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The relation between morphology and behaviour during ontogenetic and evolutionary changes
Author(s) -
Galis Frietson,
Terlouw Arie,
Osse J. W. M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1994.tb01081.x
Subject(s) - biology , flexibility (engineering) , function (biology) , fish <actinopterygii> , quality (philosophy) , morphology (biology) , evolutionary biology , form and function , relation (database) , ecology , zoology , computer science , fishery , economics , database , philosophy , management , epistemology
During development, form and function (behaviour) change while the match between them must be maintained. The quality of this match determines the importance of morphological parameters in constraining behaviour. If the match is close, the morphology of organisms will be more constraining to the behaviour than when there is a large reserve capacity that creates a certain flexibility. This leads to two questions: (1) How good is the match between form and function during development? The quality of the match necessarily changes during development because changes in structural capacity often cannot proceed at the same speed as changes in functional demand. The evidence for these changes is discussed. (2) What are the mechanisms that maintain the match between form and function during developmental and evolutionary changes? Two mechanisms for maintaining the match are discussed: (a) reserve capacity and (b) flexible muscle activity patterns. Special emphasis is given to fish examples throughout this review.