Vestigialization and Loss of Nonfunctional Characters

Fong, Daniel W.; Kane, Thomas C.; Culver, David C.

doi:10.1146/annurev.es.26.110195.001341

Cited by 194 publications

(147 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…However, except for a few well-studied cases, such as the loss of eyes and pigments in cavedwelling organisms, the evolutionary and genetic mechanisms underlying trait loss remain poorly understood (Fong et al 1995;Culver & Wilkens 2000). Trait reduction could occur through the fixation, via genetic drift, of selectively neutral mutations that cause degeneration of the nonfunctional trait (Haldane 1933;Muller 1949;Emerson 1961;Brace 1963;Wilkens 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary vestigialization of sex in a clonal plant: selection versus neutral mutation in geographically peripheral populations

Dorken

Neville

Eckert

2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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The loss of traits that no longer contribute to fitness is widespread; however, the causative evolutionary mechanisms are poorly understood. Vestigialization could proceed through the fixation of selectively neutral degenerative mutations via genetic drift. Alternatively, selection may facilitate vestigialization if trait loss results in enhanced fitness. We tested these hypotheses using Decodon verticillatus, a clonal plant in which sexual sterility has arisen repeatedly in populations across the northern geographical range limit. We compared growth and survival of replicated genotypes from 7 sexually fertile and 18 sterile populations, over 3 years in a common environment. Survival of sterile genotypes was 53% greater than for fertile genotypes, but there was no difference in biomass accumulation. Almost all mortality, and hence increased performance of sterile genotypes, occurred during simulated overwinter dormancy. These observations suggest that selection has facilitated the vestigialization of sex, and thus do not support the neutral mutation hypothesis. The selective mechanism probably involves the relaxation of a genetic trade-off between sexual reproduction and survival: alleles that increase vegetative performance at the expense of sexual fertility are selected in geographically peripheral populations where sexual reproduction is suppressed by adverse environmental conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary vestigialization of sex in a clonal plant: selection versus neutral mutation in geographically peripheral populations

Dorken

Neville

Eckert

2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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“…This thrips exhibits two distinct morphs, winged dispersers and wingreduced 'soldiers' of both sexes that apparently do not leave their gall (Crespi, 1992a,b;Crespi & Mound, 1997). Both dispersers and soldiers use their forelegs for fighting and walking, but only dispersers use their wings for flight; thus, wings in soldiers can be considered vestigial (reviewed in Fong et a!., 1995). To analyse effects of trait functionality we compared FA in fore femur length and wing length between dispersers and soldiers, and to analyse effects of ploidy we compared FA for these two traits between haploid males and diploid females.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluctuating asymmetry in vestigial and functional traits of a haplodiploid insect

Crespi

Vanderkist

1997

Heredity

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If natural selection on fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is common and related to trait functionality, then vestigial traits should show elevated FA. Moreover, if FA increases with heterozygosity, then haploid males of haplodiploid taxa should exhibit higher PA than diploid females. We measured fluctuating asymmetry of functional traits (fore femora of soldier morphs and disperser morphs, and wings of dispersers) and a vestigial trait (wings of soldiers) in the eusocial haplodiploid gall thrips Oncothrips tepperi (Insecta: Thysanoptera). Wing FA, but not femur PA, was substantially and significantly higher in soldiers than in dispersers in both sexes. Patterns of intersexual variation in FA were complex: for wings, female soldiers had higher FA than male soldiers but male dispersers had higher FA than female dispersers, and for femora, males and females did not differ in FA in either morph. Our results suggest that vestigial traits exhibit higher FA because of relaxation of selection for functionality, and that haploidy does not necessarily lead to increased FA in males of haplodiploid taxa.

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“…coevolution | environmental compensation | fat reserves | host manipulation | parasitoids E volutionary changes are frequently associated with the acquisition of novel traits, but loss of traits can also curb the course of evolution (1,2). Trait loss can be the result of negative selection for a specific phenotype, for example to reduce costs associated with the trait (3).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of lipid synthesis as an evolutionary consequence of a parasitic lifestyle

Visser¹,

Lann

Blanken³

et al. 2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

173

237

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International audienceEvolutionary loss of traits can result from negative selection on a specific phenotype, or if the trait is selectively neutral, because the phenotype associated with the trait has become redundant. Even essential traits may be lost, however, if the resulting phenotypic deficiencies can be compensated for by the environment or a symbiotic partner. Here we demonstrate that loss of an essential metabolic trait in parasitic wasps has evolved through environmental compensation. We tested 24 species for the ability to synthesize lipids de novo and collected additional data from the literature. We found the majority of adult parasitoid species to be incapable of synthesizing lipids, and phylogenetic analyses showed that the evolution of lack of lipogenesis is concurrent with that of parasitism in insects. Exploitive host manipulation, in which the host is forced to synthesize lipids to the benefit of the parasitoid, presumably facilitates loss of lipogenesis through environmental compensation. Lipogenesis re-evolved in a small number of parasitoid species, particularly host generalists. The wide range of host species inwhich generalists are able to develop may impede effective host manipulation and could have resulted in regaining of lipogenic ability in generalist parasitoids. As trait loss through environmental compensation is unnoticed at the phenotypic level, it may be more common than currently anticipated, especially in species involved in intricate symbiotic relationships with other species

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Vestigialization and Loss of Nonfunctional Characters

Cited by 194 publications

References 91 publications

Evolutionary vestigialization of sex in a clonal plant: selection versus neutral mutation in geographically peripheral populations

Evolutionary vestigialization of sex in a clonal plant: selection versus neutral mutation in geographically peripheral populations

Fluctuating asymmetry in vestigial and functional traits of a haplodiploid insect

Loss of lipid synthesis as an evolutionary consequence of a parasitic lifestyle

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