scholarly journals Cephalic biomechanics underpins the evolutionary success of trilobites

Palaeontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Esteve ◽  
Jordi Marcé‐Nogué ◽  
Francesc Pérez‐Peris ◽  
Emily Rayfield
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Success

Evolution of Conditional Cooperation in Prisoner's Dilemma

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Seyhun Saral
Keyword(s):  
Prisoner's Dilemma ◽  
Prisoner’S Dilemma ◽  
Social Dilemma ◽  
Conditional Cooperation ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Medium Level ◽  
Emergence Of Cooperation ◽  
Initial Move ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Strategy Types

Conditional cooperation has been a common explanation for the observed cooperation, and its decline in social dilemma experiments. Numerous studies showed that most of the experimental subjects can be categorized into three types: conditional cooperators, self-maximizers and hump-shaped (triangle) cooperators. In this study, I investigate conditional strategy types and their role on the emergence of cooperation and their evolutionary success. For this purpose, I use an extension of the Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma Game. The agents are characterized by their initial move and their conditional responses to each level of cooperation. By using simulations, I estimate the likelihood of cooperation for different probability of continuations.I show that, when the continuation probability is sufficiently large, high levels cooperation is achieved. In this case, the most successful strategies are those who employ an all-or-none type of conditional cooperation, followed by perfect conditional cooperators. In intermediate levels of continuation probabilities, however, hump-shaped contributor types are the ones that are most likely to thrive, followed by imperfect conditional cooperators. Those agents cooperate in a medium level of cooperation within themselves and each other. The results explain the existence of hump-shaped type of cooperators with a purely payoff-based reasoning, as opposed to previous attempts to explain this strategy with psychological mechanisms.

scholarly journals Biomechanics of insect cuticle: an interdisciplinary experimental challenge

2021 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Stamm ◽  
Brian Daniel Saltin ◽  
Jan-Henning Dirks
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Biomechanical Properties ◽  
Measurement Methods ◽  
Insect Cuticle ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Examination Techniques ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Experimental Challenge

AbstractThe cuticle exoskeleton plays a key role in facilitating the evolutionary success of insects. Since the mid of the last century, many different biomechanical properties of exoskeletons have been investigated, always utilizing the most sophisticated scientific methods available at the time. So far, information on the biomechanical properties of cuticle seems to be as diverse as the methods used to measure them. As a consequence, insect cuticle is often considered to exhibit the most complex and diverse biomechanical properties of any biological material. However, it remains unclear which role the respective measurement methods and sample treatments used in previous studies play in supporting this claim. This review provides a broad overview of examination techniques used to study biomechanical properties of insect exoskeletons and discusses their respective advantages and disadvantages in describing the properties of a complex material such as cuticle. Our meta-analysis of the present data confirms significant effects of the respective measurement methods, sample treatments and body parts on the obtained mechanical properties. Based on our findings, we highlight research gaps and point out important factors which should be taken into account in future studies on insect cuticle.

scholarly journals The diversity of opsins in Lake Baikal amphipods (Amphipoda: Gammaridae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Polina Drozdova ◽  
Alena Kizenko ◽  
Alexandra Saranchina ◽  
Anton Gurkov ◽  
Maria Firulyova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lake Baikal ◽  
Visual Pigments ◽  
Ancient Lake ◽  
Climate History ◽  
Habitat Depth ◽  
Long Wavelength ◽  
Evolutionary Scenario ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Multiple Species

Abstract Background Vision is a crucial sense for the evolutionary success of many animal groups. Here we explore the diversity of visual pigments (opsins) in the transcriptomes of amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda) and conclude that it is restricted to middle (MWS) and long wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsins in the overwhelming majority of examined species. Results We evidenced (i) parallel loss of MWS opsin expression in multiple species (including two independently evolved lineages from the deep and ancient Lake Baikal) and (ii) LWS opsin amplification (up to five transcripts) in both Baikal lineages. The number of LWS opsins negatively correlated with habitat depth in Baikal amphipods. Some LWS opsins in Baikal amphipods contained MWS-like substitutions, suggesting that they might have undergone spectral tuning. Conclusions This repeating two-step evolutionary scenario suggests common triggers, possibly the lack of light during the periods when Baikal was permanently covered with thick ice and its subsequent melting. Overall, this observation demonstrates the possibility of revealing climate history by following the evolutionary changes in protein families.

scholarly journals The evolution of scarab beetles tracks the sequential rise of angiosperms and mammals

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1791) ◽  
pp. 20141470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Ahrens ◽  
Julia Schwarzer ◽  
Alfried P. Vogler
Keyword(s):  
Dna Markers ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Crown Group ◽  
Evolutionary Mechanisms ◽  
Fossil Calibration ◽  
Multiple Origins ◽  
Pollen Feeding ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Terrestrial Biodiversity

