In:
PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 19, No. 3 ( 2021-3-2), p. e3001031-
Abstract:
Evolutionary innovations underlie the rise of diversity and complexity—the 2 long-term trends in the history of life. How does natural selection redesign multiple interacting parts to achieve a new emergent function? We investigated the evolution of a biomechanical innovation, the latch-spring mechanism of trap-jaw ants, to address 2 outstanding evolutionary problems: how form and function change in a system during the evolution of new complex traits, and whether such innovations and the diversity they beget are repeatable in time and space. Using a new phylogenetic reconstruction of 470 species, and X-ray microtomography and high-speed videography of representative taxa, we found the trap-jaw mechanism evolved independently 7 to 10 times in a single ant genus ( Strumigenys ), resulting in the repeated evolution of diverse forms on different continents. The trap mechanism facilitates a 6 to 7 order of magnitude greater mandible acceleration relative to simpler ancestors, currently the fastest recorded acceleration of a resettable animal movement. We found that most morphological diversification occurred after evolution of latch-spring mechanisms, which evolved via minor realignments of mouthpart structures. This finding, whereby incremental changes in form lead to a change of function, followed by large morphological reorganization around the new function, provides a model for understanding the evolution of complex biomechanical traits, as well as insights into why such innovations often happen repeatedly.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1545-7885
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.g005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s008
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s009
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s010
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s011
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s012
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s013
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s014
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s015
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s016
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pbio.3001031.s017
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2126773-X
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