The evolution of vertebrates from protochordate ancestors marked the beginning of the
gradual transition to predatory lifestyles. Enabled by the acquisition of multipotent neural …

The simplification of the tetrapod skull occurred convergently in various tetrapod lineages
from the Devonian into the Mesozoic, leading to some groups (eg lissamphibians) to retain …

Vascular plant reproductive structures have undoubtedly become more complex through
time, evolving highly differentiated parts that interact in specialized ways. But quantifying …

Skeletal simplification occurred in multiple vertebrate clades over the last 500 million years,
including the evolution from premammalian cynodonts to mammals. This transition is …

Directional trends in evolution have long captured the attention of biologists, and are
particularly interesting when they reflect fundamental developmental processes that underlie …

The radiation of tetrapods during the Devonian and Carboniferous was associated with a
transition from aquatic to terrestrial environments, with attendant changes in feeding ecology …

The role of mechanical function in the evolution of morphology is important to our
understanding of the dynamics of morphological macroevolution. Our understanding of the …