Extant terrestrial biodiversity arguably is driven by the evolutionary success of angiosperm plants, but the evolutionary mechanisms and timescales of angiosperm-dependent radiations remain poorly understood. The Scarabaeoidea is a diverse lineage of predominantly plant- and dung-feeding beetles. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis of Scarabaeoidea based on four DNA markers for a taxonomically comprehensive set of specimens and link it to recently described fossil evidence. The phylogeny strongly supports multiple origins of coprophagy, phytophagy and anthophagy. The ingroup-based fossil calibration of the tree widely confirmed a Jurassic origin of the Scarabaeoidea crown group. The crown groups of phytophagous lineages began to radiate first (Pleurostict scarabs: 108 Ma; Glaphyridae between 101 Ma), followed by the later diversification of coprophagous lineages (crown-group age Scarabaeinae: 76 Ma; Aphodiinae: 50 Ma). Pollen feeding arose even later, at maximally 62 Ma in the oldest anthophagous lineage. The clear time lag between the origins of herbivores and coprophages suggests an evolutionary path driven by the angiosperms that first favoured the herbivore fauna (mammals and insects) followed by the secondary radiation of the dung feeders. This finding makes it less likely that extant dung beetle lineages initially fed on dinosaur excrements, as often hypothesized.

scholarly journals Evolutionary History of Cucumber Mosaic Virus Deduced by Phylogenetic Analyses

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 3382-3387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn J. Roossinck
Keyword(s):  
Cucumber Mosaic Virus ◽  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Virus Isolate ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Broad Host Range ◽  
Nontranslated Region ◽  
History Of ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Reading Frames

ABSTRACT Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is an RNA plant virus with a tripartite genome and an extremely broad host range. Previous evolutionary analyses with the coat protein (CP) and 5′ nontranslated region (NTR) of RNA 3 suggested subdivision of the virus into three groups, subgroups IA, IB, and II. In this study 15 strains of CMV whose nucleotide sequences have been determined were used for a complete phylogenetic analysis of the virus. The trees estimated for open reading frames (ORFs) located on the different RNAs were not congruent and did not completely support the subgrouping indicated by the CP ORF, indicating that different RNAs had independent evolutionary histories. This is consistent with a reassortment mechanism playing an important role in the evolution of the virus. The evolutionary trees of the 1a and 3a ORFs were more compact and displayed more branching than did those of the 2a and CP ORFs. This may reflect more rigid host-interactive constraints exerted on the 1a and 3a ORFs. In addition, analysis of the 3′ NTR that is conserved among all RNAs indicated that evolutionary constraints on this region are specific to the RNA component rather than the virus isolate. This indicates that functions other than replication are encoded in the 3′ NTR. Reassortment may have led to the genetic diversity found among CMV strains and contributed to its enormous evolutionary success.

scholarly journals The hard clam genome reveals massive expansion and diversification of inhibitors of apoptosis in Bivalvia

BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Song ◽  
Ximing Guo ◽  
Lina Sun ◽  
Qianghui Wang ◽  
Fengming Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Tandem Duplication ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Hard Clam ◽  
Gene Repertoire ◽  
Single Chromosome ◽  
Inhibitors Of Apoptosis ◽  
History Of ◽  
Evolutionary Success

Abstract Background Inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs) are critical regulators of programmed cell death that are essential for development, oncogenesis, and immune and stress responses. However, available knowledge regarding IAP is largely biased toward humans and model species, while the distribution, function, and evolutionary novelties of this gene family remain poorly understood in many taxa, including Mollusca, the second most speciose phylum of Metazoa. Results Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of an economically significant bivalve, the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria, which reveals an unexpected and dramatic expansion of the IAP gene family to 159 members, the largest IAP gene repertoire observed in any metazoan. Comparative genome analysis reveals that this massive expansion is characteristic of bivalves more generally. Reconstruction of the evolutionary history of molluscan IAP genes indicates that most originated in early metazoans and greatly expanded in Bivalvia through both lineage-specific tandem duplication and retroposition, with 37.1% of hard clam IAPs located on a single chromosome. The expanded IAPs have been subjected to frequent domain shuffling, which has in turn shaped their architectural diversity. Further, we observed that extant IAPs exhibit dynamic and orchestrated expression patterns among tissues and in response to different environmental stressors. Conclusions Our results suggest that sophisticated regulation of apoptosis enabled by the massive expansion and diversification of IAPs has been crucial for the evolutionary success of hard clam and other molluscan lineages, allowing them to cope with local environmental stresses. This study broadens our understanding of IAP proteins and expression diversity and provides novel resources for studying molluscan biology and IAP function and evolution.

scholarly journals Dynamics of Structural Barriers and Innate Immune Components during Incubation of the Avian Egg: Critical Interplay between Autonomous Embryonic Development and Maternal Anticipation

