Evolutionary Ecology and the Transition to Multicellularity: Hydrodynamics and the Volvocalean Green Algae as a Model System to Explain the Evolution of Multicellularity and Cellular Differentiation

by Cristian Alejandro Solari

The fitness of any evolutionary unit can be understood in terms of its two basic fecundity and viability. The trade-offs between these fitness components drive the evolution of many life-history traits in extant multicellular lineages. Here, I show that the emergence of individuality at a higher level during the uni-multicellular transition can also be a consequence of these trade-offs. I argue that germ-soma separation evolved as a means to counteract the increasing costs of larger multicellular colonies. Volvocalean green algae are uniquely suited for studying this transition since they range from unicells to undifferentiated colonies, to multicellular individuals with germ-soma separation. In these flagellated organisms, the increase in cell specialization observed as colony size increases can be explained in terms of increased motility requirements. Standard hydrodynamics is used to analyze motility in the Volvocales as colony size increases. The results of my work show that the evolution of multicellularity and germ-soma separation are the expected outcome of reducing the cost of reproduction in order to realize the benefits associated with increasing size.

88 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2008

About the author

Cristian A. Solari was born on March 23rd, 1969, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is an evolutionary ecologist, with a B.S. in zoology from the U. of Florida (1993) and a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from the U. of Arizona (2005). Between these degrees he worked in the private sector, in industry, and founded with two other partners a graphic design and advertising agency. He has written several papers on the evolution of multicellularity in scientific journals such as The American Naturalist and PNAS. He is currently a CONICET researcher at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.