Kin Competition Drives the Evolution of Earlier Metamorphosis
ABSTRACT Metamorphosis, the discrete morphological change between postembryonic life stages, is widespread across the animal kingdom. The suggested advantages of metamorphosis have usually been framed in terms of population benefits, i.e., ecological explanations. In contrast, evolutionary explanati...
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70806 |
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| author | Bing Dong Andy Gardner |
| author_facet | Bing Dong Andy Gardner |
| author_sort | Bing Dong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Metamorphosis, the discrete morphological change between postembryonic life stages, is widespread across the animal kingdom. The suggested advantages of metamorphosis have usually been framed in terms of population benefits, i.e., ecological explanations. In contrast, evolutionary explanations concern whether and how metamorphosis spreads through a population owing to individual‐fitness benefits. However, how kin selection modulates evolution of metamorphosis remains to be investigated formally. Here we develop a mathematical model to investigate how kin selection shapes the optimal timing of metamorphosis from foraging, non‐reproductive larva to reproductive adult, when larvae tend to cluster with their genetic relatives. We consider the full range of larval competition intensities—from no competition to full competition—and the full range of relatedness coefficients—from unrelated to clonality. We provide testable predictions as to how kin selection modulates the timing of metamorphosis, as well as a conceptual framework within which empirical observations may be understood. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a44b46ea3c1d4615aaf2233f2e8fc0aa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-a44b46ea3c1d4615aaf2233f2e8fc0aa2025-01-29T05:08:41ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-01-01151n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70806Kin Competition Drives the Evolution of Earlier MetamorphosisBing Dong0Andy Gardner1School of Biology University of St Andrews Dyers Brae St Andrews UKSchool of Biology University of St Andrews Dyers Brae St Andrews UKABSTRACT Metamorphosis, the discrete morphological change between postembryonic life stages, is widespread across the animal kingdom. The suggested advantages of metamorphosis have usually been framed in terms of population benefits, i.e., ecological explanations. In contrast, evolutionary explanations concern whether and how metamorphosis spreads through a population owing to individual‐fitness benefits. However, how kin selection modulates evolution of metamorphosis remains to be investigated formally. Here we develop a mathematical model to investigate how kin selection shapes the optimal timing of metamorphosis from foraging, non‐reproductive larva to reproductive adult, when larvae tend to cluster with their genetic relatives. We consider the full range of larval competition intensities—from no competition to full competition—and the full range of relatedness coefficients—from unrelated to clonality. We provide testable predictions as to how kin selection modulates the timing of metamorphosis, as well as a conceptual framework within which empirical observations may be understood.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70806complex life cycleHamilton's ruleinclusive fitnesskin competitionkin selectionmetamorphosis |
| spellingShingle | Bing Dong Andy Gardner Kin Competition Drives the Evolution of Earlier Metamorphosis Ecology and Evolution complex life cycle Hamilton's rule inclusive fitness kin competition kin selection metamorphosis |
| title | Kin Competition Drives the Evolution of Earlier Metamorphosis |
| title_full | Kin Competition Drives the Evolution of Earlier Metamorphosis |
| title_fullStr | Kin Competition Drives the Evolution of Earlier Metamorphosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Kin Competition Drives the Evolution of Earlier Metamorphosis |
| title_short | Kin Competition Drives the Evolution of Earlier Metamorphosis |
| title_sort | kin competition drives the evolution of earlier metamorphosis |
| topic | complex life cycle Hamilton's rule inclusive fitness kin competition kin selection metamorphosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70806 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bingdong kincompetitiondrivestheevolutionofearliermetamorphosis AT andygardner kincompetitiondrivestheevolutionofearliermetamorphosis |