Are rates of species diversification correlated with rates of morphological evolution?

2009/05/13 by Dean C. Adams, Chelsea M. Berns, Kenneth H. Kozak +1 · 266 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies #Biology #Business #Diversification (marketing strategy) #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Evolutionary biology #Genetic diversity and population structure

paper · open access · doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.0543

published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 276(1668), 2729-2738 (Royal Society)

openalex publication_date 2009/05/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Some major evolutionary theories predict a relationship between rates of proliferation of new species (species diversification) and rates of morphological divergence between them. However, this relationship has not been rigorously tested using phylogeny-based approaches. Here, we test this relationship with morphological and phylogenetic data from 190 species of plethodontid salamanders. Surprisingly, we find that rates of species diversification and morphological evolution are not significantly correlated, such that rapid diversification can occur with little morphological change, and vice versa. We also find that most clades have undergone remarkably similar patterns of morphological evolution (despite extensive sympatry) and that those relatively novel phenotypes are not associated with rapid diversification. Finally, we find a strong relationship between rates of size and shape evolution, which has not been previously tested.

Citations

• TESTING FOR LATITUDINAL BIAS IN DIVERSIFICATION RATES: AN EXAMPLE USING NEW WORLD BIRDS

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