Developmental Dynamics and G-Matrices: Can Morphometric Spaces be Used to Model Phenotypic Evolution?

Abstract

Modern morphometrics, especially geometric morphometrics, is a powerful tool for modeling the evolution and development of the phenotype. Complicated morphological transformations can be simulated by using standard evolutionary genetic equations for processes such as selection and drift in the same morphospaces that are used for empirical morphometric studies. Such applications appear to be consistent with the theory of quantitative evolution of the phenotype. Nevertheless, concerns exist whether simulations of phenotypic changes directly in morphospaces is realistic because trajectories traced in such spaces describe continuous gradations in the phenotype and because the gain and loss of structures is often impossible because morphospaces are necessarily constructed from variables shared in common by all the phenotypes being considered. Competing models of phenotypic change emphasize morphological discontinuity and novelty. Recently developed models of phenotypic evolution that introduce a “phenotypic landscape” between evolutionary genetic constructs like the adaptive landscape and morphospace may correct this shortcoming.