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Fig. 2 | BMC Evolutionary Biology

Fig. 2

From: Evolutionary patterns of diadromy in fishes: more than a transitional state between marine and freshwater

Fig. 2

Illustrated hypotheses of the evolution of diadromy. Circles represent marine (M), freshwater (F) and diadromous stages (D). Arrows between states represent transitions (qij), arrows leaving and returning to the same state represent speciation events (λi), and arrows leading away from each state represent extinction (μi). Size of arrows within each category (speciation, extinction and transitions) are representative of the rate variation, but not sized to scale. I) Model hypothesizing that diadromy is a transition state between marine and freshwater. This hypothesis should be better supported if diadromy prevails only as an evolutionary stepping stone to other character states. II) Hypothetical model where diadromy is evolutionarily stable and its prevalence is influenced by variation in rates of speciation and extinction. III) Hypothesis showing movement between marine and freshwater utilizing diadromy as a stepping stone, while still allowing for direct movement between marine and freshwater. IV) Optimal models based on MuSSE results

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