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxwell T. Hincke ◽  
Mylène Da Silva ◽  
Nicolas Guyot ◽  
Joël Gautron ◽  
Marc D. McKee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Vitelline Membrane ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Embryonic Tissues ◽  
Egg Incubation ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Protective Structures ◽  
Amniotic Membranes ◽  
Autonomous Development

The integrated innate immune features of the calcareous egg and its contents are a critical underpinning of the remarkable evolutionary success of the Aves clade. Beginning at the time of laying, the initial protective structures of the egg, i.e., the biomineralized eggshell, egg-white antimicrobial peptides, and vitelline membrane, are rapidly and dramatically altered during embryonic development. The embryo-generated extra-embryonic tissues (chorioallantoic/amniotic membranes, yolk sac, and associated chambers) are all critical to counteract degradation of primary egg defenses during development. With a focus on the chick embryo (Gallus gallus domesticus), this review describes the progressive transformation of egg innate immunity by embryo-generated structures and mechanisms over the 21-day course of egg incubation, and also discusses the critical interplay between autonomous development and maternal anticipation.

The hidden layers of microbial community structure: extracting the concealed diversity dimensions from our sequencing data

2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Fasolo ◽  
Laura Treu ◽  
Piergiorgio Stevanato ◽  
Giuseppe Concheri ◽  
Stefano Campanaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sequencing Data ◽  
16S Sequencing ◽  
Evolutionary Aspect ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Sequence Identity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Environmental Processes ◽  
Final Layer ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Microbial Groups

ABSTRACT Microbial metabarcoding is the standard approach to assess communities’ diversity. However reports are often limited to simple OTU abundances for each phylum, giving rather one-dimensional views of microbial assemblages, overlooking other accessible aspects. The first is masked by databases incompleteness; OTU picking involves clustering at 97% (near-species) sequence identity, but different OTUs regularly end up under a same taxon name. When expressing diversity as number of obtained taxonomical names, a large portion of the real diversity lying within the data remains underestimated. Using the 16S sequencing results of an environmental transect across a gradient of 17 coastal habitats we first extracted the number of OTUs hidden under the same name. Further, we observed which was the deepest rank yielded by annotation, revealing for which microbial groups are we missing most knowledge. Data were then used to infer an evolutionary aspect: what is, in each phylum the success of the present time individuals (abundances for each OTU) in relation to their prior evolutionary success in differentiation (number of OTUs). This information reveals whether the past speciation/diversification force is matched by the present competitiveness in reproduction/persistence. The final layer explored is functional diversity, i.e. abundances of groups involved in specific environmental processes.

scholarly journals Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses of transposable elements in polychaetous annelids highlight LTR retrotransposon diversity and evolution

Mobile DNA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Filée ◽  
Sarah Farhat ◽  
Dominique Higuet ◽  
Laure Teysset ◽  
Dominique Marie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transposable Elements ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Ltr Retrotransposon ◽  
Genomic Evolution ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genomic Analyses ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Low Coverage

Abstract Background With the expansion of high throughput sequencing, we now have access to a larger number of genome-wide studies analyzing the Transposable elements (TEs) composition in a wide variety of organisms. However, genomic analyses often remain too limited in number and diversity of species investigated to study in depth the dynamics and evolutionary success of the different types of TEs among metazoans. Therefore, we chose to investigate the use of transcriptomes to describe the diversity of TEs in phylogenetically related species by conducting the first comparative analysis of TEs in two groups of polychaetes and evaluate the diversity of TEs that might impact genomic evolution as a result of their mobility. Results We present a detailed analysis of TEs distribution in transcriptomes extracted from 15 polychaetes depending on the number of reads used during assembly, and also compare these results with additional TE scans on associated low-coverage genomes. We then characterized the clades defined by 1021 LTR-retrotransposon families identified in 26 species. Clade richness was highly dependent on the considered superfamily. Copia elements appear rare and are equally distributed in only three clades, GalEa, Hydra and CoMol. Among the eight BEL/Pao clades identified in annelids, two small clades within the Sailor lineage are new for science. We characterized 17 Gypsy clades of which only 4 are new; the C-clade largely dominates with a quarter of the families. Finally, all species also expressed for the majority two distinct transcripts encoding PIWI proteins, known to be involved in control of TEs mobilities. Conclusions This study shows that the use of transcriptomes assembled from 40 million reads was sufficient to access to the diversity and proportion of the transposable elements compared to those obtained by low coverage sequencing. Among LTR-retrotransposons Gypsy elements were unequivocally dominant but results suggest that the number of Gypsy clades, although high, may be more limited than previously thought in metazoans. For BEL/Pao elements, the organization of clades within the Sailor lineage appears more difficult to establish clearly. The Copia elements remain rare and result from the evolutionary consistent success of the same three clades.

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