Variation is the raw material for natural selection, but the factors shaping variation are still
poorly understood. Genetic and developmental interactions can direct variation, but there …

Phenotypic integration is a pervasive characteristic of organisms. Numerous analyses have
demonstrated that patterns of phenotypic integration are conserved across large clades, but …

The influence of within-species variation and covariation on evolutionary patterns is well
established for generational and macroevolutionary processes, most prominently through …

Evolvability is best addressed from a multi-level, macroevolutionary perspective through a
comparative approach that tests for among-clade differences in phenotypic diversification in …

Phenotypic integration is a central aspect of macroevolution. It is also an important concept
in macroevolutionary theory. A number of empirical research questions and theoretical …

Examination of historical persistence of integration patterns provides an important insight
into understanding the origin and evolution of complex traits. Specifically, the distinct effects …

Organisms represent a complex arrangement of anatomical structures and individuated
parts that must maintain functional associations through development. This integration of …

Patterns of morphological integration have the potential to influence evolutionary
trajectories. However, this influence depends on the stability of the integration pattern …

Phenotypic integration refers to the study of complex patterns of covariation among
functionally related traits in a given organism. It has been investigated throughout the 20th …

Background Although variation provides the raw material for natural selection and evolution,
few empirical data exist about the factors controlling morphological variation. Because …