Diversity and disparity through time in the adaptive radiation of Antarctic notothenioid fishes.

ABSTRACT: According to theory, adaptive radiation is triggered by ecological opportunity that can arise through the colonization of new habitats, the extinction of antagonists or the origin of key innovations. In the course of an adaptive radiation, diversification and morphological evolution are expected to slow down after an initial phase of rapid adaptation to vacant ecological niches, followed by speciation. Such 'early bursts' of diversification are thought to occur because niche space becomes increasingly filled over time. The diversification of Antarctic notothenioid fishes into over 120 species has become one of the prime examples of adaptive radiation in the marine realm and has likely been triggered by an evolutionary key innovation in the form of the emergence of antifreeze glycoproteins.

SUBMITTER: Colombo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4407914 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature