Oribatid mite fossils from a terrestrial Devonian deposit near Gilboa, New York

Norton, Roy A.; Bonamo, Patricia M.; Grierson, James D.; Shear, William A.

doi:10.1017/s0022336000029905

Cited by 131 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…peat) and within galleries in wood in a coal ball (Baxendale, 1979;Scott & Taylor, 1983). Coprolites are also known from the Lower Carboniferous of France and Scotland (Scott, 1977;Scott, Chaloner&Paterson, 1985;Rex&Galtier, 1986) Norton et al (1988), Norton et al (1989), Schawaller, Shear & Bonamo (1991), Selden, Shear & Bonamo (1991), Shear (1986), , Shear et al (1984), Shear et al (1987); Rhynie -Hirst (1922), Hirst & Maulik (1926); Ludford Lane -Jeram, Selden & Edwards (1990); Alkenan-der-Mosel - St0rmer (1970-76); Rheinischen Schiefergebirge -Schultka (1991).…”

Section: Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The development of early terrestrial ecosystems

Edwards

Selden

1992

Botanical Journal of Scotland

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Section: Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The development of early terrestrial ecosystems

Edwards

Selden

1992

Botanical Journal of Scotland

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“…They are an evolutionarily old group that probably has existed for at least 380 million years (Norton et al 1988), and they slowly but continuously radiated to a large number of species; about 10 000 species are described but overall 100 000 may exist (Walter & Proctor 1999;Schatz 2002). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple convergent evolution of arboreal life in oribatid mites indicates the primacy of ecology

et al. 2009

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Frequent convergent evolution in phylogenetically unrelated taxa points to the importance of ecological factors during evolution, whereas convergent evolution in closely related taxa indicates the importance of favourable pre-existing characters (pre-adaptations). We investigated the transitions to arboreal life in oribatid mites (Oribatida, Acari), a group of mostly soil-living arthropods. We evaluated which general force-ecological factors, historical constraints or chance-was dominant in the evolution of arboreal life in oribatid mites. A phylogenetic study of 51 oribatid mite species and four outgroup taxa, using the ribosomal 18S rDNA region, indicates that arboreal life evolved at least 15 times independently. Arboreal oribatid mite species are not randomly distributed in the phylogenetic tree, but are concentrated among strongly sclerotized, sexual and evolutionary younger taxa. They convergently evolved a capitate sensillus, an anemoreceptor that either precludes overstimulation in the exposed bark habitat or functions as a gravity receptor. Sexual reproduction and strong sclerotization were important pre-adaptations for colonizing the bark of trees that facilitated the exploitation of living resources (e.g. lichens) and served as predator defence, respectively. Overall, our results indicate that ecological factors are most important for the observed pattern of convergent evolution of arboreal life in oribatid mites, supporting an adaptationist view of evolution.

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“…The pattern of reproductive modes is most varied in Desmonomata, a speciose group with an age of at least 100 million years (11,15), probably predating the break-up of Pangea (16). Although most families in this group are either entirely parthenogenetic or sexual, there is also one with mixed reproductive modes (Table 1) (17).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reevolution of sexuality breaks Dollo's law

Domes

Norton

Maraun

et al. 2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The dominance of sexual reproduction is still an unresolved enigma in evolutionary biology. Strong advantages of sex have to exist, because only a few parthenogenetic taxa persist over evolutionary timescales. Oribatid mites (Acari) include outstanding exceptions to the rule that parthenogenetically reproducing taxa are of recent origin and doomed to extinction. In addition to the existence of large parthenogenetic clusters in oribatid mites, phylogenetic analyses of this study and model-based reconstruction of ancestral states of reproduction imply that Crotoniidae have reevolved sexuality from parthenogenetic ancestors within one of those clusters. This reversal in reproductive mode is unique in the animal kingdom and violates Dollo's law that complex ancestral states can never be reacquired. The reevolution of sexuality requires that ancestral genes for male production are maintained over evolutionary time. This maintenance likely is true for oribatid mites because spanandric males exist in various species, although mechanisms that enable the storage of genetically ancestral traits are unclear. Our findings present oribatid mites as a unique model system to explore the evolutionary significance of parthenogenetic and sexual reproduction.oribatid mites ͉ parthenogenesis ͉ spanandric males ͉ automixis ͉ ancient asexuals

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Oribatid mite fossils from a terrestrial Devonian deposit near Gilboa, New York

Cited by 131 publications

References 5 publications

The development of early terrestrial ecosystems

The development of early terrestrial ecosystems

Multiple convergent evolution of arboreal life in oribatid mites indicates the primacy of ecology

Reevolution of sexuality breaks Dollo's law

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