A morphospace for reef fishes: elongation is the dominant axis of body shape evolution.

摘要: Tropical reef fishes are widely regarded as being perhaps the most morphologically diverse vertebrate assemblage on earth, yet much remains to be discovered about scope and patterns of this diversity. We created a morphospace 2,939 species spanning 56 families tropical Indo-Pacific established primary axes body shape variation, phylogenetic consistency these patterns, whether dominant change can accomplished by underlying changes. Principal component analysis showed major axis variation that contrasts deep-bodied with slender, elongate forms. Furthermore, using custom methods compare elongation vector (axis maximizes deformation) main (first principal component) for each family in morphospace, we two thirds diversify along an elongation. Finally, comparative coordinate based angles among first vectors accomplish changes wide range modifications. Some groups such Pomacentridae Lethrinidae undergo decreases depth proportional increases all regions, while other show disproportionate length head (e.g., Labridae), trunk or caudal region combinations Pempheridae Pinguipedidae). In conclusion, found evolutionary dominates diversification fishes. Changes thought have immediate implications swimming performance, defense from gape limited predators, suction feeding performance access some highly specialized habitats. The morphological modifications underlie diverse, suggesting role developmental processes functional consequences.