TY - JOUR
T1 - Ecology and allometry predict the evolution of avian developmental durations
AU - Cooney, Christopher R.
AU - Sheard, Catherine
AU - Clark, Andrew D.
AU - Healy, Susan D.
AU - Liker, András
AU - Street, Sally E.
AU - Troisi, Camille A.
AU - Thomas, Gavin H.
AU - Székely, Tamás
AU - Hemmings, Nicola
AU - Wright, Alison E.
PY - 2020/5/14
Y1 - 2020/5/14
N2 - The duration of the developmental period represents a fundamental axis of life-history variation, yet broad insights regarding the drivers of this diversity are currently lacking. Here, we test mechanistic and ecological explanations for the evolution of developmental duration using embryological data and information on incubation and fledging for 3096 avian species. Developmental phases associated primarily with growth are the longest and most variable, consistent with a role for allometric constraint in determining the duration of development. In addition, developmental durations retain a strong imprint of deep evolutionary history and body size differences among species explain less variation than previously thought. Finally, we reveal ecological correlates of developmental durations, including variables associated with the relative safety of the developmental environment and pressures of breeding phenology. Overall, our results provide broad-scale insight into the relative importance of mechanistic, ecological and evolutionary constraints in shaping the diversification of this key life-history trait.
AB - The duration of the developmental period represents a fundamental axis of life-history variation, yet broad insights regarding the drivers of this diversity are currently lacking. Here, we test mechanistic and ecological explanations for the evolution of developmental duration using embryological data and information on incubation and fledging for 3096 avian species. Developmental phases associated primarily with growth are the longest and most variable, consistent with a role for allometric constraint in determining the duration of development. In addition, developmental durations retain a strong imprint of deep evolutionary history and body size differences among species explain less variation than previously thought. Finally, we reveal ecological correlates of developmental durations, including variables associated with the relative safety of the developmental environment and pressures of breeding phenology. Overall, our results provide broad-scale insight into the relative importance of mechanistic, ecological and evolutionary constraints in shaping the diversification of this key life-history trait.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084760548&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-020-16257-x
DO - 10.1038/s41467-020-16257-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 32409662
AN - SCOPUS:85084760548
VL - 11
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
SN - 2041-1723
IS - 1
M1 - 2383
ER -