Title
The serpent and the egg: unidirectional evolution of reproductive mode in vipers?
Abbreviated Journal Title
J. Zool. Syst. Evol. Res.
Keywords
Ancestral character state reconstruction; BiSSE; evolutionary; constraint; macroevolution; oviparity; viviparity; reverse-jump Markov; Chain Monte Carlo Bayesian methods; MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA SEQUENCES; DOLLOS LAW; RE-EVOLUTION; SQUAMATE; REPTILES; HISTORICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY; PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS; BAYESIAN-ESTIMATION; LIMB EVOLUTION; DIGIT LOSS; VIVIPARITY; Evolutionary Biology; Zoology
Abstract
Dollos law, that complex characters are not regained in evolution, is a pattern applied to many systems. Recent work has evaluated unidirectional evolution in a number of contexts, and several violations of this law have been documented. These methods have also been criticized for potentially overestimating reversals. We test the hypothesis that the ancestral reproductive mode of oviparity can be regained in vipers, in opposition to Dollos law. We use model comparison and ancestral character state reconstruction methods that address recent criticisms, and find evidence both supporting and refuting Dollos predictions from different analyses. We discuss our results in the context of unidirectional evolution and review factors required for strong inference of violations of Dollos law.
Journal Title
Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research
Volume
50
Issue/Number
1
Publication Date
1-1-2013
Document Type
Article
Language
English
First Page
59
Last Page
66
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0947-5745
Recommended Citation
"The serpent and the egg: unidirectional evolution of reproductive mode in vipers?" (2013). Faculty Bibliography 2010s. 2618.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2010/2618
Comments
Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu