Abstract
The importance of trophic ecology in adaptation and evolution is well known, yet direct evidence that feeding controls microevolution over extended evolutionary time scales, available only from the fossil record, is conspicuously lacking. Through quantitative analysis of tooth microwear, we show that rapid evolutionary change in Miocene stickleback was associated with shifts in feeding, providing direct evidence from the fossil record for changes in trophic niche and resource exploitation driving directional, microevolutionary change over thousands of years. These results demonstrate the potential for tooth microwear analysis to provide powerful insights into trophic ecology during aquatic adaptive radiations.
Highlights
Models, experiments, and field studies provide evidence of the ecological controls on evolution, but extrapolating high-resolution record of evolutionary change within a lineage spanning tens of thousands of years (3)
Trophic ecology ic resource use and evolutionary change through rapid evolution driven by shifts in trophic ecology and competition for food, for example, are thought quantitative analysis of dental microwear (4). and adaptation to benthic niches
Direct evidence that feeding exhibits a progressive shift from planktivores to and the scenario of replacement of one lineage by controls evolution over extended time scales, benthic feeders (Fig. 1, A and B) (5)
Summary
Experiments, and field studies provide evidence of the ecological controls on evolution, but extrapolating high-resolution record of evolutionary change within a lineage spanning tens of thousands of years (3). Precedes the increase in mean armor scores in 19.6 (a time lag of circa 100 years) This evidence of an ecological shift preceding phenotypic change results over longer time scales is a perennial. Direct evidence that feeding exhibits a progressive shift from planktivores to and the scenario of replacement of one lineage by controls evolution over extended time scales, benthic feeders (Fig. 1, A and B) (5). Discriminant another (3) cannot be ruled out. 21.5 20 17,000 years supports the interpretation that a return to lowarmor phenotypes reflects directional natural selection (3)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
