Integrated diversification of locomotion and feeding in labrid fishes.

ABSTRACT: An organism's performance of any ecological task involves coordination of multiple functional systems. Feeding performance is influenced by locomotor abilities which are used during search and capture of prey, as well as cranial mechanics, which affect prey capture and processing. But, does this integration of functional systems manifest itself during evolution? We asked whether the locomotor and feeding systems evolved in association in one of the most prominent and diverse reef fish radiations, the Labridae. We examined features of the pectoral fins that affect swimming performance and aspects of the skull that describe force and motion of the jaws. We applied a recent phylogeny, calculated independent contrasts for 60 nodes and performed principal components analyses separately on contr

SUBMITTER: Collar DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2412936 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature