A goal of many research programmes in biology is to extract meaningful insights from large, complex datasets. Researchers ecology, evolution and behavior (EEB) often grapple with long-term, observational datasets which they construct models test causal hypotheses about biological processes. Similarly, epidemiologists analyse understand the distribution determinants human health. key difference analytical workflows for these two distinct areas delineation data analysis tasks explicit use...

Abstract Most anurans possess a tympanic middle ear (TME) that transmits sound waves to the inner ear; however, numerous species lack some or all TME components. To understand evolution of these structures, we undertook comprehensive assessment their occurrence across and performed ancestral character state reconstructions. Our analysis indicates was completely lost at least 38 independent times in Anura. The inferred evolutionary history is exceptionally complex true toads (Bufonidae),...

When organisms are faced with new or changing environments, a central challenge is the coordination of adaptive shifts in many different phenotypic traits. Relationships among traits may facilitate constrain evolutionary responses to selection, depending on whether direction selection aligned opposed pattern trait correlations. Attempts predict potential correlated generally assume that correlations stable across time and space; however, increasing evidence suggests this not be case,...

Theoretical and empirical work has described a range of scenarios in which plasticity may shape adaptation to novel environment. For example, recent studies have implicated role for both adaptive non-adaptive facilitating evolution, yet we lack broad mechanistic framework predict under what conditions each scenario is likely dominate evolutionary processes. We propose that such requires understanding how transcriptional, protein, developmental networks change response different rearing...

We examined patterns of neural activity as assayed by changes in gene expression to localize representation acoustic mating signals the auditory midbrain frogs. exposed wild-caught male Physalaemus pustulosus conspecific calls that vary their behavioral salience, nonsalient calls, or no sound. measured immediate early egr-1 (also called ZENK, zif 268, NGFI -A, and krox -24) throughout torus semicircularis, homolog inferior colliculus. Differential induction response stimuli occurred laminar,...

We determined how social stimuli that vary in behavioral relevance differentially activate functional networks the frog hypothalamus. As measured by egr-1 mRNA levels, activity three hypothalamic nuclei varied with acoustic stimulus, and these responses were correlated different auditory regions regardless of stimulus. The correlations among nuclei, however, as a function stimuli. Thus relevant cues shift connectivity within hypothalamus, consistent principles underlie simultaneous...

Abstract How underlying mechanisms bias evolution toward predictable outcomes remains an area of active debate. In this study, we leveraged phenotypic plasticity and parallel adaptation across independent lineages Trinidadian guppies ( Poecilia reticulata ) to assess the predictability gene expression during adaptation. have repeatedly independently adapted high‐ low‐predation environments in wild. We combined natural experiment with a laboratory breeding design attribute transcriptional...

Social decision making involves the perception and processing of social stimuli, subsequent evaluation that information in context individual's internal external milieus to produce a decision, then culminates behavioural output informed by decision. We examined brain networks an anuran communication system relies on acoustic signals guide simple, stereotyped motor output. used egr-1 mRNA expression measure neural activation male túngara frogs, Physalaemus pustulosus , following exposure...

Sexual selection and signal detection theories predict that females should be selective in their responses to mating signals mate choice, while the response of males male competition less selective. The neural processes underlying this behavioural sex difference remain obscure. Differences selectivity could result from differences how sensitive sensory systems are signals, distinct thresholds motor areas regulating behaviour, or at a gateway relaying information systems. We tested these...

Summary Fish and other aquatic vertebrates use their mechanosensory lateral line to detect objects motion in immediate environment. Differences morphology have been extensively characterized among species, however intraspecific variation remains largely unexplored. In addition, little is known about how environmental factors modify development of morphology. Predation one factor that can act both as a selective pressure causing genetic differences between populations, cue during induce...

Evolutionary theory predicts that divergent selection pressures across elevational gradients could cause adaptive divergence and reproductive isolation in the process of ecological speciation. Although there is substantial evidence for elevation, less this restricts gene flow. Previous work boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata) has demonstrated morphological, life history physiological traits an gradient from approximately 1500-3000 m Colorado Front Range, USA. We tested whether...

Males and females can differ both in the social behaviors they perform contexts which engage these behaviors. One possible mechanism of sex differences behavior is a sexual dimorphism relay sensory information to motor areas, but no studies have examined role such vertebrate sexually dimorphic We used egr-1 expression as marker neural activation frogs exposed conspecific heterospecific acoustic signals compare patterns throughout brains males females. determined how sexes transformation into...

Sensory losses or reductions are frequently attributed to relaxed selection. However, anuran species have lost tympanic middle ears many times, despite anurans' use of acoustic communication and the benefit for hearing airborne sound. Here we determine whether pre-existing alternative sensory pathways enable anurans lacking (termed earless anurans) hear sound as well eared better sense vibrations in environment. We used auditory brainstem recordings compare vibrational sensitivity among 10...

Genome size varies widely among organisms and is known to affect vertebrate development, morphology, physiology. In amphibians, genome hypothesized contribute loss of late-forming structures, although this hypothesis has mainly been discussed in salamanders. Here we estimated for 22 anuran species combined novel data set with existing an additional 234 determine whether larger associated a sensory structure, the tympanic middle ear. We established that negatively correlated development rate...

Abstract Sexual selection plays an important role in mating signal divergence, but geographic variation ecological factors can also contribute to divergent evolution. We tested the hypothesis that heterogeneity predation causes on advertisement call complexity within E ngystomops petersi (previously Physalaemus ) frog species complex. conducted predator phonotaxis experiments at two sites where female choice is consistent with trait divergence. one site produces complex calls, whereas...

Synopsis Animal communication is inherently spatial. Both signal transmission and reception have spatial biases—involving direction, distance, position—that interact to determine signaling efficacy. Signals, be they visual, acoustic, or chemical, are often highly directional. Likewise, receivers may only able detect signals if arrive from certain directions. Alignment between these directional biases therefore critical for effective communication, with even slight misalignments disrupting...

Harlequin frogs, genus Atelopus, communicate at high frequencies despite most species lacking a complete tympanic middle ear that facilitates frequency hearing in anurans and other tetrapods. Here we test whether Atelopus are better sensing acoustic sound compared to eared earless the Bufonidae family, determine variation within affects sensitivity, potential mechanisms Atelopus. We (2000–4000 Hz) 10–34 dB more sensitive than bufonids but relatively insensitive mid-range (900–1500 bufonids....

The retinal cone mosaic of the winter flounder, <i>Pseudopleuronectes americanus</i>, is extensively remodeled during metamorphosis when its visual system shifts from monochromatic to trichromatic. Here we describe reorganization and re-specification existing subtypes in which larval cones alter their spatial arrangement, morphology, opsin expression determine whether mechanisms controlling cell birth, position, selection are coordinated or independent. We labeled dividing cells...