The evolution of insect flight: implications for the evolution of the nervous system.
The Insecta encompasses a prodigiously diverse group as measured at the species, family and ordinal levels, but the nervous system bears evidence of conservatism. The early acquisition of flight must have been a major factor in the diversification of body form. Arguments are presented that predator evasion was a primary factor in the origin of flight and that a conserved set of giant interneurons played a key element in the transition.
Edwards
J S
JS
Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
D000818:Animals; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D017952:Ganglia, Invertebrate / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D007313:Insecta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D010802:Phylogeny