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Testing for Convergent Evolution in Baleen Whale Cochleae

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Convergent Evolution

Part of the book series: Fascinating Life Sciences ((FLS))

Abstract

Mysticetes (baleen whales) include the largest animals on Earth and are renowned for their songs and long-distance communication. Even so, the scope and origins of their hearing abilities remain poorly understood. Recent work on their sister clade, the toothed whales (odontocetes), has revealed notably convergent trends in the evolution of their inner ear. Here, we test whether the same applies to baleen whales via SURFACE, a phylogenetic method that fits Ornstein-Uhlenbeck models with stepwise Akaike Information Criterion to identify instances of convergent evolution. We identify a single convergent regime, including minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and Bryde’s (Balaenoptera edeni) whales, which, however, is not statistically significant. We discuss potential reasons for the overall absence of convergence and suggest improvements for future work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science Group, Natural History Museum, London, UK

    Travis Park

  2. Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Eric G. Ekdale

  3. Abteilung Messelforschung und Mammalogie, Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturkundemuseum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Rachel A. Racicot

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Rachel A. Racicot

  5. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand

    Felix G. Marx

  6. Department of Geology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Felix G. Marx

  7. Department of Paleontology, San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego, CA, USA

    Eric G. Ekdale

Authors
  1. Travis Park
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  2. Eric G. Ekdale
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  3. Rachel A. Racicot
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  4. Felix G. Marx
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Correspondence to Travis Park .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Systematics, Evolution, Biodiversity, ISYEB – UMR 7205 – CNRS/MNHN/EPHE/UA, National Museum of Natural History, Sorbonne University, Paris, France

    Vincent L. Bels

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Anthony P. Russell

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Park, T., Ekdale, E.G., Racicot, R.A., Marx, F.G. (2023). Testing for Convergent Evolution in Baleen Whale Cochleae. In: Bels, V.L., Russell, A.P. (eds) Convergent Evolution. Fascinating Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11441-0_4

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