Theißen G, Melzer R. Robust views on plasticity and biodiversity.
ANNALS OF BOTANY 2016;
117:693-697. [PMCID:
PMC4845811 DOI:
10.1093/aob/mcw066]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Background How the diversity of life on our planet originated is not completely understood and many questions are still open. Especially, the role of developmental robustness in evolution is an often neglected topic.
Scope Considering diverse groups of plants and animals, and employing different concepts and approaches, the authors of articles in this Special Issue try to understand better the impact of developmental robustness, phenotypic plasticity and variance on species diversity, evolution and morphological disparity.
Conclusions Several lines of theoretical considerations as well as case studies show that developmental robustness supports rather than prevents the evolution of species diversity, at least under certain circumstances. Among the possible mechanisms is the scenario that developmental robustness facilitates the synorganization of body parts, which may enable the origin of complex novelties; this then may set the ground for species radiation.
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