Biological Escalation: The Evolution of Labral Spines in Gastropods

小行星9405537 PI将研究渐新世至近代腹足类动物唇刺的进化和功能，包括现代腹足类动物实验和研究群体的系统学。 生物体的许多属性可以解释为增强个体竞争能力或防御性能的适应性;在什么条件下这种适应性进化和传播？ 这项研究将检验这样一个假设，即海洋物种与敌人有关的适应主要出现在温暖、多产沃茨的谱系中。 这项工作将有助于理解生物升级，并作为一个例子的综合方法来回答进化生物学的基本问题，以及对生命历史的宏观经济观点。

9405537 Vermeij PI will examine evolution and function of labral spines in gastropods, Oligocene to Recent, including experiments on modern gastropods and systematics of the studied groups. Many attributes of organisms are interpretable as adaptations that enhance an individual's competitive ability or defensive performance; under what conditions do such adaptations evolve and spread? This study will test the hypothesis that enemy-related adaptations of marine species mainly arose in lineages found in warm, productive waters. The work will contribute to an understanding of biological escalation and serve as an example of the integrated approach to answering fundamental questions in evolutionary biology, and of the macroeconomic perspective on the history of life.