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Developmental trait evolution in trilobites.

Giuseppe Fusco1, Theodore Garland, Gene Hunt

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Padova, Italy.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|January 27, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Trilobite growth rates generally follow Dyar's rule, indicating developmental constraints. However, evolutionary analysis reveals that these developmental traits were relatively adaptable throughout trilobite history.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Trilobites, an extinct group of arthropods, offer a valuable window into ancient life.
  • Understanding postembryonic development and its evolutionary trajectory is crucial for reconstructing their biology.
  • Quantitative data on trilobite growth and segmentation are essential for evolutionary analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the evolutionary patterns of postembryonic developmental traits in trilobites.
  • To investigate the conformity of trilobite growth to Dyar's rule and assess phylogenetic signals.
  • To model the evolutionary dynamics of developmental traits in trilobites.

Main Methods:

  • Tree-based analysis of quantitative developmental data from 60 trilobite species.
  • Investigation of trunk segmentation, per-molt growth rate, and conformity to Dyar's rule.
  • Phylogenetic signal assessment using randomization tests and evolutionary model fitting (maximum likelihood).

Main Results:

  • Trilobite growth rates are comparable to other arthropods and largely conform to Dyar's rule.
  • A significant phylogenetic signal for growth was detected in early juvenile stages, but not in later stages.
  • Evolutionary models suggest that growth rates are not subject to unbounded Brownian motion but are influenced by an adaptive zone.

Conclusions:

  • Trilobite developmental traits, particularly growth rates, exhibit evolutionary lability.
  • The evolutionary dynamics suggest constraints and attractors, rather than purely random drift.
  • These findings contribute to understanding the interplay between developmental constraints and evolutionary adaptability in extinct organisms.