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Aim The pappus is one of the most distinctive features of the genera belonging to the sunflower family, and is an efficient mechanism for dispersion by wind. The pappose Holocheilus (seven species) and the non-pappose Panphalea (nine species) are two genera of the monophyletic subtribe Nassauviinae (Asteraceae, Mutisieae), which overlap in their areas of distribution. This paper aims to reconstruct the biogeographical histories that shaped the distribution of these two genera, which are phylogenetically and geographically related, but differ in their means of dispersion. Our initial expectation was that the dispersion capability of the pappus should be reflected in more dispersal events in Holocheilus than in Panphalea. Location South-eastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. Methods Morphological data were acquired from the literature and by analysis of specimens. Two cladistic analyses, one for Holocheilus and one for Panphalea, were based on morphological characters, and data matrices were analysed with the Fitch parsimony algorithm ofpaup. The ancestral distributions were reconstructed usingdiva ver. 1.1 according to the dispersal–vicariance optimization method. Results The Paranense-fields were identified as the most likely ancestral area of Holocheilus and Panphalea. Biogeographical reconstruction of Holocheilus shows several dispersal events from the Paranense-fields: two ancestral dispersal events to the Yungas, followed by vicariance events (Paranense-fields/Yungas) and numerous terminal dispersals to the surrounding areas such as Chacoan, Pampean and Espinal.diva reconstruction of Panphalea distribution also shows frequent terminal dispersals, with no vicariant events, from the Paranense-fields to the other areas: (1) to Espinal, Pampean-Uruguayan, Pampean-oriental; (2) to Paranense-hills; (3) to Pampean-Uruguayan; and (4) to Paranense-pine lands. Main conclusions In the past, both genera probably originated in the Paranense-fields area, which was subject to the dry and humid cycles of the Quaternary glaciations. Dispersal was the process that predominantly shaped the distribution of Panphalea and Holocheilus, with approximately the same number of dispersal events in both genera, despite differing ranges of dispersion. The main barriers to dispersal were the dry Cerrado and Chaco, the latter promoting vicariance in Holocheilus. The lack of a pappus in Panphalea was a limitation for its dispersion compared with Holocheilus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through analysis of fossil records, the aim of this paper is to show that fossil representatives of at least three land-mammal clades (pitheciine atelid primates, heteropsomyine echimyid rodents, and megalonychid phyllophagan xenarthrans) that once lived in the Greater Antilles are as old as, if not older than,‘first’ occurrences of these same groups on the South American mainland.Greater Antilles, South America, Antarctic Peninsula.Analysis of Cenozoic land-mammal fossil records for the three areas.Comparison reveals an interesting similarity to the Tertiary vertebrate palaeontological record for the Antarctic Peninsula (Seymour Island), in the sense that the latter also includes early (Eocene) representatives of some typical‘South American’ groups (e.g. meridiungulates, sloths, certain marsupial groups).Given how limited the Antillean and Antarctic records are in quantity and quality, it seems unlikely that these‘first’ appearances have much bearing on real origins (basal divergences). Rather, it suggests that the fossil basis for interpreting the origin and earliest diversification of‘South American’ clades during the latest Cretaceous/early Cenozoic is probably even scantier than generally realized. In particular, the Antillean record strengthens arguments that some crown-group continental lineages are considerably older than fossil evidence currently allows– a point increasingly (if unevenly) supported by molecular studies of many of the same clades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim We evaluate the extent to which the tropical conservatism hypothesis can explain the evolutionary development of the Muscidae. Furthermore, we compare the geographical patterns of muscid phylogenetic structure with biogeographical regions that have been identified for Neotropical insects. Location Central and South America. Methods We modelled the geographic distributions of 658 species using M axent and 19 environmental variables. A generic-level supertree of the Muscidae was assembled using matrix representation with parsimony and used to map the geographic pattern of mean root distance (MRD), a metric of the relative evolutionary development of assemblages. Regression models (ordinary least squares and regression trees) were used to examine temperature and other environmental correlates of MRD to explore potential environmental drivers of muscid diversification. We used the regression tree results to recognize variable intervals that best explained MRD, and these intervals were mapped to recognize and compare with biogeographical regions of Neotropical insects. Results The geographic pattern of MRD was consistent with the tropical conservatism hypothesis: species in genera that diversified relatively early, as measured by their distance from the tree root, dominate lowland tropical South America, whereas species in genera that diversified more recently occupy extra-tropical areas, sub-Antarctic areas and the Andean highlands. Temperature was the strongest correlate of MRD. Three biogeographical regions were recognized and they coincided with two regions known for insects. Main conclusions Evolutionary responses of muscid flies to post-Eocene climate change taking the form of an expansion of a tropical group into regions with colder climates may be fundamental to explaining their distribution in the Neotropics. Our biogeographical regions delimited by temperature and the phylogenetic metric, surrogates of the tropical conservatism hypothesis, were very similar to general insect patterns, supporting the 'tropical origin and evolutionary response to climate cooling' as a broadly based historical narrative for the Neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim We used mitochondrial DNA sequence data to reconstruct the phylogeny of a large clade of tanagers (Aves: Thraupini). We used the phylogeny of this Neotropical bird group to identify areas of vicariance, reconstruct ancestral zoogeographical areas and elevational distributions, and to investigate the correspondence of geological events to speciation events. Location The species investigated are found in 18 of the 22 zoogeographical regions of South America, Central America and the Caribbean islands; therefore, we were able to use the phylogeny to address the biogeographical history of the entire region. Methods Molecular sequence data were gathered from two mitochondrial markers (cytochrome b and ND2) and analysed using Bayesian and maximum-likelihood approaches. Dispersal–vicariance analysis (DIVA) was used to reconstruct zoogeographical areas and elevational distributions. A Bayesian framework was also used to address changes in elevation during the evolutionary history of the group. Results Our phylogeny was similar to previous tanager phylogenies constructed using fewer species; however, we identified three genera that are not monophyletic and uncovered high levels of sequence divergence within some species. DIVA identified early diverging nodes as having a Northern Andean distribution, and the most recent common ancestor of the species included in this study occurred at high elevations. Most speciation events occurred either within highland areas or within lowland areas, with few exchanges occurring between the highlands and lowlands. The Northern Andes has been a source for lineages in other regions, with more dispersals out of this area relative to dispersals into this area. Most of the dispersals out of the Northern Andes were dispersals into the Central Andes; however, a few key dispersal events were identified out of the Andes and into other zoogeographical regions. Main conclusions The timing of diversification of these tanagers correlates well with the main uplift of the Northern Andes, with the highest rate of speciation occurring during this timeframe. Central American tanagers included in this study originated from South American lineages, and the timing of their dispersal into Central America coincides with or post-dates the completion of the Panamanian isthmus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To provide an objective geographic framework displaying the distribution patterns of freshwater fishes from Argentina. Location Argentina, southern South America. Methods Parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) and similarity and cluster analyses were applied to presence and absence data on 440 fish species from 52 localities in Argentina. Both 50% majority consensus and strict consensus analyses were undertaken in the first case, and the Jaccard similarity index was used in the second. Results Five ichthyogeographic provinces are described based on a PAE of the 52 localities. A cluster analysis provided similar results. Main conclusions The following zoogeographic provinces are proposed for Argentine freshwater fish fauna following the International Code of Area Nomenclature: Andean Cuyan, Patagonian, Aymaran, Great Rivers and Pampean. The former two are placed within the Andean Subregion of the Austral Region, and the latter three within the Neotropical Subregion of the Holotropical Region. These provinces, based on results coinciding with PAE and cluster analysis, represent the first classification of Argentine provinces based on objective methods. Some small regions of endemism and some localities remain separated from the proposed regions. The new scheme includes valuable empirical information from previous schemes, and is in agreement with ecological zones and other environmental arrangements proposed earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To explain the relationship between topography, prevailing winds and precipitation in order to identify regions with contrasting precipitation regimes and then compare floristic similarity among regions in the context of climate change. Location Eastern slope of the tropical Andes, South America. Methods We used information sources in the public domain to identify the relationship between geology, topography, prevailing wind patterns and precipitation. Areas with contrasting precipitation regimes were identified and compared for their floristic similarity. Results We identify spatially separate super-humid, humid and relatively dry regions on the eastern slope of the Andes and show how they are formed by the interaction of prevailing winds, diurnally varying atmospheric circulations and the local topography of the Andes. One key aspect related to the formation of these climatically distinct regions is the South American low-level jet (SALLJ), a relatively steady wind gyre that flows pole-ward along the eastern slopes of the Andes and is part of the gyre associated with the Atlantic trade winds that cross the Amazon Basin. The strongest winds of the SALLJ occur near the ‘elbow of the Andes’ at 18° S. Super-humid regions with mean annual precipitation greater than 3500 mm, are associated with a ‘favourable’ combination of topography, wind-flow orientation and local air circulation that favours ascent at certain hours of the day. Much drier regions, with mean annual precipitation less than 1500 mm, are associated with ‘unfavourable’ topographic orientation with respect to the mean winds and areas of reduced cloudiness produced by local breezes that moderate the cloudiness. We show the distribution of satellite-estimated frequency of cloudiness and offer hypotheses to explain the occurrence of these patterns and to explain regions of anomalously low precipitation in Bolivia and northern Peru. Floristic analysis shows that overall similarity among all circumscribed regions of this study is low; however, similarity among super-humid and humid regions is greater when compared with similarity among dry regions. Spatially separate areas with humid and super-humid precipitation regimes show similarity gradients that are correlated with latitude (proximity) and precipitation. Main conclusions The distribution of precipitation on the eastern slope of the Andes is not simply correlated with latitude, as is often assumed, but is the result of the interplay between wind and topography. Understanding the phenomena responsible for producing the observed precipitation patterns is important for mapping and modelling biodiversity, as well as for interpreting both past and future climate scenarios and the impact of climate change on biodiversity. Super-humid and dry regions have topographic characteristics that contribute to local climatic stability and may represent ancestral refugia for biodiversity; these regions are a conservation priority due to their unique climatic characteristics and the biodiversity associated with those characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This study analyses long-term responses to climate changes in Podocarpus parlatorei, a cold-tolerant tree species from the subtropics in South America, using distribution patterns of isozyme variation. Location Podocarpus parlatorei characterizes montane forests within the Yungas, a cloud forest of the subtropics of north-western Argentina and southern Bolivia. Podocarpus parlatorei consists of disjunct populations ecologically subdivided into northern, central, and southern sectors that we predict will be genetically divergent from one another as a result of historical isolation. Methods We collected fresh leaves from a maximum of 30 randomly selected individuals from each of 18 populations. We resolved 25 isozyme loci, and scored the most consistent 14, 57% of which were polymorphic. Within-population variation was tested against latitude, longitude, and elevation using multiple regressions. Genetic structure across populations was analysed using diversity parameters. The relationship between genetic and geographic distances was explored with reference to Pearson correlation coefficients. Results The effective number of alleles and observed heterozygosity increase latitudinally. Southern populations tend to be the most variable and genetically distinct. This result suggests that they could represent the location of a long-term refuge for P. parlatorei. The mean number of alleles per locus decreases with elevation. The total genetic diversity is HT = 0.163, 10% of which is distributed among populations. A positive association between genetic and geographic distances was detected. Main conclusions Reductions in genetic diversity towards the north and high-elevation mountains are consistent with evidence of patterns of forest migration resulting from climate change during the Late Quaternary, northern expansion during episodes of cooling, and range contraction towards the highlands during warming trends. Naturally disjunct populations of P. parlatorei are genetically divergent from one another, indicating that local genetic stocks should be used for restoration of degraded habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To analyse the current geographical structure of chloroplast DNA variation in the Turnera sidoides L. complex in order to establish historical biogeographical hypotheses for the mid-latitude South American lowlands. During the Quaternary, the climate shifted from tropical humid to cold dry, and the vegetation cover has not been stable. The consequences of these processes on the current distribution of the vegetation of this area have received very little attention. Location The mid-latitude South American lowlands extend between c. 20 and 40°S and include Uruguay, northern, central and eastern Argentina, southern Brazil, and parts of southern Paraguay and Bolivia. They are surrounded by higher-elevation systems. Methods Turnera sidoides is a well-studied polyploid complex of perennial rhizomatous herbs occurring throughout the area of interest. We analysed 321 individuals from 79 populations of the five recognized subspecies. We also included progenies from artificial crosses in order to analyse chloroplast inheritance. After screening sequences for four non-coding chloroplast DNA regions, the trnL– trnF spacer was selected to characterize the collection. Results Three haplotypes can be easily identified, with each differing from the others in two independent characters. A clear geographic structure is revealed when haplotypes are plotted for the complex as a whole regardless of subspecies and cytotype. Three distinct regions can be identified. Main conclusions We propose three putative refugial areas for the Turnera sidoides complex, which are associated with the orographical systems of the region. Ravines and slopes in the Haedo Cuchilla system in northern Uruguay, the elevations of the western side of the area in Argentina, and the eastern Serranías system in south-eastern Uruguay may each have served as refugia in which the A, B and C haplotypes became fixed during the drier climatic phases. Biogeographical patterns in the area covered by T. sidoides, particularly east of the Uruguay River, have not previously been analysed from a historical perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The fauna of mountains and their surrounding regions are likely to be influenced principally by two biological processes: horizontal colonization along similar altitudinal levels by elements originating from lineages inhabiting higher latitudes; and vertical colonization by lineages from the same latitude, but at lower altitudes. We examine whether the expected patterns derived from the latter process can be observed in mountain dung beetle assemblages. Specifically, we study the variation in species composition and richness with altitude in five regions spanning elevation gradients, analysing whether the altitudinal rates of change in the number of species and genera differ, and whether beta-diversity scores for adjacent sites in each altitudinal gradient are different for species and genera. Location Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes. Methods Field work was carried out in 1997-99 at 27 sites in five regions with elevation gradients, with 10-32 pitfall traps placed in each site. For each altitudinal level the numbers of species and genera were analysed with respect to altitude, and the slope of the linear regression between these variables was calculated. The slope of the curve of the altitude against the cumulative number of species and genera was also calculated for each altitudinal gradient to describe the compositional change between adjacent sites (beta diversity). Species and generic slopes were compared using analysis of covariance. The turnover of species along each altitudinal gradient was measured using presence/absence data and Cody's beta-diversity index between adjacent pairs of sites. A cluster analysis was used to detect faunistically homogeneous groups of localities. Results Species richness always decreased with altitude, although the slopes did not differ significantly from zero. The number of genera also decreased with increasing altitude, but generally at a significantly slower rate than for species. Variation in the species beta-diversity scores between altitudinal levels did not follow a homogeneous pattern in the different regions. Two main altitudinal groups of sites with a boundary c. 1500-1750 m a.s.l. can be detected with respect to faunistic similarity. Low- and mid-altitude sites are inhabited by all of the genera (19) and 80% of all species collected. Eight genera and 61 species (c. 60% of the total) are unable to inhabit high-altitude sites, and only 20 species appear to be exclusive to these high-altitude environments (> 2000 m a.s.l.). Main conclusions The dominant processes explaining dung beetle composition in the high north-eastern Andean mountains are probably those of vertical colonization. The limited role of horizontal colonization processes, or colonization from northern or southern lineages, could be a consequence of the isolation and recent geological origin of these mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To delimit areas of endemism in the Patagonian steppe using endemicity analysis (EA), which evaluates areas of endemism by means of an endemicity index, and to compare the resulting endemic areas with those proposed for the Patagonian steppe by previous authors. Location The Patagonian steppe, a region of South America found approximately below parallel 36° S to the east of the Andes Mountains. Methods Distributional data for 159 species of insects collected in the Patagonian steppe, and consisting of 1317 georeferenced samples were used to identify areas of endemism. A data grid of presence and absence (with cells of 1° × 1°) was constructed. Initially, two different types of EA were performed, seeking areas defined by ‘four or more’ species. A first analysis was performed without taking into consideration those quadrats where no species had been recorded (empty quadrats), which in