Convergence in carnivorous pitcher plants reveals a mechanism for composite trait evolution

<p>Composite traits involve multiple components that, only when combined, gain a new synergistic function. Thus, how they evolve remains a puzzle. We combined field experiments, microscopy, chemical analyses, and laser Doppler vibrometry with comparative phylogenetic analyses to show that two...

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書目詳細資料
Main Authors: Chomicki, G, Burin, G, Busta, L, Gozdzik, J, Jetter, R, Mortimer, B, Bauer, U
格式: Journal article
語言:English
出版: American Association for the Advancement of Science 2024
實物特徵
總結:<p>Composite traits involve multiple components that, only when combined, gain a new synergistic function. Thus, how they evolve remains a puzzle. We combined field experiments, microscopy, chemical analyses, and laser Doppler vibrometry with comparative phylogenetic analyses to show that two carnivorous&nbsp;<em>Nepenthes</em>&nbsp;pitcher plant species independently evolved similar adaptations in three distinct traits to acquire a new, composite trapping mechanism. Comparative analyses suggest that this new trait arose convergently through &ldquo;spontaneous coincidence&rdquo; of the required trait combination, rather than directional selection in the component traits. Our results indicate a plausible mechanism for composite trait evolution and highlight the importance of stochastic phenotypic variation as a facilitator of evolutionary novelty.</p>