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Fundamental links between genes and elements: evolutionary implications of ecological stoichiometry
Author(s) -
JEYASINGH PUNIDAN D.,
WEIDER LAWRENCE J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2007.03558.x
Subject(s) - biology , intraspecific competition , evolutionary biology , gene , ecology , variation (astronomy) , microevolution , evolutionary ecology , ecological stoichiometry , convergent evolution , phylogenetics , genetics , ecosystem , population , physics , demography , sociology , astrophysics , host (biology)
Organisms require elements to live and reproduce. We already know that availability of certain elements [e.g. phosphorus (P)] is highly variable spatiotemporally. In addition, there is variability in demand for various elements ontogenetically, as well as phylogenetically. Nonetheless, we know little about the underlying causes for such variation. In this study, we surveyed the literature to identify genes involved in the homeostasis of one biogenic element, P. Evidence from the literature suggests that variation in the environmental supply of P affects expression of highly conserved genes (e.g. the phosphate transporter system). In addition, we found evidence for genetic variation in the acquisition, assimilation, and allocation of P. Such effects of P supply should impinge on fitness, and drive evolutionary change. Further understanding of the inter‐ and intraspecific fitness consequences to imbalances in the availability of P in relation to other biogenic elements may be useful to disentangle primary mechanisms driving diversifications. We argue that studying the interactions between stoichiometric constraints and underlying genes is relevant to the majority of organisms, and conclude by furnishing information on designing and interpreting experiments using this approach.