Data From: Shifts in morphological covariation and evolutionary rates across multiple acquisitions of the trap-jaw mechanism in Strumigenys

A long-standing question in comparative biology is how the evolution of biomechanical systems influence morphological evolution. The need for functional fidelity implies that the evolution of such systems should be associated with tighter morphological covariation, which may promote or dampen rates of morphological evolution. I examine this question across multiple evolutionary origins of the trap-jaw mechanism in the genus Strumigenys. Trap-jaw ants have latch-mediated, spring actuated systems that amplify the power output of their mandibles. I use Bayesian estimates of covariation and evolutionary rates to test the hypotheses that the evolution of this high-performance system is associated with tighter morphological covariation in the head and mandibles relative to non-trap-jaw forms and that this leads to shifts in rates of morphological evolution. Contrary to these hypotheses, there is no evidence of a large-scale shift to higher covariation in trap-jaw forms while different traits ...

比较生物学领域长期存在的一个核心问题是：生物力学系统的演化如何作用于形态演化。功能保真的研究要求意味着，此类系统的演化应与更紧密的形态协变相关联，而这种协变既可能推动形态演化速率，也可能抑制该速率。本研究以盾胸切叶蚁属（Strumigenys）捕颚机制（trap-jaw mechanism）的多次独立演化起源为研究对象，对这一问题展开探讨。捕颚蚁拥有以闩锁介导、弹簧驱动的系统，可放大其颚部的动力输出。本研究借助贝叶斯估计（Bayesian estimates）与演化速率分析方法，检验两项假说：其一，相较于非捕颚蚁类群，该高性能系统的演化与头部及颚部更紧密的形态协变存在关联；其二，这种协变会引发形态演化速率的转变。与上述假说相悖的是，目前并无证据表明捕颚蚁类群出现了大规模的高协变转变，而不同性状……