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1. Pharyngeal Jaws Converge by Similar Means, Not to Similar Ends, When Minnows (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae) Adapt to New Dietary Niches

   https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icz090  

   Pos, Kelsie M ; Farina, Stacy C ; Kolmann, Matthew A ; Gidmark, Nicholas J ( June 2019 , Integrative and Comparative Biology)

   Abstract Convergent evolution is at the forefront of many form-function studies. There are many examples of multiple independent lineages evolving a similar morphology in response to similar functional demands, providing a framework for testing hypotheses of form-function evolution. However, there are numerous clades with underappreciated convergence, in which there is a perceived homogeneity in morphology. In these groups, it can be difficult to investigate causal relationships of form and function (e.g., diet influencing the evolution of jaw morphology) without the ability to disentangle phylogenetic signal from convergence. Leuciscids (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae; formerly nested within Cyprinidae) are a species-rich clade of fishes that have diversified to occupy nearly every freshwater trophic niche, yet are considered to have relatively low morphological diversity relative to other large freshwater clades. Within the North American leuciscids, many genera contain at least one herbivore, insectivore, and larvaphage. We created 3D models from micro-computed tomography scans of 165 leuciscid species to measure functionally relevant traits within the pharyngeal jaws of these fishes. Using a published phylogeny, we tested these metrics for evolutionary integration, phylogenetic signal, and correlation with diet. Measurements of the pharyngeal jaws, muscle attachment areas, and teeth showed strong positive evolutionary correlation with each other andmore »negative evolutionary correlation with measurements of the inter-ceratobranchial ligament (ICB ligament). Using diet data from published literature, we found extensive dietary convergence within Leuciscidae. The most common transitions we found were between herbivorous and invertivorous taxa and between insectivore types (aquatic vs. terrestrial). We document a trade-off in which herbivorous leuciscids have large teeth, short ICB ligaments, and large muscle attachment areas, whereas insectivorous leuciscids showed the opposite pattern. Inverse patterns of morphological integration between the ICB ligament the rest of the pharyngeal jaw correspond this dietary trade-off, which indicates that coordinated evolution of morphological traits contributes to functional diversity in this clade. However, these patterns only emerge in the context of phylogeny, meaning that the pharyngeal jaws of North American leuciscids converge by similar means (structural changes in response to dietary demands), but not necessarily to similar ends (absolute phenotype).« less
2. A Phylogeny-Informed Analysis of the Global Coral-Symbiodiniaceae Interaction Network Reveals that Traits Correlated with Thermal Bleaching Are Specific to Symbiont Transmission Mode

   https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00266-21  

   Swain, Timothy D. ; Lax, Simon ; Gilbert, Jack ; Backman, Vadim ; Marcelino, Luisa A. ( June 2021 , mSystems)

   Bik, Holly (Ed.)

   ABSTRACT The complex network of associations between corals and their dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae) are the basis of coral reef ecosystems but are sensitive to increasing global temperatures. Coral-symbiont interactions are restricted by ecological and evolutionary determinants that constrain partner choice and influence holobiont response to environmental stress; however, little is known about how these processes shape thermal resilience of the holobiont. Here, we built a network of global coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations, mapped species traits (e.g., symbiont transmission mode and biogeography) and phylogenetic relationships of both partners onto the network, and assigned thermotolerance to both host and symbiont nodes. Using network analysis and phylogenetic comparative methods, we determined the contribution of species traits to thermal resilience of the holobiont, while accounting for evolutionary patterns among species. We found that the network shows nonrandom interactions among species, which are shaped by evolutionary history, symbiont transmission mode (horizontally transmitted [HT] or vertically transmitted [VT] corals) and biogeography. Coral phylogeny, but not Symbiodiniaceae phylogeny, symbiont transmission mode, or biogeography, was a good predictor of thermal resilience. Closely related corals have similar Symbiodiniaceae interaction patterns and bleaching susceptibilities. Nevertheless, the association patterns that explain increased host thermal resilience are not generalizable across the entire network butmore »are instead unique to HT and VT corals. Under nonstress conditions, thermally resilient VT coral species associate with thermotolerant phylotypes and limit their number of unique symbionts and overall symbiont thermotolerance diversity, while thermally resilient HT coral species associate with a few host-specific symbiont phylotypes. IMPORTANCE Recent advances have revealed a complex network of interactions between coral and Symbiodiniaceae. Specifically, nonrandom association patterns, which are determined in part by restrictions imposed by symbiont transmission mode, increase the sensitivity of the overall network to thermal stress. However, little is known about the extent to which coral-Symbiodiniaceae network resistance to thermal stress is shaped by host and symbiont species phylogenetic relationships and host and symbiont species traits, such as symbiont transmission mode. We built a frequency-weighted global coral-Symbiodiniaceae network and used network analysis and phylogenetic comparative methods to show that evolutionary relatedness, but not transmission mode, predicts thermal resilience of the coral-Symbiodiniaceae holobiont. Consequently, thermal stress events could result in nonrandom pruning of susceptible lineages and loss of taxonomic diversity with catastrophic effects on community resilience to future events. Our results show that inclusion of the contribution of evolutionary and ecological processes will further our understanding of the fate of coral assemblages under climate change.« less
3. Above- and below-ground functional trait coordination in the Neotropical understory genus Costus

   https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plab073  

   Ávila-Lovera, Eleinis ; Goldsmith, Gregory R ; Kay, Kathleen M ; Funk, Jennifer L ( February 2022 , AoB PLANTS)

   Medeiros, Juliana (Ed.)

   Abstract The study of plant functional traits and variation among and within species can help illuminate functional coordination and trade-offs in key processes that allow plants to grow, reproduce and survive. We studied 20 leaf, above-ground stem, below-ground stem and fine-root traits of 17 Costus species from forests in Costa Rica and Panama to answer the following questions: (i) Do congeneric species show above-ground and below-ground trait coordination and trade-offs consistent with theory of resource acquisition and conservation? (ii) Is there correlated evolution among traits? (iii) Given the diversity of habitats over which Costus occurs, what is the relative contribution of site and species to trait variation? We performed a principal components analysis (PCA) to assess for the existence of a spectrum of trait variation and found that the first two PCs accounted for 21.4 % and 17.8 % of the total trait variation, respectively, with the first axis of variation being consistent with a continuum of resource-acquisitive and resource-conservative traits in water acquisition and use, and the second axis of variation being related to the leaf economics spectrum. Stomatal conductance was negatively related to both above-ground stem and rhizome specific density, and these relationships became stronger after accounting formore »evolutionary relatedness, indicating correlated evolution. Despite elevation and climatic differences among sites, high trait variation was ascribed to individuals rather than to sites. We conclude that Costus species present trait coordination and trade-offs that allow species to be categorized as having a resource-acquisitive or resource-conservative functional strategy, consistent with a whole-plant functional strategy with evident coordination and trade-offs between above-ground and below-ground function. Our results also show that herbaceous species and species with rhizomes tend to agree with trade-offs found in more species-rich comparisons.« less
4. Ecological niche modeling of Loranthaceae haustorial morphology across Australia.

   Trang, Kenneth ; Calvin, Clyde L. ; Wilson, Carol A. ( July 2019 , Botany 2019: Sky Islands and Desert Seas)

   Loranthaceae are parasitic plants in about 76 genera that are predominantly found in subtropical and temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere as branch parasites. Australia is an area of high diversity with about 11 genera and 65 species, most of which are endemic. Loranthaceae branch parasites are also morphologically diverse having both radial and zygomorphic flowers that are typically bird pollinated and each of the four basic haustorial types. Haustorial types include epicortical roots (ERs) that grow along the host branch surface and at intervals form secondary attachments to their host, clasping unions where parasite tissue enlarges partially encircling the host branch, wood roses where host tissue proliferates forming a placenta where the parasite is attached, and bark strands that spread within the outer tissues of the host branch. We hypothesized that those haustoria where parasitic tissue proliferated, such as ERs and clasping unions, would occupy more mesic environments. To test this hypothesis and investigate other relationships among ecological parameters and haustorial form we used 17,753 sets of occurrence and ecological data from the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) online repository for 42 species of Loranthaceae. We analyzed haustorial forms through comparative studies of haustoria housed at the UC Herbarium,more »relevant literature, and collections in public repositories. Biogeographical and environmental data were analyzed using mapping and statistical methods in the R environment. Our preliminary research suggests that bark strands are found in climatic regions across Australia, including deserts, while both epicortical roots (ERs) and clasping unions are mostly restricted to mesic coastlines of eastern Australia (21 of 22 species with ERs occur only along eastern coastlines of Australia or in the Cape York Peninsula). Wood roses are less common in Australia with few data points. Haustoria are sometimes complex, especially clasping unions where bark strands are occasionally also produced. An interesting finding was that Amyema sanguinea has a wide distribution in arid as well as mesic climates even though it has ERs. This species has unusually robust ERs that might contribute to its wider ecological niche. Evolution of haustoria in Australia is discussed based on phylogenetic hypotheses of Loranthaceae genera.« less
5. The adaptive challenge of extreme conditions shapes evolutionary diversity of plant assemblages at continental scales

   https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2021132118  

   Neves, D ; Kerkhoff, A ; Echeverría-Londoño, S ; Merow, C ; Morueta-Holme, N ; Peet, R:Svenning ; Wiser, S ; Enquist, B ( September 2021 , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America)

   The tropical conservatism hypothesis (TCH) posits that the latitudinal gradient in biological diversity arises because most extant clades of animals and plants originated when tropical environments were more widespread and because the colonization of colder and more seasonal temperate environments is limited by the phylogenetically conserved environmental tolerances of these tropical clades. Recent studies have claimed support of the TCH, indicating that temperate plant diversity stems from a fewmore recently derived lineages that are nested within tropical clades, with the colonization of the temperate zone being associated with key adaptations to survive colder temperatures and regular freezing. Drought, however, is an additional physiological stress that could shape diversity gradients. Here, we evaluate patterns of evolutionary diversity in plant assemblages spanning the full extent of climatic gradients in North and South America. We find that in both hemispheres, extratropical dry biomes house the lowest evolutionary diversity, while tropical moist forests and many temperatemixed forests harbor the highest. Together, our results support a more nuanced view of the TCH, with environments that are radically different from the ancestral niche of angiosperms having limited, phylogenetically clustered diversity relative to environments that show lower levels of deviation from this niche. Thus, we argue thatmore »ongoing expansion of arid environments is likely to entail higher loss of evolutionary diversity not just in the wet tropics but in many extratropical moist regions as well.« less