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Inferring differential evolutionary processes of plant persistence traits in Northern Hemisphere Mediterranean fire-prone ecosystems.
- Source :
- Journal of Ecology; Feb2006, Vol. 94 Issue 1, p31-39, 9p, 1 Diagram, 3 Charts, 1 Graph
- Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- 1 Resprouting capacity (R) and propagule-persistence (P) are traits that are often considered to have evolved where there are predictable crown fires. Because several indicators suggest a stronger selective pressure for such traits in California than in the Mediterranean Basin, we hypothesize that plant species should have evolved to become R+ and P+ more frequently in California than in the Mediterranean Basin. 2 To test this hypothesis we studied the phylogenetic association between R and P states in both California and the Mediterranean Basin using published molecular phylogenies. 3 The results suggest that R and P evolved differently in the two regions. The occurrence of the states differs significantly between regions for trait P, but not for trait R. The different patterns (towards R+ and P+ in California and towards R+ and P– in the Mediterranean Basin) are reflected in the higher abundance and the wider taxonomic distribution of species with both persistence traits (R+P+ species) in California. 4 The differential acquisition of fire persistence mechanisms at the propagule level (P+) supports the idea that fire selective pressures has been higher in California than in the Mediterranean Basin. 5 Our comparative phylogenetic-informed analysis contributes to an understanding of the differential role of the Quaternary climate in determining fire persistence traits in different Mediterranean-type ecosystems and, thus, to the debate on the evolutionary convergence of traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00220477
- Volume :
- 94
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Ecology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19169388
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2005.01092.x