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Linking macrotrends and microrates: Re-evaluating microevolutionary support for Cope's rule.

Kiyoko M Gotanda¹, Cristián Correa^2,3, Martin M Turcotte⁴

¹Redpath Museum and Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0C4, Canada. kiyoko.gotanda@mail.mcgill.ca.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution

|March 27, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cope's rule suggests body size increases over time. However, this study found body size trends in contemporary populations are highly variable, with no general increase, challenging microevolutionary support for Cope's rule.

Keywords:

Body size Darwins Haldanes breeding values contemporary evolution rates of evolution

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Macroevolution
Microevolution

Background:

Cope's rule describes lineage body size increase over evolutionary time, often observed in fossils.
Recent studies suggest positive selection on individual body size in contemporary populations, proposing a microevolutionary basis for Cope's rule.

Purpose of the Study:

To test if body size increases over microevolutionary timescales, as predicted by selection estimates.
To investigate the generality of body size trends in contemporary populations.

Main Methods:

Assembled a large database of studies on phenotypic body size changes in contemporary populations.
Included studies reporting average breeding values for body size over time.

Main Results:

Observed highly variable trends in body size across populations.
Found no general trend toward increasing body size; many populations showed decreasing size.
Discrepancy noted between selection estimates and actual phenotypic change rates.

Conclusions:

Actual rates of phenotypic change for body size do not consistently support Cope's rule.
Selection estimates suggesting fitness advantages for larger size may not translate to consistent evolutionary increases.
Further research needed to understand the discrepancy and implications for Cope's rule.