Introducing Trait Networks to Elucidate the Fluidity of Organismal Evolution Using Palaeontological Data.

ABSTRACT: Explaining the evolution of animals requires ecological, developmental, paleontological, and phylogenetic considerations because organismal traits are affected by complex evolutionary processes. Modeling a plurality of processes, operating at distinct time-scales on potentially interdependent traits, can benefit from approaches that are complementary treatments to phylogenetics. Here, we developed an inclusive network approach, implemented in the command line software ComponentGrapher, and analyzed trait co-occurrence of rhinocerotoid mammals. We identified stable, unstable, and pivotal traits, as well as traits contributing to complexes, that may follow to a common developmental regulation, that point to an early implementation of the postcranial Bauplan among rhinocerotoids. Strikingly,

SUBMITTER: Lord E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6761957 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature