Leaps and bounds : geographical and ecological distance constrained the colonisation of the Afrotemperate by Erica
Date
2019-12-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC (part of Springer Nature)
Abstract
Background: The coincidence of long distance dispersal (LDD) and biome shift is assumed to be the result of a
multifaceted interplay between geographical distance and ecological suitability of source and sink areas. Here, we
test the influence of these factors on the dispersal history of the flowering plant genus Erica (Ericaceae) across the
Afrotemperate. We quantify similarity of Erica climate niches per biogeographic area using direct observations of
species, and test various colonisation scenarios while estimating ancestral areas for the Erica clade using parametric
biogeographic model testing.
Results: We infer that the overall dispersal history of Erica across the Afrotemperate is the result of infrequent
colonisation limited by geographic proximity and niche similarity. However, the Drakensberg Mountains represent
a colonisation sink, rather than acting as a “stepping stone” between more distant and ecologically dissimilar Cape
and Tropical African regions. Strikingly, the most dramatic examples of species radiations in Erica were the result of
single unique dispersals over longer distances between ecologically dissimilar areas, contradicting the rule of
phylogenetic biome conservatism.
Conclusions: These results highlight the roles of geographical and ecological distance in limiting LDD, but also the
importance of rare biome shifts, in which a unique dispersal event fuels evolutionary radiation.
Description
CITATION: Pirie, M. D., et al. 2019. Leaps and bounds : geographical and ecological distance constrained the colonisation of the Afrotemperate by Erica. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 19:222, doi:10.1186/s12862-019-1545-6.
The original publication is available at https://bmcevolbiol.biomedcentral.com
The original publication is available at https://bmcevolbiol.biomedcentral.com
Keywords
Afrotemperate, Biogeography -- Effect of climatic changes on, Ericaceae -- South Africa -- Drakensberg Mountains, Plants -- Phylogeny
Citation
Pirie, M. D., et al. 2019. Leaps and bounds : geographical and ecological distance constrained the colonisation of the Afrotemperate by Erica. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 19:222, doi:10.1186/s12862-019-1545-6