{"id":14,"date":"2019-07-25T15:25:06","date_gmt":"2019-07-25T15:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2022-10-27T18:51:15","modified_gmt":"2022-10-27T18:51:15","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"14\" class=\"elementor elementor-14\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7acda10 elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7acda10\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{"stretch_section":"section-stretched","background_background":"classic"}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d39fa97\" data-id=\"3d39fa97\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{"background_background":"classic"}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79395ca0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"79395ca0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our Research<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23877e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"23877e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Phenotypic Plasticity, Character Displacement, and Mimicry<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-39464eae outreach elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"39464eae\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ccc6f9a\" data-id=\"1ccc6f9a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d71085 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5d71085\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Arrival of the Fittest: Phenotypic Plasticity<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e05d39 publications elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e05d39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A recent, controversial idea holds that phenotypic plasticity plays a crucial role in both innovation and diversification.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-853e3b1 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"853e3b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-60d0ba6c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"60d0ba6c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0b0cef8\" data-id=\"0b0cef8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-522405f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"522405f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OVERVIEW<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e4b972 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e4b972\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A central goal of evolutionary biology is to explain the origin and diversification of complex traits.\u00a0 A recent, controversial idea holds that phenotypic plasticity\u2013\u2013the ability of an individual to modify its traits in direct response to changes in its environment\u2013\u2013plays a crucial role in both innovation and diversification.\u00a0<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">According to this \u201cplasticity-led (or plasticity-first) hypothesis\u201d of adaptive evolution, when selection acts on quantitative genetic variation regulating the expression of an initially environmentally induced trait, it can promote the evolution of either increased or decreased plasticity (an evolutionary process dubbed \u201cgenetic accommodation\u201d). If the affected trait evolves decreased plasticity to the point of becoming constitutively expressed, \u201cgenetic assimilation\u201d occurs. The outcome of genetic assimilation is a novel, canalized trait.<\/span><\/p><p>Although lab studies have demonstrated that genetic accommodation\/assimilation can occur, whether it actually has occurred and contributed to the evolution of any complex, novel traits in natural populations remains unclear.\u00a0 We have been using spadefoot toads as model systems to test critical predictions of the plasticity-led evolution hypothesis for the evolutionary origins of novelty.\u00a0 We\u2019ve also been using this system to evaluate whether and how phenotypic plasticity promotes rapid divergence between populations and, ultimately, reproductive isolation.\u00a0 Finally, we\u2019ve been studying: 1) the degree to which plasticity fosters biodiversity indirectly by promoting species persistence when confronted by rapid environmental change (such as the presence of a novel competitor), and 2) the unique role of behavioral plasticity in instigating evolutionary innovation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a67195 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"7a67195\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c66b2e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c66b2e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Recent representative papers:<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a8efe2 publications elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a8efe2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2022_Am_Sci.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Pfennig, D. W. 2022. Evolution and the flexible organism. American Scientist 110: 94\u2013 101.\u00a0<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2021_JEZ.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Levis, N. A., Kelly, P. W., Harmon, E. A., Ehrenreich. I. M., McKay, D. J., and Pfennig, D. W. 2021. Transcriptomic bases of a polyphenism. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution. 336:482\u2013485.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2020_EcolEvol.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Levis, N. A., Reed, E. M. X., Pfennig, D. W., Burford Reiskind, M. O. 2020. Identification of candidate loci for adaptive phenotypic plasticity in natural populations of spadefoot toads. Ecology and Evolution 10: 8976\u20138988.\u00a0<\/p><p><a title=\"Research_files\/2018_Nature_Ecology_&_Evolution.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2018_Nature_Ecology_%26_Evolution.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Levis, N. A., Isdaner, A., and Pfennig, D. W. 2018. Morphological novelty emerges from pre-existing phenotypic plasticity. Nature Ecology and Evolution 2: 1289\u20131297.<\/p><p><a title=\"Research_files\/2016_TREE.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2016_TREE.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Levis, N. and Pfennig, D. W. 2016. Evaluating \u2018plasticity-first\u2019 evolution in nature: key criteria and\u00a0empirical approaches. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 31: 563-574.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5154eead\" data-id=\"5154eead\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{"background_background":"classic"}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3b5259 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e3b5259\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4072\" height=\"2526\" src=\"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Figure-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-914\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Figure-1.png 4072w, https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Figure-1-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Figure-1-1024x635.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Figure-1-768x476.png 768w, https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Figure-1-1536x953.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Figure-1-2048x1270.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4072px) 100vw, 4072px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">FIG 1<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27f7f95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"27f7f95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Fig. 1.\u00a0<\/strong>How plasticity-led evolution promotes the origin of a novel, complex phenotype.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55be3e87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"55be3e87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>a.<\/strong> In this hypothetical example of plasticity-led evolution, a genetically variable population of tadpoles (represented by different colors, which signify different genotypes)<\/p><p><strong>b.<\/strong> experiences a change in its environment (represented by dark shading) that induces novel phenotypes (represented by white outline), but different genotypes produce different phenotypes (represented by different body shapes).<\/p><p><strong>c.<\/strong> Selection can act on this formerly hidden genetic variation (revealed through plasticity) and disfavor genotypes that produce poorly adapted phenotypes (represented by an \u2018X\u2019).<\/p><p><strong>d.<\/strong> This can lead to adaptive refinement of the favored phenotype (represented by the enlargement of the blue tadpole).<\/p><p><strong>e.<\/strong> If individuals produce either this novel phenotype or the ancestral phenotype depending on their environment, then the result is a novel polyphenism.<\/p><p><strong>f.<\/strong> Alternatively, selection might favor the loss of plasticity (i.e., genetic assimilation), resulting in a novel phenotype being expressed regardless of the environment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dbf9457 outreach elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dbf9457\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{"background_background":"classic"}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ad287e4\" data-id=\"ad287e4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88631d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"88631d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Evolution's Wedge: Character Displacement<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79040af publications elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"79040af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A major aim of the research in the lab is to explore competition’s role in generating and maintaining biodiversity.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-181e155 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"181e155\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-03f4d25 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"03f4d25\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d01f611\" data-id=\"d01f611\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c3dff1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8c3dff1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OVERVIEW<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c71872e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c71872e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Evolutionary biology has long sought to explain the origins of biodiversity.\u00a0 Darwin first proposed a solution to this problem: natural selection.\u00a0 Although natural selection is an evolutionary process, Darwin argued that at its core is an ecological process: competition.\u00a0 According to Darwin, all life forms face recurring competition for scarce resources, and this competition favors individuals that are least like their competitors in resource use and associated traits.\u00a0 Consequently, Darwin held that groups of organisms that compete should become increasingly dissimilar over time, possibly even transforming into separate species.\u00a0 Although these ideas were crucial to Darwin, they remain under appreciated today.<\/p><p>A major aim of the research in my lab is to explore competition’s role in generating and maintaining biodiversity.\u00a0 My colleagues and I have been using spadefoot toads as a model system to understand how competitive interactions can cause populations and species to diverge through an evolutionary process known as character displacement.\u00a0 We have also been investigating how this process can even operate within species and how it might thereby foster the evolution of complex, novel traits.\u00a0 Additionally, we have been studying some of character displacement\u2019s numerous\u2013\u2013and far reaching\u2013\u2013impacts, such as how it structures ecological communities, promotes the origin of new species, and possibly even underpins certain long-term macroevolutionary patterns.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6a0bec elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a6a0bec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a61b82 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8a61b82\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Recent representative papers:<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59fe5cb publications elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"59fe5cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a title=\"Research_files\/2017_Evolution.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2017_Evolution.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Levis, N. A., Martin, R. A., O\u2019Donnell, K. A., and Pfennig, D. W. 2017. Intraspecific adaptive radiation: competition, ecological opportunity, and phenotypic diversification within species. Evolution 71: 2496-2509.<\/p><p><a title=\"Research_files\/2015_PRSL.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2015_PRSL.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Pfennig, K. S., Pfennig, D. W., Porter, C., and Martin, R. A. 2015. Sexual selection\u2019s impacts on ecological specialisation: an experimental test. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B 282: 20150217.<\/p><p><a title=\"Research_files\/2012_Biol_Letters.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2012_Biol_Letters.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Bono, L. M., Gensel, C. L., Pfennig, D. W., and Burch, C. L. 2013. Competition and the origins of novelty: experimental evolution of host-range expansion in a virus. Biology Letters 9: 20120616.<\/p><p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ucpress.edu\/book.php?isbn=9780520274181\">BOOK<\/a> Pfennig, D. W. and Pfennig, K. S. 2012. Evolution\u2019s Wedge: Competition and the Origins of Diversity. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.<\/p><p><a title=\"Research_files\/2012_BMC_Evol_Biol.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2012_BMC_Evol_Biol.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Martin, R. A. and Pfennig, D. W. 2012. Widespread disruptive selection in the wild is associated with intense resource competition. BMC Evolutionary Biology 12: 136.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e4500f1\" data-id=\"e4500f1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{"background_background":"classic"}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-385872d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"385872d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2231\" height=\"1944\" src=\"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Evolutions-wedge-figure-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-585\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Evolutions-wedge-figure-1.jpg 2231w, https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Evolutions-wedge-figure-1-300x261.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Evolutions-wedge-figure-1-768x669.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Evolutions-wedge-figure-1-1024x892.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2231px) 100vw, 2231px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">FIG 2<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13723e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13723e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Fig. 2<\/strong> An illustration depicting how competitively mediated selection\u2013\u2013acting both within and between species\u2013\u2013may promote the components of an adaptive radiation.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33d3fa0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"33d3fa0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When incipient species (e.g., alternative ecomorphs within a population) compete for resources or for successful reproduction, selection often favors divergence between them as a means of reducing costly competitive interactions.\u00a0 Consequently, speciation may ensue (inset A, where selection favors the shaded portion of species 8\u2019s [sp. 8] phenotypic distribution; here, alternative morphs of species 8 become two new species: species 10 and species 11).\u00a0 <\/p><p>Selection for traits that minimize competitive interactions between species subsequently maintains or enhances phenotypic and ecological differences between them.\u00a0 <\/p><p>As shown in inset B, such selection favors average trait values within each species (again, selection favors the shaded portion of species 6\u2019s phenotypic distribution).\u00a0 Note that, for simplicity, different species are depicted here as occurring along a <em>single<\/em> phenotypic\/ecological axis.\u00a0 <\/p><p>Although actual species will be distributed along multi-dimensional phenotypic\/ecological space, closely related species are typically similar phenotypically, ecologically, and reproductively, implying that competitively mediated selection should promote and maintain differences between them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-40f9f56 outreach elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"40f9f56\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-073ed76\" data-id=\"073ed76\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b984be elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2b984be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Life Imitating Life: Mimicry<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e23fac9 publications elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e23fac9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Although evolutionary biologists have long known about Batesian mimicry, many aspects of its evolution remain unclear.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e65a8ac elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"e65a8ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-f4c90af elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f4c90af\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d74fbb7\" data-id=\"d74fbb7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8aef922 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8aef922\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OVERVIEW<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b092897 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b092897\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Among nature\u2019s most spectacular adaptations are examples of Batesian mimicry.\u00a0 Batesian mimicry evolves when individuals of a palatable species gain the selective advantage of reduced predation because they resemble a toxic species that predators avoid.<\/p><p>Although evolutionary biologists have long known about Batesian mimicry, many aspects of its evolution remain unclear.\u00a0 We have been investigating such questions as: (1) Why is mimicry often imprecise? (2) What genetic and developmental mechanisms underlie mimicry? (3) What role, if any, does Batesian mimicry play in speciation? and (4) How does Batesian mimicry evolve in the first place?<\/p><p>To address these questions, we have been studying several snake mimicry complexes, one of which is shown above in Fig. 3.\u00a0\u00a0 The results of some of our field experiments are summarized <a title=\"Research_files\/Summary_of_Field_Experiments.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/Summary_of_Field_Experiments.pdf\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50a6fc1c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"50a6fc1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10d48e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"10d48e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Recent representative papers:<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8cbb0d8 publications elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8cbb0d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a title=\"Research_files\/2018_BJLS.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2018_BJLS.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Akcali, C., Kikuchi, D. W., and Pfennig, D. W. 2018. Coevolutionary arms races in Batesian mimicry? A test of the chase-away hypothesis. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 124: 668\u2013676.<\/p><p><a title=\"Research_files\/2017_JEB (Mimicry).pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2017_JEB%20%28Mimicry%29.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Akcali, C. and Pfennig, D. W. 2017. Geographic variation in mimetic precision among different species of coral snake mimics. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 30: 1420-1428.<\/p><p><a title=\"Research_files\/2015_Evolution.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2015_Evolution.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Pfennig, D. W., Akcali, C., and Kikuchi, D. W. 2015. Batesian mimicry promotes pre- and post-mating\u00a0isolation in a snake mimicry complex. Evolution 69: 1085-1090.<\/p><p><a title=\"Research_files\/2014_Biology_Letters.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2014_Biology_Letters.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Akcali, C. K. and Pfennig, D. W. 2014. Rapid evolution of mimicry following local model extinction. Biology Letters 10: 20140304.<\/p><p><a title=\"Research_files\/2013_Quart_Rev_Biol.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/labs.bio.unc.edu\/pfennig\/LabSite\/Research_files\/2013_Quart_Rev_Biol.pdf\">PDF<\/a> Kikuchi, D. W. and Pfennig, D. W. 2013. Imperfect mimicry and the limits of natural selection. Quarterly Review of Biology 88: 297-315.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fd70a37\" data-id=\"fd70a37\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{"background_background":"classic"}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-618e076 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"618e076\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"621\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shapeimage_6-2.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-553\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shapeimage_6-2.png 621w, https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/shapeimage_6-2-300x227.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">FIG 3<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e8c4a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e8c4a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Fig. 3<\/strong> \u00a0A snake mimicry complex.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0360d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e0360d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The nonvenomous milk snake Lampropeltis triangulum <em>(panels a-j)<\/em> is among the most widely distributed snake species, with a geographical range that extends from Canada to Venezuela.<\/p><p>This species also exhibits striking phenotypic variation<em> (variation in the eastern U.S. is shown here)<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p><p>In areas where it co-occurs with deadly coral snakes, such as the eastern coral snake Micrurus fulvius<em> (panel k)<\/em>, L. triangulum converges on the coral snake\u2019s distinctive warning coloration.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Research Phenotypic Plasticity, Character Displacement, and Mimicry Arrival of the Fittest: Phenotypic Plasticity A recent, controversial idea holds that phenotypic plasticity plays a crucial role in both innovation and diversification. OVERVIEW A central goal of evolutionary biology is to explain the origin and diversification of complex traits.\u00a0 A recent, controversial idea holds that phenotypic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":951,"href":"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions\/951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.davidpfenniglab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}