many cases meant a discontinuous distribution. The second analysis was performed assuming a continuous distribution for each species. A third analysis, assuming continuous distributions, was performed using ‘three or more’ as the number of species necessary for an area to be identified as an endemic area. Results In the first two analyses, EA recognized the same five areas of endemism: western Patagonia, south-western Payunia, northern Suabandean, southern Subandean and Austral Patagonia. The results of the third analysis allowed the identification of three more areas of endemism: northern Payunia, Chubutian and Santacrucian. Main conclusions We identified five areas of endemism for the Patagonian steppe, some of which have been defined in previous contributions. These areas are: Western Patagonia, Payunia and Subandean Patagonia (which can be divided into septentrional and meridional), Central Patagonia (Chubutence and Santacrucense) and Austral Patagonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To investigate biogeographical patterns of the obligate freshwater fish order Characiformes. Location South America. Methods Parsimony analysis of endemicity, likelihood analysis of congruent geographical distribution, and partition Bremer support were used. Results Areas of endemism are deduced from parsimony analysis of endemicity, and putative dispersal routes from a separate analysis of discordant patterns of distribution. Main conclusions Our results demonstrate the occurrence of 11 major areas of endemism and support a preferential eastern–western differentiation of the characiforms in the Amazonian region, contrasting with the southern–northern differentiation of terrestrial organisms. The areas of endemism identified seem to be deeply influenced by the distribution of the emerged land during the 100-m marine highstand that occurred during the late Miocene and allow us to hypothesize the existence of eight aquatic freshwater refuges at that time. The raw distribution of non-endemic species supports nine patterns of species distribution across the 11 areas of endemism, two of which support a southern–northern differentiation in the eastern part of the Amazon. This result shows that the main channel of the Amazon limited dispersal between tributaries from each bank of the river. The levels of endemism further demonstrate that the aquatic freshwater refuges promoted allopatric speciation and later allowed the colonization of the lowlands. By contrast, the biogeographical pattern found in the western part of the Amazon is identified as a result of the Miocene Andean foreland dynamic and the uplift of the palaeoarches that promoted allopatric divergence across several sedimentary basins by the establishment of disconnected floodplains. The assessment of conflicting species distributions also shows the presence of seven putative dispersal routes between the Amazon, Orinoco and Paraná rivers. Our findings suggest that, rather than there being a single predominant process, the establishment of the modern South American freshwater fish biotas is the result of an interaction between marine incursions, uplift of the palaeoarches, and historical connections allowing cross-drainage dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate biogeographic relationships within the lizard genusAnolisDaudin, 1802 to test the hypothesis that the mainland (Central and South American) Norops-clade species descended from a West IndianAnolisancestor. Previous hypotheses have suggested that close island relatives of mainland Norops species (the CubanAnolis sagreiand JamaicanA. grahamiseries) represent over-water dispersal from a mainland ancestor. These previous hypotheses predict that theA. sagreiandA. grahamiseries should be phylogenetically nested within a Norops clade whose ancestral geography traces to the mainland. If Norops is West Indian in origin, then West Indian species should span the deepest phylogenetic divergences within the Norops clade.Central and South America and West Indian islands.The phylogenetic relationships ofAnolislizards are reconstructed from aligned DNA sequences using both parsimony and Bayesian approaches. Hypotheses are tested in two ways: (1) by reconstructing the ancestral geographic location for the Norops clade usingBayesian approach, and (2) by testing alternative topological arrangements via Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks tests () and Shimodaira–Hasegawa tests ().Our evidence supports an origin of mainland Norops anoles from a West Indian ancestor. A West Indian ancestor to the Norops clade is statistically supported, and alternatives to the biogeographic pattern [Cuban (Jamaican, Mainland)] are statistically rejected by Shimodaira–Hasegawa tests, although not by Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks tests.Our data support the hypothesis of a West Indian origin for mainland Norops. This result contradicts previous hypotheses and suggests that island forms may be an important source for mainland biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To use published distributional and taxonomic information on Neotropical birds in a cladistic analysis of distributions and endemism (CADE) to generate a testable hypothesis of area-relationships for the arid areas of endemism, particularly those of Central South America (the‘arid diagonal’), and to clarify the different methodologies commonly associated with parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE).South America.Cladistic analysis of distributions and endemism.We obtain a tree where the relationships of most areas are resolved, and we find support for an exclusive clade of Central South American areas, with the Caatinga as sister to both the Chaco and Cerrado.There is a substantial amount of historical signal in avian distributions, when large numbers of taxa and multiple taxonomic levels are considered. Ecological noise and historical information are more easily distinguished in CADE analyses than they would be in PAE analyses. Based on our results we predict that among aridland birds, the Cerrado and Chaco species will be more closely related to each other than to Caatinga species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate how spatial variation of species richness in different bird orders responds to environmental gradients and determine which order level trait best predicts these relationships.South America.A canonical correlation analysis was performed between the species richness in each of 17 bird orders and eight environmental variables in 374, 220 × 220 km cells. Loadings associated with the first two canonical variables were regressed against six order-level predictors, including diversification level (number of species in each order), body size, median geographical range size and characteristics included in the model to control Type I error rates (the phylogenetic relationship among orders and levels of local-scale spatial autocorrelation).Richness patterns of 14 bird orders were highly correlated with the first canonical axis, indicating that most orders respond similarly to energy-water gradients (primarily actual evapotranspiration, minimum temperature and potential evapotranspiration). In contrast, species richness within Trochiliformes, Apodiformes and Galliformes were also correlated with the second canonical variable, representing measures of mesoscale climatic variation (range in elevation within cells, minimum temperature, and the interaction term between them) and landcover (habitat diversity). We also found that total diversification within orders was the best predictor of the loadings associated with the first canonical axis, whereas body size of each order best predicted loadings on the second axis.Our results broadly support climatic-related hypotheses as explanations for spatial variation in species richness of different orders. However, both historical (order-specific variation in speciation rates) and ecological (dispersal of species that evolved by independent processes into areas amenable to birds) processes can explain the relationship between order level traits, such as body size and diversification level, and magnitude of response to current environment, furnishing then guidelines for a further and deeper understanding of broad-scale diversity gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The geographical distribution of 839 Andean passerine species was analysed using two biogeographical indices: environmental resistance (R50) and anisotropy (A50). R50 quantifies the loss of biotic resemblance occurring from any point in the map to the rest of the continent. A50 quantifies the extent to which the perimeter : area ratio of the geographical ranges of all species whose distributions overlap at any particular location depart from the perimeter : area ratio of a circle. Three predictions derived from the climatic-tolerance hypothesis were tested: (1) the latitudinal Rapoport effect predicts an increase in the range-sizes of species, and hence a decrease in the values of R50, towards the south; (2) Janzen’s argument that ‘mountain passes are higher in the tropics’ predicts greater anisotropy in the tropics; (3) because environmental conditions are relatively constant across the tropics, and begin to change at the boundaries, this predicts high spatial turnover – and hence rapid change of R50 values – at the limits of the tropics. Location The Andes, in South America. Methods The geographical ranges of 839 passerine species were drawn on a standardized grid map of the Andean region. The presence–absence (1–0) of each species in each of the 150 cells in the grid map was recorded. These data were used to create equiprobabilistic maps, which then were used to estimate a value of R50 and A50 for each cell in the grid map (sensu Rapoport, 1975, 1979, 1982). Results The spatial patterns in R50 and A50 offer partial support to the original predictions. The tendency for R50 data to decrease with latitude (Rapoport effect) vanishes after controlling for differences in species richness among latitudes compared. In contrast, A50 data clearly offer indirect support to Janzen’s... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Seasonally dry tropical forests have been largely ignored in discussions of vegetation changes during the Quaternary. We distinguish dry forests, which are essentially tree-dominated ecosystems, from open savannas that have a xeromorphic fire-tolerant, grass layer and grow on dystrophic, acid soils. Seasonally dry tropical forests grow on fertile soils, usually have a closed canopy, have woody floras dominated by the Leguminosae and Bignoniaceae and a sparse ground flora with few grasses. They occur in disjunct areas throughout the Neotropics. The Chaco forests of central South America experience regular annual frosts, and are considered a subtropical extension of temperate vegetation formations. At least 104 plant species from a wide range of families are each found in two or more of the isolated areas of seasonally dry tropical forest scattered across the Neotropics, and these repeated patterns of distribution suggest a more widespread expanse of this vegetation, presumably in drier and cooler periods of the Pleistocene. We propose a new vegetation model for some areas of the Ice-Age Amazon: a type of seasonally dry tropical forest, with rain forest and montane taxa largely confined to gallery forest. This model is consistent with the distributions of contemporary seasonally dry tropical forest species in Amazonia and existing palynological data. The hypothesis of vicariance of a wider historical area of seasonally dry tropical forests could be tested using a cladistic biogeographic approach focusing on plant genera that have species showing high levels of endemicity in the different areas of these forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aim Palaeoenvironmental records of Pleistocene glaciation and associated vegetation changes in Patagonia have led to the hypothesis that during the last glacial maximum (LGM) tree species survived locally in favourable habitats. If present populations originated from spread from only one refugium, such as an ice-free area of coastal Chile (Single Refugium hypothesis), we would expect that eastern populations would be genetically depauperate and highly similar to western populations. In contrast, if the ice cap was not complete and tree species persisted in forest patches on both slopes of the Andes (Multiple Refugia hypothesis), we would expect a greater degree of genetic divergence between populations either on opposite sides of the Cordillera (Cordillera Effect scenario) or towards its present-day southern distributional limit where the ice sheet reached its maximum coverage (Extent-of-the-Ice scenario). Location We tested this refugia hypothesis using patterns of isozyme variation in populations sampled over the entire modern range of the endemic conifer Fitzroya cupressoides (Mol.) Johnst. (Cupressaceae) in temperate South America. Methods Fresh foliage was collected from twenty-four populations and analysed by horizontal electrophoresis on starch gels. Results Twenty-one putative loci were reliably scored and 52% were polymorphic in at least one population. Populations from the eastern slope of the Andes were genetically more variable than those from the western slope; the former had a greater mean number of alleles per locus, a larger total number of alleles and rare alleles, and higher polymorphism. Genetic identities within western populations were greater than within eastern populations. Discriminant analyses using allelic frequencies of different grouping schedules of populations were non significant when testing for the Single Refugium hypothesis whereas significant results were obtained for the Multiple Refugia hypothesis. Main conclusions Our results indicate that present Fitzroya populations are the result of spreading from at least two, but possibly more, glacial refugia located in Coastal Chile and on the southern flanks of the Andes in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse the geographical distribution of South American mammalian species using two biogeographic indices: environmental resistance (R50) and anisotropy (A50). R50 quantifies the loss of biotic resemblance occurring from any point in the map to the rest of the continent. A50 quantifies the extent to which the perimeter: area ratio of the geographical ranges of all species whose distributions overlap at any particular location depart from the perimeter: area ratio of a circle. We test for the latitudinal Rapoport effect that predicts an increase in the range-sizes of mammalian species, and hence a decrease in the values of R50, towards the south. We test for the effect of mountains on species’ ranges, given that Janzen's argument that ‘mountain passes are higher in the tropics’ implicitly predicts greater anisotropy in the tropics. Continental spatial patterns of variation in R50 and A50 suggest a biogeographic division of South America consistent with most classical zoogeographical classifications proposed for the continent. Rapid change in mammalian range-sizes and shapes occurs at the limit between the Guayano-Brazilian and Andean-Patagonean subregions. R50 data do not support the latitudinal Rapoport effect: the most widespread species locate in the eastern portions of Brazil, the most restricted ones are in association with the Andes. A50 data support Janzen's prediction: the effect of mountains on species’ distributions is greater in equatorial and central regions of the Andes rather than in the south. R50-and A50-contour maps reveal that, mainly due to the effects of the lie of the land and likely differences in the history of the fauna, the continent has a biogeographic texture which must have major constraints on local ecological patterns and processes. This stresses the importance of considering the role... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]