Comparative transcriptomics of ice-crawlers demonstrates cold specialization constrains niche evolution in a relict lineage.

ABSTRACT: Key changes in ecological niche space are often critical to understanding how lineages diversify during adaptive radiations. However, the converse, or understanding why some lineages are depauperate and relictual, is more challenging, as many factors may constrain niche evolution. In the case of the insect order Grylloblattodea, highly conserved thermal breadth is assumed to be closely tied to their relictual status, but has not been formerly tested. Here, we investigate whether evolutionary constraints in the physiological tolerance of temperature can help explain relictualism in this lineage. Using a comparative transcriptomics approach, we investigate gene expression following acute heat and cold stress across members of Grylloblattodea and their sister group, Mantophasmatodea. We addit

SUBMITTER: Schoville SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7896716 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature