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Published on: August 18, 2023
Evolvability predicts macroevolution under fluctuating selection.
Agnes Holstad1, Kjetil L Voje2, Øystein H Opedal3
1Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Evolutionary divergence in populations and species is linked to microevolutionary evolvability. Genetic constraints influence how populations adapt to environmental changes, impacting long-term evolutionary trajectories.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Genetics
- Paleontology
Background:
- Heritable variation is essential for evolution, but genetic constraints' role in macroevolution is debated.
- Understanding the interplay between microevolutionary processes and macroevolutionary patterns is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between microevolutionary evolvability and evolutionary divergence across populations and species.
- To test hypotheses explaining this relationship and propose a mechanism involving genetic constraints.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of two datasets encompassing fossil and contemporary taxa.
- Statistical evaluation of evolutionary divergence and microevolutionary evolvability.
Main Results:
- Evolutionary divergence at population and species levels increases with microevolutionary evolvability.
- Several alternative hypotheses were evaluated and rejected.
Conclusions:
- Evolvability influences population and species divergence.
- Genetic constraints play a key role by affecting populations' ability to track environmental fluctuations, thus shaping macroevolutionary outcomes.
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