Armbruster W Scott, Pélabon Christophe, Bolstad Geir H, Hansen Thomas F
School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO12DY, UK Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Center for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2014 Aug 19;369(1649):20130245. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0245.
Integration and modularity refer to the patterns and processes of trait interaction and independence. Both terms have complex histories with respect to both conceptualization and quantification, resulting in a plethora of integration indices in use. We review briefly the divergent definitions, uses and measures of integration and modularity and make conceptual links to allometry. We also discuss how integration and modularity might evolve. Although integration is generally thought to be generated and maintained by correlational selection, theoretical considerations suggest the relationship is not straightforward. We caution here against uncontrolled comparisons of indices across studies. In the absence of controls for trait number, dimensionality, homology, development and function, it is difficult, or even impossible, to compare integration indices across organisms or traits. We suggest that care be invested in relating measurement to underlying theory or hypotheses, and that summative, theory-free descriptors of integration generally be avoided. The papers that follow in this Theme Issue illustrate the diversity of approaches to studying integration and modularity, highlighting strengths and pitfalls that await researchers investigating integration in plants and animals.
整合与模块性指的是性状相互作用和独立性的模式与过程。这两个术语在概念化和量化方面都有着复杂的历史，导致目前使用的整合指数众多。我们简要回顾整合与模块性的不同定义、用途和测量方法，并建立与异速生长的概念联系。我们还将讨论整合与模块性可能如何演变。虽然一般认为整合是由相关选择产生并维持的，但理论思考表明这种关系并非简单直接。在此我们提醒，要避免在不同研究之间对指数进行无控制的比较。在缺乏对性状数量、维度、同源性、发育和功能的控制时，很难甚至不可能在不同生物体或性状之间比较整合指数。我们建议在将测量与基础理论或假设联系起来时要谨慎，并且通常应避免使用无理论依据的整合总结性描述符。本期主题特刊中的后续论文展示了研究整合与模块性的方法的多样性，突出了等待研究动植物整合的研究人员的优势和陷阱。
