmental modularity and agonistic modularity in males suggests higher levels of canalization due to a relatively more intense structural fusion. We conclude that: (1) the cephalothorax of <i>A. araucaniensis</i> is an evolvable structure, where parallel pathways promote sexual disruptions in the expressions of functional modularity, which are more restricted in males, and (2) the cephalothoracic palimpsest of decapods has empirical advantages in studying the developmental causes of evolution of complex structures.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/7/958covariationpalimpsest modeldevelopmental pathwayasymmetrycanalization |
| spellingShingle | Erwin M. Barría Hugo A. Benítez Cristián E. Hernández Evolvability in the Cephalothoracic Structural Complexity of <i>Aegla araucaniensis</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda) Determined by a Developmental System with Low Covariational Constraint Biology covariation palimpsest model developmental pathway asymmetry canalization |
| title | Evolvability in the Cephalothoracic Structural Complexity of <i>Aegla araucaniensis</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda) Determined by a Developmental System with Low Covariational Constraint |
| title_full | Evolvability in the Cephalothoracic Structural Complexity of <i>Aegla araucaniensis</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda) Determined by a Developmental System with Low Covariational Constraint |
| title_fullStr | Evolvability in the Cephalothoracic Structural Complexity of <i>Aegla araucaniensis</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda) Determined by a Developmental System with Low Covariational Constraint |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolvability in the Cephalothoracic Structural Complexity of <i>Aegla araucaniensis</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda) Determined by a Developmental System with Low Covariational Constraint |
| title_short | Evolvability in the Cephalothoracic Structural Complexity of <i>Aegla araucaniensis</i> (Crustacea: Decapoda) Determined by a Developmental System with Low Covariational Constraint |
| title_sort | evolvability in the cephalothoracic structural complexity of i aegla araucaniensis i crustacea decapoda determined by a developmental system with low covariational constraint |
| topic | covariation palimpsest model developmental pathway asymmetry canalization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/7/958 |
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