| This thesis investigates genome size relationships with organismal and ecological traits in butterflies and molluscs. Relationships between genome size and organismal-level traits were analyzed for 84 species of butterflies. All estimates were found to be within the hypothetical 2pg threshold for holometabolous insects, and positive correlations were observed with sperm length, habitat choices, and food preferences. In addition, correlations between genome size and ecological traits, such as habitat shifts and latitude were examined in 259 species of molluscs (gastropods and bivalves). While variation in DNA content was not associated with environmental shifts, within gastropods it was positively correlated with latitude. Conversely, in bivalves both environmental shifts and latitude were marginally correlated to DNA content. These results suggest that before a complete understanding of the evolution of the genome can be achieved, multiple levels of biological organization will need to be explored in different taxa. |
