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Matt Lavin - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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evolutionary islands in the andes persistence and isolation explain high endemism in andean dry tropical forests
Journal of Biogeography, 2012Co-Authors: Toby R Pennington, Colin E Hughes, Matt Lavin, Tiina Sarkinen, Marcelo F SimonAbstract:Aim The tropical Andes are a world biodiversity hotspot. With diverse Biomes and dramatic, geologically recent mountain uplift, they offer a system to study the relative contributions of geological and Biome history to species richness. There are preliminary indications that historical species assembly in the Andes has been influenced by physiographical heterogeneity and that distinct Biomes have evolved in relative isolation despite physical proximity. Here we test this ‘Andean biotic separation hypothesis’ by focusing on the low-elevation, seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) Biome to determine whether patterns of plant diversification within the SDTF differ from those in mid- and high-elevation Biomes. Location Tropical Andes, South America. Methods Densely sampled time-calibrated phylogenies for five legume genera (Amicia, Coursetia, Cyathostegia, Mimosa and Poissonia) containing species endemic to the Andean SDTF Biome were used to investigate divergence times and levels of geographical structure. Geographical structure was measured using isolation-by-distance methods. Meta-analysis of time-calibrated phylogenies of Andean plant groups was used to compare the pattern and tempo of endemic species diversification between the major Andean Biomes. Results Long-term persistence of SDTF in the Andes is suggested by old stem ages (5–27 Ma) of endemic genera/clades within genera, and deep divergences coupled with strong geographical structure among and within species. Comparison of species diversification patterns among different Biomes shows that the relatively old, geographically confined pattern of species diversification in SDTF contrasts with the high-elevation grasslands that show rapid and recent radiations driven by ecological opportunities. Main conclusions The SDTF Biome has a long history in the Andes. We suggest that the diverse SDTF flora has been assembled gradually over the past c. 19 Ma from lineages exhibiting strong phylogenetic niche conservatism. These patterns suggest that Andean SDTFs have formed stable and strongly isolated ‘islands’ despite the upheavals of Andean uplift. Indeed, the Andean SDTFs may represent some of the most isolated and evolutionarily persistent continental plant communities, similar in many respects to floras of remote oceanic islands.
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insights into the historical construction of species rich Biomes from dated plant phylogenies neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure
New Phytologist, 2006Co-Authors: Toby R Pennington, James E Richardson, Matt LavinAbstract:Contents Summary 605 I. Introduction 606 II. Methodological issues 606 III. Insights into processes that give rise to species rich Biomes 608 IV. Future directions: neutral ecological theory, community phylogenetic structure, and processes leading to species accumulation 612 V. Conclusions 613 Acknowledgements 614 References 614 Summary Analytical methods are now available that can date all nodes in a molecular phylogenetic tree with one calibration, and which correct for variable rates of DNA substitution in different lineages. Although these techniques are approximate, they offer a new tool to investigate the historical construction of species-rich Biomes. Dated phylogenies of globally distributed plant families often indicate that dispersal, even across oceans, rather than plate tectonics, has generated their wide distributions. By contrast, there are indications that animal lineages have undergone less long distance dispersal. Dating the origin of Biome-specific plant groups offers a means of estimating the age of the Biomes they characterize. However, rather than a simple emphasis on Biome age, we stress the importance of studies that seek to unravel the processes that have led to the accumulation of large numbers of species in some Biomes. The synthesis of biological inventory, systematics and evolutionary biology offered by the frameworks of neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure offers a promising route for future work.
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insights into the historical construction of species rich Biomes from dated plant phylogenies neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure
New Phytologist, 2006Co-Authors: Toby R Pennington, James E Richardson, Matt LavinAbstract:Analytical methods are now available that can date all nodes in a molecular phylogenetic tree with one calibration, and which correct for variable rates of DNA substitution in different lineages. Although these techniques are approximate, they offer a new tool to investigate the historical construction of species-rich Biomes. Dated phylogenies of globally distributed plant families often indicate that dispersal, even across oceans, rather than plate tectonics, has generated their wide distributions. By contrast, there are indications that animal lineages have undergone less long distance dispersal. Dating the origin of Biome-specific plant groups offers a means of estimating the age of the Biomes they characterize. However, rather than a simple emphasis on Biome age, we stress the importance of studies that seek to unravel the processes that have led to the accumulation of large numbers of species in some Biomes. The synthesis of biological inventory, systematics and evolutionary biology offered by the frameworks of neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure offers a promising route for future work.
Toby R Pennington - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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neotropical plant evolution assembling the big picture
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013Co-Authors: Colin E Hughes, Toby R Pennington, Alexandre AntonelliAbstract:This paper and this issue attempt to address how, when and why the phenomenal c. 100,000 species of seed plants in tropical America (the Neotropics) arose. It is increasingly clear that an approach focusing on individual major Biomes rather than a single aggregate view is useful because of evidence for differing diversification histories among Biomes. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that Neotropical-scale diversification patterns are structured more ecologically than geographically, with a key role for phylogenetic niche or Biome conservatism. Lower geographical structure reflects the fact that long-distance dispersal, inferred from dated phylogenetic trees, has overcome many supposed dispersal barriers. Overall, high rates of species turnover as inferred from palaeontological and molecular data have been the hallmark of plant evolutionary dynamics in the Neotropics throughout the Cenozoic, with most extant species diversity post-dating the Mid- to Late Miocene, perhaps reflecting the conjunction of both global climatic changes and geological upheavals such as the Neogene uplift of the tropical Andes. Future studies of Neotropical diversification will be facilitated by taxonomically and genetically better sampled phylogenetic analyses, their integration with palaeontological, geological and ecological data, and improved methods to estimate biogeographic history and diversification dynamics at different spatial and temporal scales. Future Biome-focused approaches would benefit greatly from better delimitation and mapping of Neotropical Biomes. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London
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evolutionary islands in the andes persistence and isolation explain high endemism in andean dry tropical forests
Journal of Biogeography, 2012Co-Authors: Toby R Pennington, Colin E Hughes, Matt Lavin, Tiina Sarkinen, Marcelo F SimonAbstract:Aim The tropical Andes are a world biodiversity hotspot. With diverse Biomes and dramatic, geologically recent mountain uplift, they offer a system to study the relative contributions of geological and Biome history to species richness. There are preliminary indications that historical species assembly in the Andes has been influenced by physiographical heterogeneity and that distinct Biomes have evolved in relative isolation despite physical proximity. Here we test this ‘Andean biotic separation hypothesis’ by focusing on the low-elevation, seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) Biome to determine whether patterns of plant diversification within the SDTF differ from those in mid- and high-elevation Biomes. Location Tropical Andes, South America. Methods Densely sampled time-calibrated phylogenies for five legume genera (Amicia, Coursetia, Cyathostegia, Mimosa and Poissonia) containing species endemic to the Andean SDTF Biome were used to investigate divergence times and levels of geographical structure. Geographical structure was measured using isolation-by-distance methods. Meta-analysis of time-calibrated phylogenies of Andean plant groups was used to compare the pattern and tempo of endemic species diversification between the major Andean Biomes. Results Long-term persistence of SDTF in the Andes is suggested by old stem ages (5–27 Ma) of endemic genera/clades within genera, and deep divergences coupled with strong geographical structure among and within species. Comparison of species diversification patterns among different Biomes shows that the relatively old, geographically confined pattern of species diversification in SDTF contrasts with the high-elevation grasslands that show rapid and recent radiations driven by ecological opportunities. Main conclusions The SDTF Biome has a long history in the Andes. We suggest that the diverse SDTF flora has been assembled gradually over the past c. 19 Ma from lineages exhibiting strong phylogenetic niche conservatism. These patterns suggest that Andean SDTFs have formed stable and strongly isolated ‘islands’ despite the upheavals of Andean uplift. Indeed, the Andean SDTFs may represent some of the most isolated and evolutionarily persistent continental plant communities, similar in many respects to floras of remote oceanic islands.
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insights into the historical construction of species rich Biomes from dated plant phylogenies neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure
New Phytologist, 2006Co-Authors: Toby R Pennington, James E Richardson, Matt LavinAbstract:Contents Summary 605 I. Introduction 606 II. Methodological issues 606 III. Insights into processes that give rise to species rich Biomes 608 IV. Future directions: neutral ecological theory, community phylogenetic structure, and processes leading to species accumulation 612 V. Conclusions 613 Acknowledgements 614 References 614 Summary Analytical methods are now available that can date all nodes in a molecular phylogenetic tree with one calibration, and which correct for variable rates of DNA substitution in different lineages. Although these techniques are approximate, they offer a new tool to investigate the historical construction of species-rich Biomes. Dated phylogenies of globally distributed plant families often indicate that dispersal, even across oceans, rather than plate tectonics, has generated their wide distributions. By contrast, there are indications that animal lineages have undergone less long distance dispersal. Dating the origin of Biome-specific plant groups offers a means of estimating the age of the Biomes they characterize. However, rather than a simple emphasis on Biome age, we stress the importance of studies that seek to unravel the processes that have led to the accumulation of large numbers of species in some Biomes. The synthesis of biological inventory, systematics and evolutionary biology offered by the frameworks of neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure offers a promising route for future work.
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insights into the historical construction of species rich Biomes from dated plant phylogenies neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure
New Phytologist, 2006Co-Authors: Toby R Pennington, James E Richardson, Matt LavinAbstract:Analytical methods are now available that can date all nodes in a molecular phylogenetic tree with one calibration, and which correct for variable rates of DNA substitution in different lineages. Although these techniques are approximate, they offer a new tool to investigate the historical construction of species-rich Biomes. Dated phylogenies of globally distributed plant families often indicate that dispersal, even across oceans, rather than plate tectonics, has generated their wide distributions. By contrast, there are indications that animal lineages have undergone less long distance dispersal. Dating the origin of Biome-specific plant groups offers a means of estimating the age of the Biomes they characterize. However, rather than a simple emphasis on Biome age, we stress the importance of studies that seek to unravel the processes that have led to the accumulation of large numbers of species in some Biomes. The synthesis of biological inventory, systematics and evolutionary biology offered by the frameworks of neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure offers a promising route for future work.
Diana H Wall - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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climate and litter quality differently modulate the effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition across Biomes
Ecology Letters, 2013Co-Authors: Pablo Garciapalacios, Jens Kattge, Diana H WallAbstract:Climate and litter quality have been identified as major drivers of litter decomposition at large spatial scales. However, the role played by soil fauna remains largely unknown, despite its importance for litter fragmentation and microbial activity. We synthesized litterbag studies to quantify the effect sizes of soil fauna on litter decomposition rates at the global and Biome scales, and to assess how climate, litter quality and soil fauna interact to determine such rates. Soil fauna consistently enhanced litter decomposition at both global and Biome scales (average increment ~27%). However, climate and litter quality differently modulated the effects of soil fauna on decomposition rates between Biomes, from climate-driven Biomes to those where climate effects were mediated by changes in litter quality. Our results advocate for the inclusion of Biome-specific soil fauna effects on litter decomposition as a mean to reduce the unexplained variation in large-scale decomposition models.
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climate and litter quality differently modulate the effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition across Biomes
Ecology Letters, 2013Co-Authors: Pablo Garciapalacios, Jens Kattge, Fernando T Maestre, Diana H WallAbstract:Climate and litter quality have been identified as major drivers of litter decomposition at large spatial scales. However, the role played by soil fauna remains largely unknown, despite its importance for litter fragmentation and microbial activity. We synthesised litterbag studies to quantify the effect sizes of soil fauna on litter decomposition rates at the global and Biome scales, and to assess how climate, litter quality and soil fauna interact to determine such rates. Soil fauna consistently enhanced litter decomposition at both global and Biome scales (average increment ~ 37%). [corrected]. However, climate and litter quality differently modulated the effects of soil fauna on decomposition rates between Biomes, from climate-driven Biomes to those where climate effects were mediated by changes in litter quality. Our results advocate for the inclusion of Biome-specific soil fauna effects on litter decomposition as a mean to reduce the unexplained variation in large-scale decomposition models.
James E Richardson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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insights into the historical construction of species rich Biomes from dated plant phylogenies neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure
New Phytologist, 2006Co-Authors: Toby R Pennington, James E Richardson, Matt LavinAbstract:Contents Summary 605 I. Introduction 606 II. Methodological issues 606 III. Insights into processes that give rise to species rich Biomes 608 IV. Future directions: neutral ecological theory, community phylogenetic structure, and processes leading to species accumulation 612 V. Conclusions 613 Acknowledgements 614 References 614 Summary Analytical methods are now available that can date all nodes in a molecular phylogenetic tree with one calibration, and which correct for variable rates of DNA substitution in different lineages. Although these techniques are approximate, they offer a new tool to investigate the historical construction of species-rich Biomes. Dated phylogenies of globally distributed plant families often indicate that dispersal, even across oceans, rather than plate tectonics, has generated their wide distributions. By contrast, there are indications that animal lineages have undergone less long distance dispersal. Dating the origin of Biome-specific plant groups offers a means of estimating the age of the Biomes they characterize. However, rather than a simple emphasis on Biome age, we stress the importance of studies that seek to unravel the processes that have led to the accumulation of large numbers of species in some Biomes. The synthesis of biological inventory, systematics and evolutionary biology offered by the frameworks of neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure offers a promising route for future work.
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insights into the historical construction of species rich Biomes from dated plant phylogenies neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure
New Phytologist, 2006Co-Authors: Toby R Pennington, James E Richardson, Matt LavinAbstract:Analytical methods are now available that can date all nodes in a molecular phylogenetic tree with one calibration, and which correct for variable rates of DNA substitution in different lineages. Although these techniques are approximate, they offer a new tool to investigate the historical construction of species-rich Biomes. Dated phylogenies of globally distributed plant families often indicate that dispersal, even across oceans, rather than plate tectonics, has generated their wide distributions. By contrast, there are indications that animal lineages have undergone less long distance dispersal. Dating the origin of Biome-specific plant groups offers a means of estimating the age of the Biomes they characterize. However, rather than a simple emphasis on Biome age, we stress the importance of studies that seek to unravel the processes that have led to the accumulation of large numbers of species in some Biomes. The synthesis of biological inventory, systematics and evolutionary biology offered by the frameworks of neutral ecological theory and phylogenetic community structure offers a promising route for future work.
Pablo Garciapalacios - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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climate and litter quality differently modulate the effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition across Biomes
Ecology Letters, 2013Co-Authors: Pablo Garciapalacios, Jens Kattge, Diana H WallAbstract:Climate and litter quality have been identified as major drivers of litter decomposition at large spatial scales. However, the role played by soil fauna remains largely unknown, despite its importance for litter fragmentation and microbial activity. We synthesized litterbag studies to quantify the effect sizes of soil fauna on litter decomposition rates at the global and Biome scales, and to assess how climate, litter quality and soil fauna interact to determine such rates. Soil fauna consistently enhanced litter decomposition at both global and Biome scales (average increment ~27%). However, climate and litter quality differently modulated the effects of soil fauna on decomposition rates between Biomes, from climate-driven Biomes to those where climate effects were mediated by changes in litter quality. Our results advocate for the inclusion of Biome-specific soil fauna effects on litter decomposition as a mean to reduce the unexplained variation in large-scale decomposition models.
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climate and litter quality differently modulate the effects of soil fauna on litter decomposition across Biomes
Ecology Letters, 2013Co-Authors: Pablo Garciapalacios, Jens Kattge, Fernando T Maestre, Diana H WallAbstract:Climate and litter quality have been identified as major drivers of litter decomposition at large spatial scales. However, the role played by soil fauna remains largely unknown, despite its importance for litter fragmentation and microbial activity. We synthesised litterbag studies to quantify the effect sizes of soil fauna on litter decomposition rates at the global and Biome scales, and to assess how climate, litter quality and soil fauna interact to determine such rates. Soil fauna consistently enhanced litter decomposition at both global and Biome scales (average increment ~ 37%). [corrected]. However, climate and litter quality differently modulated the effects of soil fauna on decomposition rates between Biomes, from climate-driven Biomes to those where climate effects were mediated by changes in litter quality. Our results advocate for the inclusion of Biome-specific soil fauna effects on litter decomposition as a mean to reduce the unexplained variation in large-scale decomposition models.