Shifts in morphological covariation and evolutionary rates across multiple acquisitions of the trap-jaw mechanism in Strumigenys.

ABSTRACT: A long-standing question in comparative biology is how the evolution of biomechanical systems influences morphological evolution. The need for functional fidelity implies that the evolution of such systems should be associated with tighter morphological covariation, which may promote or dampen rates of morphological evolution. I examine this question across multiple evolutionary origins of the trap-jaw mechanism in the genus Strumigenys. Trap-jaw ants have latch-mediated, spring-actuated systems that amplify the power output of their mandibles. I use Bayesian estimates of covariation and evolutionary rates to test the hypotheses that the evolution of this high-performance system is associated with tighter morphological covariation in the head and mandibles relative to nontrap-jaw forms and

SUBMITTER: Anderson PSL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9545230 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature