Disentangling adaptive evolutionary radiations and the role of diet in promoting diversification on islands.

ABSTRACT: Although the initial formulation of modern concepts of adaptive radiation arose from consideration of the fossil data, rigorous attempts to identify this phenomenon in the fossil record are largely uncommon. Here I focus on direct evidence of the diet (through tooth-wear patterns) and ecologically-relevant traits of one of the most renowned fossil vertebrates-the Miocene ruminant Hoplitomeryx from the island of Gargano-to deepen our understanding of the most likely causal forces under which adaptive radiations emerge on islands. Results show how accelerated accumulation of species and early-bursts of ecological diversification occur after invading an island, and provide insights on the interplay between diet and demographic (population-density), ecological (competition/food requirements) a

SUBMITTER: DeMiguel D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4942836 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature