Ecological evolutionary developmental biology

A field of biology

This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles; try the Find link tool for suggestions. (November 2021)

|

Ecological evolutionary developmental biology (eco-evo-devo) is a field of biology combining ecology, developmental biology and evolutionary biology to examine their relationship. The concept is closely tied to multiple biological mechanisms. The effects of eco-evo-devo can be a result of developmental plasticity, the result of symbiotic relationships or epigenetically inherited. The overlap between developmental plasticity and symbioses rooted in evolutionary concepts defines ecological evolutionary developmental biology. Host- microorganisms interactions during development characterize symbiotic relationships, whilst the spectrum of phenotypes rooted in canalization with response to environmental cues highlights plasticity.[1] Developmental plasticity that is controlled by environmental temperature may put certain species at risk as a result of climate change.

## Phenotypic plasticity

[edit]

Phenotypic or developmental plasticity is the alteration of development through environmental factors.[2] These factors can induce multiple types of variants that increase the fitness of an organism based on the environment they are in. These alterations can be for defense, predation, sex determination, and sexual selection.[2]

Plasticity-driven adaptation acts on evolution in three ways by phenotypic accommodation, genetic accommodation, and genetic assimilation. Phenotypic accommodation is when an organism adjusts its phenotype to better fit its environment without being genetically induced.[3][2] The trait that is selected by the environment through phenotypic accommodation can then be integrated into the genome. This process is called genetic accommodation. Genetic accommodation allows for traits that were produced by the environment to be passed on, and it gives better responses to environmental changes.[4] Lastly, genetic assimilation is when the induced phenotype is fixed into the genome. The trait is no longer environmentally induced. At this stage plasticity is lost because when the environmental stimulus is lost the phenotype still remains.[2][5]

In some cases species change their environment to suit them. This phenomenon is called niche construction. These organisms can change unfavorable conditions to fit them. These changes relieve selective pressures to give an advantage they would have otherwise. These advantages could be creating shelters like nests and burrows, modifying the environment physically or chemically, or making shade.[2][6]

## Epigenetic inheritance

[edit]

Epigenetic inheritance is the phenomenon of inheritance of epigenetic marks on DNA, which are often induced by environmental factors. A simple example of this is permutation, which was first described in plants, where shapes or colors of seeds can alter a homologous allele.[7] These marks alter gene expression patterns, which can then be transmitted to the next generation, creating a way by which environmental cues can influence the development of the organism’s offspring.

Theories of epigenetic inheritance have their basis in theories such as that which was posited by French scientist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, otherwise known as Lamarckian inheritance. Lamarck stated that an organism can pass physical characteristics that a parent organism acquired through use or disuse during its lifetime on to its offspring. This is now known to be an incomplete and inaccurate theory, as DNA sequences are highly conserved and do not change (other than mutation) throughout an individual's lifetime. Individuals also may carry many traits or genes that they don't use at different loci. However, epigenetic inheritance, like environmental factors such as temperature, or food availability, during the parent’s life, can impact developmental patterns within in offspring. An example of this is nutrition during childhood: poor nutrition has been shown to hinder appropriate pubertal development in human adolescents.[8]

This can also force some genes that were previously inactivated and silenced, such as those in heterochromatin, to become activated in euchromatin, and vice versa.[9] The field of ecological evolutionary developmental biology aims to assess how broader ecological factors and environmental stressors, such as malnutrition and temperature in one organism, can affect the following generations of that organism, and what broader role epigenetic inheritance has on evolutionary trends.[7]

## Symbiotic interactions

[edit]

Clownfish and sea anemones exhibit mutualistic, commensal relationships, including those that affect their microbiomes.[10]

Symbiosis describes the relationship between two species living closely together in an environment, and symbiotic interactions are significant influences on eco-evo-devo dynamics. Many symbiotic organisms have co-evolved and, over time, have become reliant on these relationships. The effect on either involved organism may be positive, neutral, or negative, and these effects are used to broadly categorize different types of symbiotic relationships. Symbiotic relationships generally fall into the categories of mutualism, commensalism, parasitism/predation, amensalism, or competition, although other categorizations may be used to describe more complex or uncommon interactions. The relationship between clownfish and anemones is one example of a mutualistic symbiosis.[11] Mutualisms are particularly common between ectotherms, making these symbiotic relationships some of the most threatened by climate change.[12]

### Symbiosis and quantitative genetics

[edit]

As it relates to the field at large, emergent research aims to ascertain the means by which these mutualistic and symbiotic relationships are influenced by broader ecological trends, and to which degree development is influenced by these symbioses. Through quantitative genetics, we understand that the overall phenotypic variance VP is determined by the confluence of genetic and environmental variance, and can be related via the following equation:[13]

VP = VG \+ VE

It is well known that environmental factors affect phenotypic expression via polyphenism. Emerging research in ecological evolutionary developmental biology aims to seek out how exactly symbiotic and mutualistic relationships between species also plays a role and to what degree, such as the ability of microbiota to induce polyphenism during development, which has been studied in ciliates such as Zoothamnium niveum.[14]

### Ecology and the holobiont

[edit]

As an interdisciplinary field, ecological evolutionary developmental biology also aims to seek out and study interactions between organisms that occupy part of a broader holobiont. It is now widely known that many organisms, especially large, multicellular organisms such as humans, exist within the continuum of a variety of host-microbiota interactions.[15] For instance, it is now known that commensal interactions between different species, such as that of clownfish and sea anemones, is now modulated by various bacteria that are present on and within both organisms.[16] Interactions such as these can be modulated by broader ecological trends within ecosystems, which can vary the quantity and quality of microbiota, directly affecting the health of the host, as well as influencing trends in organismal development and evolution at-large. Ecological evolutionary developmental biology aims to study these interactions in the context of the holobiont, addressing the interplay between epigenetics, environment, symbiosis, and host-microbial interactions in a more systematized manner.[17]

## Climate change

[edit]

Climate change may alter the development of organisms. As a type of developmental plasticity, the sex determination of particular animals can be influenced by the temperature of the environment. Some Reptiles and ray-finned fish rely on temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). The determination takes place during a specific period of the embryonic development. Although the exact mechanisms of this type of sex determination remains unknown for most species, temperature sensitive proteins that determine the sex of alligators have been found.[18] The effects of rising temperatures can already be seen in animals, for example the green sea turtle. Sea turtles produce more females when exposed to higher temperatures.[19] As a result adult green turtle populations are currently 65% female on cooler beaches, but can reach 85% on their warmer nesting beaches.[20] In contrast to the rising female proportion of sea turtles, the fish that use TSD, such as the southern flounder, generally produce more males in response to higher temperatures.[21] Species that are strongly influenced by temperature in their sex determination may be particularly at risk from climate change. From an evolutionary standpoint, sea turtles' sex chromosomes differ from other species of reptiles, and this difference makes them susceptible to TSD. Researchers believe this phenomenon is worth studying as climate change may one day have an effect on other types of vertebrates.[22]

Rising global temperatures may decrease the amount of genetic variation, hurting specific species' chance at survival.[23] Having a large gene pool is crucial when it comes to being able to adapt to environmental conditions and disease. Climate change can lower the amount of genetic diversity in a population over time and is extremely detrimental to the overall fitness of individuals in a given population.[24]

Climate change affects more than just animals when it comes to development. It affects people as well, especially those in developing countries. For example, expecting mothers who are in areas where droughts are more common due to climate change, may suffer from dehydration which can have harmful effects on their child's development.[25] Dehydration can cause amniotic fluid levels to be lower, which directly correlates to the baby's development and can even cause premature birth.[26] Malnutrition in children is a huge problem in developing countries. Rising global temperatures can alter growing seasons for certain food groups, making it hard for children to get the proper nutrients they need for ideal human development.[27]

Ecological, evolutionary, developmental biology compares these subgenres of biology. Interaction between organisms and the environment is very important. Climate change intensely alters these interactions and is cause for concern in regard to the overall well-being of our ecological landscape. Climate change affects humans, animals, plants, and bacteria and their symbiotic relationships with each other drastically. It is important for scientists, researchers, and people around the world to work together to find the best strategy to preserve biological diversity and to slow down the rising global temperatures and the effects of climate change.

## See also

[edit]

* Climate change mitigation

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Gilbert SF, Bosch TC, Ledón-Rettig C (October 2015). "Eco-Evo-Devo: developmental symbiosis and developmental plasticity as evolutionary agents". Nature Reviews. Genetics. 16 (10): 611–622\. doi:10.1038/nrg3982. PMID 26370902. S2CID 205486234.
2. ^ a b c d e Gilbert, Scott, F. and David Epel. Ecological Developmental Biology. Available from: Yuzu Reader, (2nd Edition). Oxford University Press Academic US, 2015.
3. ^ West-Eberhard MJ (November 2005). "Phenotypic accommodation: adaptive innovation due to developmental plasticity". Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution. 304 (6): 610–618\. Bibcode:2005JEZB..304..610W. doi:10.1002/jez.b.21071. PMID 16161068.
4. ^ Gilbert SF, Bosch TC, Ledón-Rettig C (October 2015). "Eco-Evo-Devo: developmental symbiosis and developmental plasticity as evolutionary agents". Nature Reviews. Genetics. 16 (10): 611–622\. doi:10.1038/nrg3982. PMID 26370902.
5. ^ Nijhout HF, Kudla AM, Hazelwood CC (2021). "Genetic assimilation and accommodation: Models and mechanisms". Current Topics in Developmental Biology. 141: 337–369\. doi:10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.11.006. ISBN 978-0-12-814968-3. PMID 33602492.
6. ^ Laland K, Matthews B, Feldman MW (2016). "An introduction to niche construction theory". Evolutionary Ecology. 30 (2): 191–202\. Bibcode:2016EvEco..30..191L. doi:10.1007/s10682-016-9821-z. PMC 4922671. PMID 27429507.
7. ^ a b Martin C, Zhang (26 April 2007). "Mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance". Current Opinion in Cell Biology. 19 (3): 266–272\. doi:10.1016/j.ceb.2007.04.002. PMID 17466502 - via Science Direct.
8. ^ Writer LF (2024-03-27). "Nutrition and puberty: The best way to feed your child's growth". Inside Children's Blog. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
9. ^ Horsthemke B (2018-07-30). "A critical view on transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans". Nature Communications. 9 (1): 2973. Bibcode:2018NatCo...9.2973H. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-05445-5. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 6065375. PMID 30061690.
10. ^ Émie AG, François-Étienne S, Sidki B, Nicolas D (2021-05-17). "Microbiomes of clownfish and their symbiotic host anemone converge before their first physical contact". Microbiome. 9 (1): 109. doi:10.1186/s40168-021-01058-1. ISSN 2049-2618. PMC 8130386. PMID 34001275.
11. ^ "Symbiosis: The Art of Living Together". education.nationalgeographic.org. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
12. ^ Six DL (October 2009). "Climate change and mutualism". Nature Reviews. Microbiology. 7 (10): 686. doi:10.1038/nrmicro2232. PMID 19756007.
13. ^ Hill WG, Mackay TF (2004-08-01). "D. S. Falconer and Introduction to Quantitative Genetics". Genetics. 167 (4): 1529–1536\. doi:10.1093/genetics/167.4.1529. ISSN 1943-2631. PMC 1471025. PMID 15342495.
14. ^ Bright M, Espada-Hinojosa S, Volland JM, Drexel J, Kesting J, Kolar I, et al. (2019-10-21). "Thiotrophic bacterial symbiont induces polyphenism in giant ciliate host Zoothamnium niveum". Scientific Reports. 9 (1): 15081. Bibcode:2019NatSR...915081B. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-51511-3. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 6803713. PMID 31636334.
15. ^ Simon JC, Marchesi JR, Mougel C, Selosse MA (2019-01-11). "Host-microbiota interactions: from holobiont theory to analysis". Microbiome. 7 (1): 5. doi:10.1186/s40168-019-0619-4. ISSN 2049-2618. PMC 6330386. PMID 30635058.
16. ^ Émie AG, François-Étienne S, Sidki B, Nicolas D (2021-05-17). "Microbiomes of clownfish and their symbiotic host anemone converge before their first physical contact". Microbiome. 9 (1): 109. doi:10.1186/s40168-021-01058-1. ISSN 2049-2618. PMC 8130386. PMID 34001275.
17. ^ Sultan SE (2007-11-01). "Development in context: the timely emergence of eco-devo". Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 22 (11): 575–582\. Bibcode:2007TEcoE..22..575S. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2007.06.014. ISSN 0169-5347. PMID 18029053.
18. ^ Yatsu R, Miyagawa S, Kohno S, Saito S, Lowers RH, Ogino Y, et al. (December 2015). "TRPV4 associates environmental temperature and sex determination in the American alligator". Scientific Reports. 5 (1): 18581. Bibcode:2015NatSR...518581Y. doi:10.1038/srep18581. PMC 4683465. PMID 26677944.
19. ^ Reneker JL, Kamel SJ (December 2016). "Climate change increases the production of female hatchlings at a northern sea turtle rookery". Ecology. 97 (12): 3257–3264\. Bibcode:2016Ecol...97.3257R. doi:10.1002/ecy.1603. PMID 27912005. S2CID 205779228.
20. ^ Jensen MP, Allen CD, Eguchi T, Bell IP, LaCasella EL, Hilton WA, et al. (January 2018). "Environmental Warming and Feminization of One of the Largest Sea Turtle Populations in the World". Current Biology. 28 (1): 154–159.e4. Bibcode:2018CBio...28E.154J. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2017.11.057. PMID 29316410. S2CID 30322533.
21. ^ Honeycutt JL, Deck CA, Miller SC, Severance ME, Atkins EB, Luckenbach JA, et al. (April 2019). "Warmer waters masculinize wild populations of a fish with temperature-dependent sex determination". Scientific Reports. 9 (1): 6527. Bibcode:2019NatSR...9.6527H. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-42944-x. PMC 6483984. PMID 31024053.
22. ^ Janzen FJ, Paukstis GL (June 1991). "Environmental sex determination in reptiles: ecology, evolution, and experimental design". The Quarterly Review of Biology. 66 (2): 149–179\. doi:10.1086/417143. PMID 1891591. S2CID 35956765.
23. ^ Razgour O, Forester B, Taggart JB, Bekaert M, Juste J, Ibáñez C, et al. (May 2019). "Considering adaptive genetic variation in climate change vulnerability assessment reduces species range loss projections". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 116 (21): 10418–10423\. Bibcode:2019PNAS..11610418R. doi:10.1073/pnas.1820663116. PMC 6535011. PMID 31061126.
24. ^ "Gene Pool - Definition, Types, Working, Importance, Evolution, Examples". 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
25. ^ Lusambili A, Nakstad B (May 2023). "Awareness and interventions to reduce dehydration in pregnant, postpartum women, and newborns in rural Kenya". African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine. 15 (1): e1 – e3. doi:10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3991. PMC 10244926. PMID 37265162.
26. ^ "Dehydration during pregnancy: Early symptoms and prevention". www.medicalnewstoday.com. 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
27. ^ Gregory PJ, Ingram JS, Brklacich M (November 2005). "Climate change and food security". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 360 (1463): 2139–2148\. doi:10.1098/rstb.2005.1745. PMC 1569578. PMID 16433099.

* v
* t
* e

Evolutionary biology

* Introduction
* Outline
* Timeline of evolution
* History of life
* Index

Evolution|

* Abiogenesis
* Adaptation
* Adaptive radiation
* Altruism
* Cheating
* Reciprocal
* Baldwin effect
* Cladistics
* Coevolution
* Mutualism
* Common descent
* Convergence
* Divergence
* Earliest known life forms
* Evidence of evolution
* Evolutionary arms race
* Evolutionary pressure
* Exaptation
* Extinction
* Event
* Homology
* Last universal common ancestor
* Macroevolution
* Microevolution
* Mismatch
* Non-adaptive radiation
* Origin of life
* Panspermia
* Parallel evolution
* Signalling theory
* Handicap principle
* Speciation
* Species
* Species complex
* Taxonomy
* Unit of selection
* Gene-centered view of evolution

Population
genetics|

* Artificial selection
* Biodiversity
* Evolutionarily stable strategy
* Fisher's principle
* Fitness
* Inclusive
* Gene flow
* Genetic drift
* Kin selection
* Inbreeding avoidance
* Kin recognition
* Parental investment
* Parent–offspring conflict
* Mutation
* Population
* Natural selection
* Sexual dimorphism
* Sexual selection
* Flowering plants
* Fungi
* Mate choice
* Social selection
* Trivers–Willard hypothesis
* Variation

Development|

* Canalisation
* Evolutionary developmental biology
* Genetic assimilation
* Inversion
* Modularity
* Phenotypic plasticity

Of taxa|

* Bacteria
* Birds
* origin
* Brachiopods
* Molluscs
* Cephalopods
* Dinosaurs
* Fish
* Fungi
* Insects
* butterflies
* Life
* Mammals
* cats
* canids
* wolves
* dogs
* hyenas
* dolphins and whales
* horses
* Kangaroos
* primates
* humans
* lemurs
* sea cows
* Plants
* pollinator-mediated
* Reptiles
* Spiders
* Tetrapods
* Viruses

Of organs|

* Cell
* DNA
* Flagella
* Eukaryotes
* symbiogenesis
* chromosome
* endomembrane system
* mitochondria
* nucleus
* plastids
* In animals
* eye
* hair
* auditory ossicle
* nervous system
* brain

Of processes|

* Aging
* Death
* Programmed cell death
* Avian flight
* Biological complexity
* Cooperation
* Color vision
* in primates
* Emotion
* Empathy
* Ethics
* Eusociality
* Immune system
* Metabolism
* Monogamy
* Morality
* Mosaic evolution
* Multicellularity
* Sexual reproduction
* Gamete differentiation/sexes
* Life cycles/nuclear phases
* Mating types
* Meiosis
* Sex-determination
* Snake venom

Tempo and modes|

* Gradualism/Punctuated equilibrium/Saltationism
* Micromutation/Macromutation
* Uniformitarianism/Catastrophism

Speciation|

* Allopatric
* Anagenesis
* Catagenesis
* Cladogenesis
* Cospeciation
* Ecological
* Hybrid
* Non-ecological
* Parapatric
* Peripatric
* Reinforcement
* Sympatric

History|

* Renaissance and Enlightenment
* Transmutation of species
* David Hume
* Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
* Charles Darwin
* On the Origin of Species
* History of paleontology
* Transitional fossil
* Blending inheritance
* Mendelian inheritance
* The eclipse of Darwinism
* Neo-Darwinism
* Modern synthesis
* History of molecular evolution
* Extended evolutionary synthesis

Philosophy|

* Darwinism
* Alternatives
* Catastrophism
* Lamarckism
* Orthogenesis
* Mutationism
* Saltationism
* Structuralism
* Spandrel
* Theistic
* Vitalism
* Teleology in biology

Related|

* Biogeography
* Ecological genetics
* Evolutionary medicine
* Group selection
* Cultural evolution
* Cultural group selection
* Dual inheritance theory
* Hologenome theory of evolution
* Missing heritability problem
* Molecular evolution
* Astrobiology
* Phylogenetics
* Tree
* Polymorphism
* Protocell
* Systematics
* Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance

* Category
* Portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template