Echinoderm Larvae and Phylogeny

摘要: New robust phylogenies for echinoderms, based on congruent patterns derived from multiple data sets, provide a sound foundation plotting the evolution of life-history strategies and comparing rates larval adult morphological change. This approach demonstrates that morphology has been evolving independently morphology, displays more homoplasy than early developmental are remarkably flexible. Larval its own can mislead phylogenetic analysis, not because lateral gene transfer among distantly related taxa, but massive convergence in form nonfeeding larvae brought about by loss complex structures strong functional constraints feeding larvae. The degree to which tissue is resorbed at metamorphosis believed be important determining body plan. Although correspondence precise, it does model understanding skeletal homol...