Mega-evolutionary dynamics of anurans

Adaptive radiation has been pointed out as the main force responsible for phenotypic and taxonomic diversity.

Rapid phenotypic evolution and expansion in the morphospace tend to cease as new niches are occupied, and this early burst pattern has been called mega-evolution.

The mega-evolution hypothesis explains the diversification patterns of many but not all clades, and the early evolution of some lineages, such as that of anurans, remains obscure. In MEGAN, I will test the mega-evolution hypothesis for anuran diversification based on larval morphology.

This proposal comprises three work packages that reflect the main research objectives:1) To determine how larval characters are distributed in the anuran tree of life; 2) To reconstruct the phylomorphospace of anuran larvae; 3) To determine the rates of diversification of anurans based on larval characters.

Taxonomic sampling is designed to cover the entire phylogenetic, phenotypic, and ecological diversity of anuran larvae.

Transformation series will be individualized from all larval phenotypic systems and characters will be optimized in a time-calibrated; optimizations will be used to reconstruct the phylomorphospace and to estimate evolutionary rates in all branches.

MEGAN is aligned with the Horizon 2020 FAIR data management and Open Science, and thus, both data and results will be publicly available. Moreover, I will disseminate and communicate the results of MEGAN in freely accessible medias and scientific events.

With MEGAN, I intend to gain new skills that will substantially augment my qualification and enable me to reach a higher level in my career and to perform excellence-level research.