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Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.

Genetics of Speciation

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.

Formation of Species

Formation of Species

Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.

Convergent Evolution

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton

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Published on: May 7, 2016

Considering Decoupled Phenotypic Diversification Between Ontogenetic Phases in Macroevolution: An Example Using

Alex Dornburg¹, Katerina L Zapfe¹, Rachel Williams²

¹Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.

Systematic Biology

|March 15, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Most studies ignore juvenile traits, but this research on triggerfish reveals distinct evolutionary paths for juvenile and adult forms. Understanding these differences is key to grasping evolutionary pressures across life stages.

Keywords:

Adaptive radiation ecology functional morphology nursery habitat ontogeny

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Last Updated: Jun 30, 2025

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Published on: May 7, 2016

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Ichthyology
Developmental Biology

Background:

Phenotypic disparity and diversification studies often overlook non-adult life stages.
Ontogenetic phases can exhibit distinct morphologies and ecological roles compared to adults.
Coastal ray-finned fishes, like triggerfish, often have juvenile stages with unique phenotypes and locomotor morphology.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the evolutionary dynamics of locomotor morphology between adult and juvenile triggerfish.
To determine if ontogenetic variation in locomotor morphology reflects decoupled diversification dynamics.
To understand how ontogenetic stage influences evolutionary tempo and disparity.

Main Methods:

Integration of a time-calibrated phylogenetic framework.
Application of geometric morphometric approaches.
Analysis of fin aspect ratio and incidence measurements.

Main Results:

A mismatch was found between morphospace occupancy of juvenile and adult triggerfish.
The evolution of morphological disparity differs between ontogenetic stages.
The tempo of trait evolution is not consistent between juvenile and adult life stages.

Conclusions:

Locomotor morphology evolution can be decoupled between ontogenetic stages in triggerfish.
Heterogeneity in morpho-functional adaptations drives distinct diversification modes and tempos.
Considering all ontogenetic stages is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of evolution.