Size and shape in the evolution of ant worker morphology
Morphological evolution in ants has been traditionally thought as being strongly influenced by selection for colony ergonomic efficiency. Although many studies have focused on the evolution of social characteristics in ants, little is known about the evolution of worker morphology at a macroevolutio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2013-11-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/205.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797425539813736448 |
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| author | Marcio R. Pie Marcel K. Tschá |
| author_facet | Marcio R. Pie Marcel K. Tschá |
| author_sort | Marcio R. Pie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Morphological evolution in ants has been traditionally thought as being strongly influenced by selection for colony ergonomic efficiency. Although many studies have focused on the evolution of social characteristics in ants, little is known about the evolution of worker morphology at a macroevolutionary scale. In this study, we investigate the tempo and mode of the evolution of worker morphology, focusing on changes in size and shape. Our datasets included a large sample of species from different ant genera, as well as variation within the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole, for a total of 1650 measurements. The rate of size evolution was at least five times faster than the rate of shape evolution. The fit of alternative models of morphological evolution indicated statistically significant phylogenetic signal in both size and shape and in all datasets. Finally, tests of rate heterogeneity in phenotypic evolution among lineages identified several shifts in rates of evolution in both datasets, although the timing of shifts in size and shape was usually not concordant. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:17:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59c1866e94e2482d897d268ed50cb3ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:17:34Z |
| publishDate | 2013-11-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-59c1866e94e2482d897d268ed50cb3ca2023-12-02T22:00:12ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592013-11-011e20510.7717/peerj.205205Size and shape in the evolution of ant worker morphologyMarcio R. Pie0Marcel K. Tschá1Laboratório de Dinâmica Evolutiva e Sistemas Complexos, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, BrazilLaboratório de Dinâmica Evolutiva e Sistemas Complexos, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, BrazilMorphological evolution in ants has been traditionally thought as being strongly influenced by selection for colony ergonomic efficiency. Although many studies have focused on the evolution of social characteristics in ants, little is known about the evolution of worker morphology at a macroevolutionary scale. In this study, we investigate the tempo and mode of the evolution of worker morphology, focusing on changes in size and shape. Our datasets included a large sample of species from different ant genera, as well as variation within the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole, for a total of 1650 measurements. The rate of size evolution was at least five times faster than the rate of shape evolution. The fit of alternative models of morphological evolution indicated statistically significant phylogenetic signal in both size and shape and in all datasets. Finally, tests of rate heterogeneity in phenotypic evolution among lineages identified several shifts in rates of evolution in both datasets, although the timing of shifts in size and shape was usually not concordant.https://peerj.com/articles/205.pdfLines of least resistanceAllometryCasteMorphological innovation |
| spellingShingle | Marcio R. Pie Marcel K. Tschá Size and shape in the evolution of ant worker morphology PeerJ Lines of least resistance Allometry Caste Morphological innovation |
| title | Size and shape in the evolution of ant worker morphology |
| title_full | Size and shape in the evolution of ant worker morphology |
| title_fullStr | Size and shape in the evolution of ant worker morphology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Size and shape in the evolution of ant worker morphology |
| title_short | Size and shape in the evolution of ant worker morphology |
| title_sort | size and shape in the evolution of ant worker morphology |
| topic | Lines of least resistance Allometry Caste Morphological innovation |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/205.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marciorpie sizeandshapeintheevolutionofantworkermorphology AT marcelktscha sizeandshapeintheevolutionofantworkermorphology |