Tempo and mode of morphological evolution are decoupled from latitude in birds
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The latitudinal diversity gradient is one of the most striking patterns in nature, yet its implications for morphological evolution are poorly understood. In particular, it has been proposed that an increased intensity of species interactions in tropical biota may either promote or constrain trait evolution, but which of these outcomes predominates remains uncertain. Here, we develop tools for fitting phylogenetic models of phenotypic evolution in which the impact of species interactions-namely, competition-can vary across lineages. Deploying these models on a global avian trait dataset to explore differences in trait divergence between tropical and temperate lineages, we find that the effect of latitude on the mode and tempo of morphological evolution is weak and clade- or trait dependent. Our results indicate that species interactions do not disproportionately impact morphological evolution in tropical bird families and question the validity of previously reported patterns of slower trait evolution in the tropics.
Date Issued
2021-08-24
Date Acceptance
2021-05-07
Citation
PLoS Biology, 2021, 19 (8)
ISSN
1544-9173
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Journal / Book Title
PLoS Biology
Volume
19
Issue
8
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Drury et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34428214
PII: PBIOLOGY-D-21-00283
Subjects
Developmental Biology
06 Biological Sciences
07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
11 Medical and Health Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Article Number
ARTN e3001270