Innovation and Diversity in Coral Reef Fishes
Peter Wainwright, Section of Evolution & Ecology, University of California, Davis
23 Feb 2007
Phenotypic diversity is not spread evenly through the tree of life. Some groups, such as flamingos and lampreys show very little morphological diversity, while other groups, such as Hawaiian honeycreepers and cichlid fishes have evolved a remarkable variety of forms. In this talk I will present and test some ideas about why the most successful groups of coral reef fishes have achieved high diversity. Labrid fishes (wrasses and parrotfish) have achieved dominance on modern coral reefs as diurnal invertebrate predators and community-structuring herbivores. Using methods that we have recently developed for use with time-calibrated phylogenies, I will show how specific innovations in the feeding mechanisms of these fishes have resulted in high morphological and functional diversity.