Trophic ecology is thought to exert a profound influence on biodiversity, but the specifics of the process are rarely examined at large spatial and evolutionary scales. We investigate how trophic position and diet breadth influence functional trait evolution in one of the most species-rich and complex vertebrate assemblages, coral reef fishes, within a large-scale phylogenetic framework. We show that, in contrast with established theory, functional traits evolve fastest in trophic specialists with narrow diet breadths at both very low and high trophic positions. Top trophic level specialists exhibit the most functional diversity, while omnivorous taxa with intermediate trophic positions and wide diet breadth have the least functional diversity. Our results reveal the importance of trophic position in shaping evolutionary dynamics while simultaneously highlighting the incredible trophic and functional diversity present in coral reef fish assemblages.

中文翻译：

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在营养极端时，礁鱼的功能性状发展最快。

人们认为营养生态学对生物多样性产生了深远的影响，但很少在较大的空间和进化尺度上研究营养过程的细节。我们调查营养的位置和饮食宽度如何在大规模的系统发育框架内，在物种最丰富和复杂的脊椎动物组合之一珊瑚礁鱼中影响功能性状的进化。我们表明，与既定的理论相反，营养特性专家在营养水平低下和营养高的位置上具有狭窄饮食宽度的营养特性专家发展最快。营养级别最高的专家展示的功能多样性最多，而营养位置中等和饮食广度的杂食类群的功能多样性最少。