Major Evolutionary Transitions and the Roles of Facilitation and Information in Ecosystem Transformations
A small number of extraordinary “Major Evolutionary Transitions” (METs) have attracted attention among biologists. They comprise novel forms of individuality and information, and are defined in relation to organismal complexity, irrespective of broader ecosystem-level effects. This divorce between e...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.711556/full |
| _version_ | 1818404407919771648 |
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| author | Amanda N. Robin Kaleda K. Denton Eva S. Horna Lowell Tanner Dulay Saba Ebrahimi Gina C. Johnson Davis Mai Sean O’Fallon Conner S. Philson Hayden P. Speck Xinhui Paige Zhang Peter Nonacs |
| author_facet | Amanda N. Robin Kaleda K. Denton Eva S. Horna Lowell Tanner Dulay Saba Ebrahimi Gina C. Johnson Davis Mai Sean O’Fallon Conner S. Philson Hayden P. Speck Xinhui Paige Zhang Peter Nonacs |
| author_sort | Amanda N. Robin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A small number of extraordinary “Major Evolutionary Transitions” (METs) have attracted attention among biologists. They comprise novel forms of individuality and information, and are defined in relation to organismal complexity, irrespective of broader ecosystem-level effects. This divorce between evolutionary and ecological consequences qualifies unicellular eukaryotes, for example, as a MET although they alone failed to significantly alter ecosystems. Additionally, this definition excludes revolutionary innovations not fitting into either MET type (e.g., photosynthesis). We recombine evolution with ecology to explore how and why entire ecosystems were newly created or radically altered – as Major System Transitions (MSTs). In doing so, we highlight important morphological adaptations that spread through populations because of their immediate, direct-fitness advantages for individuals. These are Major Competitive Transitions, or MCTs. We argue that often multiple METs and MCTs must be present to produce MSTs. For example, sexually-reproducing, multicellular eukaryotes (METs) with anisogamy and exoskeletons (MCTs) significantly altered ecosystems during the Cambrian. Therefore, we introduce the concepts of Facilitating Evolutionary Transitions (FETs) and Catalysts as key events or agents that are insufficient themselves to set a MST into motion, but are essential parts of synergies that do. We further elucidate the role of information in MSTs as transitions across five levels: (I) Encoded; (II) Epigenomic; (III) Learned; (IV) Inscribed; and (V) Dark Information. The latter is ‘authored’ by abiotic entities rather than biological organisms. Level IV has arguably allowed humans to produce a MST, and V perhaps makes us a FET for a future transition that melds biotic and abiotic life into one entity. Understanding the interactive processes involved in past major transitions will illuminate both current events and the surprising possibilities that abiotically-created information may produce. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T08:39:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f1731497667d453da0fdc7328b227f9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T08:39:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-f1731497667d453da0fdc7328b227f9e2022-12-21T23:09:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2021-12-01910.3389/fevo.2021.711556711556Major Evolutionary Transitions and the Roles of Facilitation and Information in Ecosystem TransformationsAmanda N. Robin0Kaleda K. Denton1Eva S. Horna Lowell2Tanner Dulay3Saba Ebrahimi4Gina C. Johnson5Davis Mai6Sean O’Fallon7Conner S. Philson8Hayden P. Speck9Xinhui Paige Zhang10Peter Nonacs11Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United StatesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesA small number of extraordinary “Major Evolutionary Transitions” (METs) have attracted attention among biologists. They comprise novel forms of individuality and information, and are defined in relation to organismal complexity, irrespective of broader ecosystem-level effects. This divorce between evolutionary and ecological consequences qualifies unicellular eukaryotes, for example, as a MET although they alone failed to significantly alter ecosystems. Additionally, this definition excludes revolutionary innovations not fitting into either MET type (e.g., photosynthesis). We recombine evolution with ecology to explore how and why entire ecosystems were newly created or radically altered – as Major System Transitions (MSTs). In doing so, we highlight important morphological adaptations that spread through populations because of their immediate, direct-fitness advantages for individuals. These are Major Competitive Transitions, or MCTs. We argue that often multiple METs and MCTs must be present to produce MSTs. For example, sexually-reproducing, multicellular eukaryotes (METs) with anisogamy and exoskeletons (MCTs) significantly altered ecosystems during the Cambrian. Therefore, we introduce the concepts of Facilitating Evolutionary Transitions (FETs) and Catalysts as key events or agents that are insufficient themselves to set a MST into motion, but are essential parts of synergies that do. We further elucidate the role of information in MSTs as transitions across five levels: (I) Encoded; (II) Epigenomic; (III) Learned; (IV) Inscribed; and (V) Dark Information. The latter is ‘authored’ by abiotic entities rather than biological organisms. Level IV has arguably allowed humans to produce a MST, and V perhaps makes us a FET for a future transition that melds biotic and abiotic life into one entity. Understanding the interactive processes involved in past major transitions will illuminate both current events and the surprising possibilities that abiotically-created information may produce.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.711556/fulladaptationinnovationfacilitationinformationecosystem |
| spellingShingle | Amanda N. Robin Kaleda K. Denton Eva S. Horna Lowell Tanner Dulay Saba Ebrahimi Gina C. Johnson Davis Mai Sean O’Fallon Conner S. Philson Hayden P. Speck Xinhui Paige Zhang Peter Nonacs Major Evolutionary Transitions and the Roles of Facilitation and Information in Ecosystem Transformations Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution adaptation innovation facilitation information ecosystem |
| title | Major Evolutionary Transitions and the Roles of Facilitation and Information in Ecosystem Transformations |
| title_full | Major Evolutionary Transitions and the Roles of Facilitation and Information in Ecosystem Transformations |
| title_fullStr | Major Evolutionary Transitions and the Roles of Facilitation and Information in Ecosystem Transformations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Major Evolutionary Transitions and the Roles of Facilitation and Information in Ecosystem Transformations |
| title_short | Major Evolutionary Transitions and the Roles of Facilitation and Information in Ecosystem Transformations |
| title_sort | major evolutionary transitions and the roles of facilitation and information in ecosystem transformations |
| topic | adaptation innovation facilitation information ecosystem |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.711556/full |
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