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| Developmental constraints versus flexibility in morphological evolution |
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| Author(s): Beldade P, Koops K, Brakefield PM |
| Source: NATURE Volume: 416 Issue: 6883 Pages: 844-847 Published: APR 25 2002 |
| Times Cited: 85 References: 30 |
| Abstract: Evolutionary developmental biology has encouraged a change of research emphasis from the sorting of phenotypic variation by natural selection to the production of that variation through development(1). Some morphologies are more readily generated than others, and developmental mechanisms can limit or channel evolutionary change(2). Such biases determine how readily populations are able to respond to selection(3), and have been postulated to explain stasis in morphological evolution(4) and unexplored morphologies(5). There has been much discussion about evolutionary constraints(6-8) but empirical data testing them directly are sparse(9,10). The spectacular diversity in butterfly wing patterns(11) is suggestive of how little constrained morphological evolution can be. However, for wing patterns involving serial repeats of the same element, developmental properties suggest that some directions of evolutionary change might be restricted(12,13). Here we show that despite the developmental coupling between different eyespots in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana, there is great potential for independent changes. This flexibility is consistent with the diversity of wing patterns across species and argues for a dominant role of natural selection, rather than internal constraints, in shaping existing variation. |
| Document Type: Article |
| Language: English |
| Reprint Address: Beldade, P (reprint author), Leiden Univ, Inst Evolutionary & Ecol Sci, POB 9516, NL-2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands |
Addresses:
1. Leiden Univ, Inst Evolutionary & Ecol Sci, NL-2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands |
| Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, MACMILLAN BUILDING, 4 CRINAN ST, LONDON N1 9XW, ENGLAND |
| Subject Category: Multidisciplinary Sciences |
| IDS Number: 544MH |
| ISSN: 0028-0836 |
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