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Data from: Defensive traits exhibit an evolutionary trade-off and drive diversification in ants (Dataset)
| Content Provider | Dryad |
|---|---|
| Author | Blanchard, Benjamin D. Moreau, Corrie S. |
| Abstract | Evolutionary biologists have long predicted that evolutionary trade-offs among traits should constrain morphological divergence and species diversification. However, this prediction has yet to be tested in a broad evolutionary context in many diverse clades, including ants. Here, we reconstruct an expanded ant phylogeny representing 82% of ant genera, compile a new family-wide trait database, and conduct various trait-based analyses to show that defensive traits in ants do exhibit an evolutionary trade-off. In particular, the use of a functional sting negatively correlates with a suite of other defensive traits including spines, large eye size, and large colony size. Furthermore, we find that several of the defensive traits that trade off with a sting are also positively correlated with each other and drive increased diversification, further suggesting that these traits form a defensive suite. Our results support the hypothesis that trade-offs in defensive traits significantly constrain trait evolution and influence species diversification in ants. |
| File Size | 2277234 |
| File Format | HTM / HTML |
| ISSN | 15585646 |
| DOI | 10.5061/dryad.st6sc |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://datadryad.org/stash/downloads/file_stream/98799 |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://datadryad.org/stash/downloads/file_stream/102399 |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://datadryad.org/stash/downloads/file_stream/102398 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 2016-12-19 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Trait-based Diversification Defense Evolutionary Trade-off |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Data Set |
| Subject | Genetics Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Agricultural and Biological Sciences |
