Repeated and time-correlated morphological convergence in cave-dwelling harvestmen (Opiliones, Laniatores) from Montane Western North America.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many cave-dwelling animal species display similar morphologies (troglomorphism) that have evolved convergent within and among lineages under the similar selective pressures imposed by cave habitats. Here we study such ecomorphological evolution in cave-dwelling Sclerobuninae harvestmen (Opiliones) from the western United States, providing general insights into morphological homoplasy, rates of morphological change, and the temporal context of cave evolution.

Methodology/principal findings

We gathered DNA sequence data from three independent gene regions, and combined these data with Bayesian hypothesis testing, morphometrics analysis, study of penis morphology, and relaxed molecular clock analyses. Using multivariate morphometric analysis, we find that phylogeneti

SUBMITTER: Derkarabetian S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2866537 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature