Phylogenetic position of Mediterranean Astereae and character evolution of daisies (Bellis,Asteraceae) inferred from nrDNA ITS sequences

Phylogenetic analyses of nrITS sequences of Asteraceae revealed that the Bellis group is a natural assemblage comprising all the species of Bellis and Bellium, but not Rhynchospermum. In contrast, we propose to include the genera Bellis, Bellium, and Bellidastrum in the subtribe Bellidinae in the interest of circumscribing natural groups. Our results also suggest an early diversification in the western Mediterranean Basin of two monophyletic lineages, Bellis and Bellium. Three major groups can be distinguished within BELLIS: (1) the B. perennis group, containing five annual and perennial species with three ploidy levels (diploid, octoploid, and decaploid), which are distributed throughout the Mediterranean Basin despite lack of pappus; (2) the Bellis sylvestris group, with five annual and perennial species primarily from the western Mediterranean, in which there are five ploidy levels (diploid, tetraploid, hexaploid, octoploid, and decaploid); and (3) a basal grade consisting of three diploid, perennial species which displays remarkable diversification of morphologies. Striking characteristics, such as an annual life form, polyploidy, and loss of pappus, seem to have occurred in parallel several times and in different geographical areas during the early diversification of Bellis species in the western Mediterranean. Character evolution reconstructions allow us to describe a putative ancestor of the genus Bellis (proto-Bellis).     

Phylogeny of salmonids (Salmoniformes: Salmonidae) and its molecular dating: Analysis of nuclear RAG1 gene

The phylogenetic relationships among 26 species of salmonid fishes (family Salmonidae) were studied using the RAG1 gene as phylogenetic marker. No unambiguous relationships between thymalllins, coregonins, and salmonins it was possible to establish. It seems likely, that divergence of these lineages took place during rather short time interval (about 3 to 4 million years). The thymallins are thought to be the first separated lineage. The genera of the subfamily Salmoninae form two distinct monophyletic groups, represented by (1) Brachymystax and Hucho and (2) Salmo, Parahucho, Salvelinus, Parasalmo and Oncorhynchus. Ancestral forms of these two evolutionary lineages could diverge at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary (about 24 million years ago). It is suggested that diversification of the main lineages within the second group was rather rapid, and took place in middle Miocene (about 19?C16 million years ago). Moreover, the lineages of Salvelinus, Parasalmo and Oncorhynchus were the latest to diverge. It seems likely that divergence of the Prosopium and Coregonus ancestral lineages occurred during the same time interval.     

Evolutionary diversification of the gall midge genus Asteromyia (Cecidomyiidae) in a multitrophic ecological context

Gall-forming insects provide ideal systems to analyze the evolution of host–parasite interactions and understand the ecological interactions that contribute to evolutionary diversification. Flies in the family Cecidomyiidae represent the largest radiation of gall-forming insects and are characterized by complex trophic interactions with plants, fungal symbionts, and predators. We analyzed the phylogenetic history and evolutionary associations of the North American cecidomyiid genus Asteromyia, which is engaged in a complex and perhaps co-evolving community of interactions with host-plants, fungi, and parasitoids. Mitochondrial gene trees generally support current classifications, but reveal extensive cryptic diversity within the eight named species. Asteromyia likely radiated after their associated host-plants in the Astereae, but species groups exhibit strong associations with specific lineages of Astereae. Evolutionary associations with fungal mutualists are dynamic, however, and suggest rapid and perhaps coordinated changes across trophic levels.     

The dispersal between Amazonia and Atlantic Forest during the Early Neogene revealed by the biogeography of the treefrog tribe Sphaenorhynchini (Anura,Hylidae)

The Amazonia and the Atlantic Forest, separated by the diagonal of open formations, are two ecoregions that comprise the most diverse tropical forests in the world. The Sphaenorhynchini tribe is among the few tribes of anurans that occur in both rainforests, and their historical biogeographic have never been proposed. In this study, we infer a dated phylogeny for the species of the Sphaenorhynchini and we reconstructed the biogeographic history describing the diversification chronology, and possible patterns of dispersion and vicariance, providing information about how orogeny, forest dynamics and allopatric speciation affected their evolution in South America. We provided a dated phylogeny and biogeography study for the Sphaenorhynchini tribe using mitochondrial and nuclear genes. We analyzed 41 samples to estimate the ancestral areas using biogeographical analysis based on the estimated divergence times and the current geographical ranges of the species of Sphaenorhynchini. We recovered three characteristic clades that we recognize as groups of species (S. lacteus, S. planicola, and S. platycephalus groups), with S. carneus and G. pauloalvini being the sister taxa of all other species from the tribe. We found that the diversification of the tribe lineages coincided with the main climatic and geological factors that shaped the Neotropical landscape during the Cenozoic. The most recent common ancestor of the Sphaenorhynchini species emerged in the North of the Atlantic Forest and migrated to the Amazonia in different dispersion events that occurred during the connections between these ecoregions. This is the first large‐scale study to include an almost complete calibrated phylogeny of Sphaenorhynchini, presenting important information about the evolution and diversification of the tribe. Overall, we suggest that biogeographic historical of Sphaenorhynchini have resulted from a combination of repeated range expansion and contraction cycles concurrent with climate fluctuations and dispersal events between the Atlantic Forest and Amazonia.     

Reconstruction of the spatio-temporal diversification and ecological niche evolution of Helianthemum (Cistaceae) in the Canary Islands using genotyping-by-sequencing data

Background and AimsSeveral biogeographical models have been proposed to explain the colonization and diversification patterns of Macaronesian lineages. In this study, we calculated the diversification rates and explored what model best explains the current distribution of the 15 species endemic to the Canary Islands belonging to Helianthemum sect. Helianthemum (Cistaceae).MethodsWe performed robust phylogenetic reconstructions based on genotyping-by-sequencing data and analysed the timing, biogeographical history and ecological niche conservatism of this endemic Canarian clade.Key ResultsOur phylogenetic analyses provided strong support for the monophyly of this clade, and retrieved five lineages not currently restricted to a single island. The pristine colonization event took place in the Pleistocene (~1.82 Ma) via dispersal to Tenerife by a Mediterranean ancestor.ConclusionsThe rapid and abundant diversification (0.75–1.85 species per million years) undergone by this Canarian clade seems the result of complex inter-island dispersal events followed by allopatric speciation driven mostly by niche conservatism, i.e. inter-island dispersal towards niches featuring similar environmental conditions. Nevertheless, significant instances of ecological niche shifts have also been observed in some lineages, making an important contribution to the overall diversification history of this clade.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Welwitschiella</Emphasis> is a member of the African subtribe Grangeinae (Asteraceae Astereae): a new phylogenetic position based on <Emphasis Type="Italic">ndh</Emphasis>F and ITS sequence data

The African genus Welwitschiella has traditionally been placed in tribe Heliantheae. Our phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast DNA ndhF sequence data, however, reveals that it is part of tribe Astereae. In order to assess the relationships of this genus within the tribe, we produced a phylogeny based on ITS (nrDNA) sequence data of a sample including Amellus, African Conyza, Chrysocoma, Felicia spp., Mairia, Poeciliopsis, Printzia, Welwitschiella and Zyrphelis. Both parsimony and Bayesian analyses were done. The Bayesian analysis showed that African genera form a basal grade in tribe Astereae along with the Chinese Nannoglottis and South American and New Zealand genera, with Printzia being the earliest diverging member of the tribe. Mairia occupies an isolated position. Amellus, Chrysocoma, Felicia, Poecilolepis and Zyrphelis belong to subtribe Homochrominae, a South African radiation that also includes the St Helena endemics Commidendron and Melanodendron. Pteronia appears isolated, though it might be close to the Homochrominae. Welwitschiella is placed in the latest diverging African clade, subtribe Grangeinae, which also includes Grangea, Psiadia, Nidorella, and the African Conyza species except C. gouani. This subtribe is sister to the Eurasiatic subtribe Bellidinae, and together they are sister to the Astereae crown lineages of Australasia-Asia and South and North America.     

Phylogeny and biogeography of Alyssum (Brassicaceae) based on nuclear ribosomal ITS DNA sequences

The genus Alyssum consists of about 195 species native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa. All species were assigned to six sections. Previous molecular phylogeny studies indicate that Alyssum is polyphyletic. However, the divergence time and dispersal of the genus are not well studied. In this study, the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Alyssum were studied with nrDNA ITS sequences obtained from five sections. The divergence time was estimated by fossil calibration and the biogeography was examined by spread analysis. The phylogeny indicated two main lineages: lineage 1 includes the section of Alyssum, Gamosepalum and Psilonema; lineage 2 includes the section of Odontarrhena, Meniocus and Clypeola. The phylogenetic relationship was not congruent with the previous sectional classifications. The age of Alyssum was dated to the upper Miocene. Molecular data suggested the diversification of Alyssum in Mediterranean areas and wide-ranging distribution such as North Africa, eastward into Central Asia and immigration into North America. Climatic aridification and arid/semiarid areas established in the Pliocene/Pleistocene could have provided favourable conditions for the migration and diversification of Alyssum.     

Phylogenetics of tribe Orchideae (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae) based on combined DNA matrices: inferences regarding timing of diversification and evolution of pollination syndromes

Background and aims

Tribe Orchideae (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae) comprises around 62 mostly terrestrial genera, which are well represented in the Northern Temperate Zone and less frequently in tropical areas of both the Old and New Worlds. Phylogenetic relationships within this tribe have been studied previously using only nuclear ribosomal DNA (nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer, nrITS). However, different parts of the phylogenetic tree in these analyses were weakly supported, and integrating information from different plant genomes is clearly necessary in orchids, where reticulate evolution events are putatively common. The aims of this study were to: (1) obtain a well-supported and dated phylogenetic hypothesis for tribe Orchideae, (ii) assess appropriateness of recent nomenclatural changes in this tribe in the last decade, (3) detect possible examples of reticulate evolution and (4) analyse in a temporal context evolutionary trends for subtribe Orchidinae with special emphasis on pollination systems.

Methods

The analyses included 118 samples, belonging to 103 species and 25 genera, for three DNA regions (nrITS, mitochondrial cox1 intron and plastid rpl16 intron). Bayesian and maximum-parsimony methods were used to construct a well-supported and dated tree. Evolutionary trends in the subtribe were analysed using Bayesian and maximum-likelihood methods of character evolution.

Key Results

The dated phylogenetic tree strongly supported the recently recircumscribed generic concepts of Bateman and collaborators. Moreover, it was found that Orchidinae have diversified in the Mediterranean basin during the last 15 million years, and one potential example of reticulate evolution in the subtribe was identified. In Orchidinae, pollination systems have shifted on numerous occasions during the last 23 million years.

Conclusions

The results indicate that ancestral Orchidinae were hymenopteran-pollinated, food-deceptive plants and that these traits have been dominant throughout the evolutionary history of the subtribe in the Mediterranean. Evidence was also obtained that the onset of sexual deception might be linked to an increase in labellum size, and the possibility is discussed that diversification in Orchidinae developed in parallel with diversification of bees and wasps from the Miocene onwards.     

Strong plastid degradation is consistent within section Chondrophyllae,the most speciose lineage of Gentiana

Recovering phylogenetic relationships in lineages experiencing intense diversification has always been a persistent challenge in evolutionary studies, including in Gentiana section Chondrophyllae sensu lato (s.l.). Indeed, this subcosmopolitan taxon encompasses more than 180 mostly annual species distributed around the world. We sequenced and assembled 22 new plastomes representing 21 species in section Chondrophyllae s.l. In addition to previously released plastome data, our study includes all main lineages within the section. We reconstructed their phylogenetic relationships based on protein‐coding genes and recombinant DNA (rDNA) cistron sequences, and then investigated plastome structural evolution as well as divergence time. Despite an admittedly humble species cover overall, we recovered a well‐supported phylogenetic tree based on plastome data, and found significant discordance between phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic treatments. Our results show that G. capitata and G. leucomelaena diverged early within the section, which is then further divided into two clades. The divergence time estimation showed that section Chondrophyllae s.l. evolved in the second half of the Oligocene. We found that section Chondrophyllae s.l. had the smallest average plastome size (128 KB) in tribe Gentianeae (Gentianaceae), with frequent gene and sequence losses such as the ndh complex and its flanking regions. In addition, we detected both expansion and contraction of the inverted repeat (IR) regions. Our study suggests that plastome degradation parallels the diversification of this group, and illustrates the strong discordance between phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic treatments, which now need to be carefully revised.     

Phylogeny and biogeography of the rice tribe (Oryzeae): Evidence from combined analysis of 20 chloroplast fragments

Based on sequences of 20 chloroplast fragments, we generated a fully resolved phylogeny of Oryzeae and estimated divergence times of its major lineages as well as explored the historical biogeography of the tribe. Our results (1) confirmed the monophyly of Oryzeae and two-subtribe subdivision; (2) indicated that Maltebrunia, Potamophila and Prosphytochloa were genetically distinct enough to deserve generic status but Maltebrunia and Prosphytochloa were sister groups in the subtribe Oryzinae while Potamophila was a member in the subtribe Zizaniinae; (3) suggested that the previously unresolved phylogeny of the subtribe Zizaniinae was most likely explained by insufficient data due to rapid radiation; (4) provided the first well-corroborated timescale for the origin and divergence of Oryzeae, with the crown node of Oryzeae and the deepest split of Oryza at ～24 and 15 MYA, respectively; (5) developed a biogeographic history of the tribe and substantiated the important roles of long-distance dispersal in the origin and diversification of the tribe Oryzeae.     

Historical Biogeography and Diversification of Truffles in the Tuberaceae and Their Newly Identified Southern Hemisphere Sister Lineage

Truffles have evolved from epigeous (aboveground) ancestors in nearly every major lineage of fleshy fungi. Because accelerated rates of morphological evolution accompany the transition to the truffle form, closely related epigeous ancestors remain unknown for most truffle lineages. This is the case for the quintessential truffle genus Tuber, which includes species with socio-economic importance and esteemed culinary attributes. Ecologically, Tuber spp. form obligate mycorrhizal symbioses with diverse species of plant hosts including pines, oaks, poplars, orchids, and commercially important trees such as hazelnut and pecan. Unfortunately, limited geographic sampling and inconclusive phylogenetic relationships have obscured our understanding of their origin, biogeography, and diversification. To address this problem, we present a global sampling of Tuberaceae based on DNA sequence data from four loci for phylogenetic inference and molecular dating. Our well-resolved Tuberaceae phylogeny shows high levels of regional and continental endemism. We also identify a previously unknown epigeous member of the Tuberaceae – the South American cup-fungus Nothojafnea thaxteri (E.K. Cash) Gamundí. Phylogenetic resolution was further improved through the inclusion of a previously unrecognized Southern hemisphere sister group of the Tuberaceae. This morphologically diverse assemblage of species includes truffle (e.g. Gymnohydnotrya spp.) and non-truffle forms that are endemic to Australia and South America. Southern hemisphere taxa appear to have diverged more recently than the Northern hemisphere lineages. Our analysis of the Tuberaceae suggests that Tuber evolved from an epigeous ancestor. Molecular dating estimates Tuberaceae divergence in the late Jurassic (∼156 million years ago), with subsequent radiations in the Cretaceous and Paleogene. Intra-continental diversification, limited long-distance dispersal, and ecological adaptations help to explain patterns of truffle evolution and biodiversity.     

Phylogeny of salmonids (salmoniformes: Salmonidae) and its molecular dating: Analysis of mtDNA data

Phylogenetic relationships among 41 species of salmonid fish and some aspects of their diversification-time history were studied using the GenBank and original mtDNA data. The position of the root of the Salmonidae phylogenetic tree was uncertain. Among the possible variants, the most reasonable seems to be that in which thymallins are grouped into the same clade as coregonins and the lineage of salmonins occupied a basal position relative to this clade. The genera of Salmoninae formed two distinct clades, i.e., (Brachymystax, Hucho) and (Salmo, Parahucho, (Salvelinus, (Parasalmo, Oncorhynchus)). Furthermore, the genera Parasalmo and Oncorhynchus were reciprocally monophyletic. The congruence of Salmonidae phylogenetic trees obtained using different types of phylogenetic markers is discussed. According to Bayesian dating, ancestral lineages of salmonids and their sister esocoids diverged about 106 million years ago. Sometime after, probably 100–70 million years ago, the salmonid-specific whole genome duplication took place. The divergence of salmonid lineages on the genus level occurred much later, within the time interval of 42–20 million years ago. The main wave of the diversification of salmonids at the species level occurred during the last 12 million years. The possible effect of genome duplication on the Salmonidae diversification pattern is discussed.     

Deep-sea squat lobster biogeography (Munidopsidae: Leiogalathea) unveils Tethyan vicariance and evolutionary patterns shared by shallow-water relatives

The ecology, abundance and diversity of galatheoid squat lobsters make them an ideal group to study deep-sea diversification processes. Here, we reconstructed the evolutionary and biogeographic history of Leiogalathea, a genus of circum-tropical deep-sea squat lobsters, in order to compare patterns and processes that have affected shallow-water and deep-sea squat lobster species. We first built a multilocus phylogeny and a calibrated species tree with a relaxed clock using StarBEAST2 to reconstruct evolutionary relationships and divergence times among Leiogalathea species. We used BioGeoBEARS and a DEC model, implemented in RevBayes, to reconstruct ancestral distribution ranges and the biogeographic history of the genus. Our results showed that Leiogalathea is monophyletic and comprises four main lineages; morphological homogeneity is common within and between clades, except in one; the reconstructed ancestral range of the genus is in the Atlantic and Indian oceans (Tethys). They also revealed the divergence of the Atlantic species around 25 million years ago (Ma), intense cladogenesis 15–25 Ma and low levels of speciation over the last 5 million years (Myr). The four Leiogalathea lineages showed similar patterns of speciation: allopatric speciation followed by range expansion and subsequent stasis. Leiogalathea started diversifying during the Oligocene, likely in the Tethyan. The Atlantic lineage then split from its Indo-Pacific sister group due to vicariance driven by closure of the Tethys Seaway. The Atlantic lineage is less speciose compared with the Indo-Pacific lineages, with the Tropical Southwestern Pacific being the current centre of diversity. Leiogalathea diversification coincided with cladogenetic peaks in shallow-water genera, indicating that historical biogeographic events similarly shaped the diversification and distribution of both deep-sea and shallow-water squat lobsters.     

Morphokaryological variability and divergence of stargazers (Uranoscopus, perciformes) from the Mediterranean Sea basin: I. Divergence and taxonomic state of the Black Sea Stargazer

Based on museum collections, the variability of morphological characters of stargazers (Uranoscopus, Uranoscopidae) from different seas of the Mediterranean Sea basin have been studied. On the basis of the obtained results and data on the karyological divergence of the previously studied populations, stargazers of the Black Sea are regarded as an independent subspecies, Uranoscopus scaber anostomus, differing from the Mediterranean Sea populations in relatively long ventral fins, whose length usually exceeds half of the head length, the presence in most individuals of not less than 12 pyloric caeca, chromosome polymorphism with 2n = 28?C32, NF = 50, and the presence in the karyotype of a pair of marker small metacentric chromosomes. Morphological characters suitable for analysis of morphological divergence of populations of the Mediterranean region have been revealed.     

Two Plastid DNA Lineages—Rapa/Oleracea and Nigra—within the Tribe Brassiceae Can Be Best Explained by Reciprocal Crosses at Hexaploidy: Evidence from Divergence Times of the Plastid Genomes and R-Block Genes of the A and B Genomes of Brassica juncea

Brassica species (tribe Brassiceae) belonging to U''s triangle—B. rapa (AA), B. nigra (BB), B. oleracea (CC), B. juncea (AABB), B. napus (AACC) and B. carinata (BBCC)—originated via two polyploidization rounds: a U event producing the three allopolyploids, and a more ancient b genome-triplication event giving rise to the A-, B-, and C-genome diploid species. Molecular mapping studies, in situ hybridization, and genome sequencing of B. rapa support the genome triplication origin of tribe Brassiceae, and suggest that these three diploid species diversified from a common hexaploid ancestor. Analysis of plastid DNA has revealed two distinct lineages—Rapa/Oleracea and Nigra—that conflict with hexaploidization as a single event defining the tribe Brassiceae. We analysed an R-block region of A. thaliana present in six copies in B. juncea (AABB), three copies each on A- and B-genomes to study gene fractionation pattern and synonymous base substitution rates (Ks values). Divergence time of paralogues within the A and B genomes and homoeologues between the A and B genomes was estimated. Homoeologous R blocks of the A and B genomes exhibited high gene collinearity and a conserved gene fractionation pattern. The three progenitors of diploid Brassicas were estimated to have diverged approximately 12 mya. Divergence of B. rapa and B. nigra, calculated from plastid gene sequences, was estimated to have occurred approximately 12 mya, coinciding with the divergence of the three genomes participating in the b event. Divergence of B. juncea A and B genome homoeologues was estimated to have taken place around 7 mya. Based on divergence time estimates and the presence of distinct plastid lineages in tribe Brassiceae, it is concluded that at least two independent triplication events involving reciprocal crosses at the time of the b event have given rise to Rapa/Oleracea and Nigra lineages.     

Diversification in the Mexican horned lizard Phrynosoma orbiculare across a dynamic landscape

The widespread montane Mexican horned lizard Phrynosoma orbiculare (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) represents an ideal species to investigate the relative impacts of Neogene vicariance and Quaternary climate change on lineage diversification across the Mexican highlands. We used mitochondrial DNA to examine the maternal history of P. orbiculare and estimate the timing and tempo of lineage diversification. Based on our results, we inferred 11 geographically structured, well supported mitochondrial lineages within this species, suggesting P. orbiculare represents a species complex. Six divergences between lineages likely occurred during the Late Miocene and Pliocene, and four splits probably happened during the Pleistocene. Diversification rate appeared relatively constant through time. Spatial and temporal divergences between lineages of P. orbiculare and co-distributed taxa suggest that a distinct period of uplifting of the Transvolcanic Belt around 7.5-3 million years ago broadly impacted diversification in taxa associated with this mountain range. To the north, several river drainages acting as filter barriers differentially subdivided co-distributed highland taxa through time. Diversification patterns observed in P. orbiculare provide additional insight into the mechanisms that impacted differentiation of highland taxa across the complex Mexican highlands.     

Unexpected synchronous differentiation in Mediterranean and Canarian Cistus (Cistaceae)

Diversification rates of insular oceanic lineages have been historically considered to be higher than those of mainland counterparts. In order to test this hypothesis in a group of Canarian endemics (Cistus), we estimated phylogeny and conducted both network analyses of haplotypes and molecular clock estimates using plastid DNA sequences of the trnS?trnG and the trnK?matK. Net differentiation rates in the Canarian purple-flowered lineage parallel those of the mainland (Mediterranean) purple-flowered sister group, as revealed by a similar number of species (five vs. three), haplotypes (seven vs. eight) and haplotype clades (four vs. four). Splitting dates in the Canarian (0.33±0.14/0.28±0.16 Ma) and Mediterranean (0.66±0.18/0.38±0.19 Ma) lineages reveal concordance in tempo of diversification. All these results are interpreted as evidence of two synchronous evolutionary histories given that Cistus ancestors had to cope with factors promoting differentiation in two hotspots of plant diversity: the Macaronesian and Mediterranean floristic regions. Analysis of Canarian populations suggests that a geographical rather than ecological differentiation was primarily responsible for early stages of a non-adaptive radiation of the Canarian lineage. Differentiation patterns of mainland populations appear to be more complex.     

Tracing the origins of widespread highland species: a case of Neogene diversification across the Mexican sierras in an endemic lizard

The evolutionary history of the Mexican sierras has been shaped by various geological and climatic events over the past several million years. The relative impacts of these historical events on diversification in highland taxa, however, remain largely uncertain owing to a paucity of studies on broadly‐distributed montane species. We investigated the origins of genetic diversification in widely‐distributed endemic alligator lizards in the genus Barisia to help develop a better understanding of the complex processes structuring biological diversity in the Mexican highlands. We estimated lineage divergence dates and the diversification rate from mitochondrial DNA sequences, and combined divergence dates with reconstructions of ancestral geographical ranges to track lineage diversification across geography through time. Based on our results, we inferred ten geographically structured, well supported mitochondrial lineages within Barisia. Diversification of a widely‐distributed ancestor appears tied to the formation of the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt across central Mexico during the Miocene and Pliocene. The formation of filter barriers such as major river drainages may have later subdivided lineages. The results of the present study provide additional support for the increasing number of studies that suggest Neogene events heavily impacted genetic diversification in widespread montane taxa. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 105 , 382–394.     

From Messinian crisis to Mediterranean climate: A temporal gap of diversification recovered from multiple plant phylogenies

Paleobotanical and molecular studies link diversification of plants in the Mediterranean Basin with the onset of the Mediterranean climate. Screening diversification before this period is needed in order to analyze whether the observed increase in diversification is a legitimate footprint denoting radiation or instead the biological signal of a previous mass extinction or rate stasis period. A shared post-Messinian temporal gap of cladogenesis has been previously observed in two Mediterranean sister genera. Based on this evidence we explored recently published molecular studies to recover lineages with similar diversification profiles exhibiting a cladogenesis gap. Using this criterion, we conducted a meta-analysis of 36 Mediterranean plant lineages with a post-Messinian temporal gap of cladogenesis, including a new molecular dating of Genista (Fabaceae). Whereas 39% of these lineages have not diversified since the Miocene, another 39% began to rediversify during the onset of the Mediterranean climate and the remaining 22% began diversifying again afterwards during the Quaternary. The pattern of Mediterranean diversification recovery after a temporal gap of cladogenesis was also obtained with phylogenetic tree simulations under birth and death processes when forcing one or two temporal shifts in diversification rates. The relative importance of the Mediterranean onset as a driving force promoting speciation or triggering extinction remains as an open question, since neither the mass extinction nor the rate stasis evolutionary scenarios can be rule out. The independent analysis of individual clades within phylogenies is also essential to detect clade-dependent patterns hidden by phylogeny-level ones. We disclose the importance of analyzing diversification patterns of Mediterranean lineages since the Miocene to understand the recent history of the Mediterranean biota.     

Typification of four species names of Bellis (Compositae)

There are six species of Bellis inhabiting the Iberian Peninsula, four of their accepted names are typified here. Bellis microcephala Lange, B. perennis L., and B. cordifolia (Kunze) Willk. are lectotypified, while an epitype is designated for B. sylvestris Cirillo. Some diagnostic characters are discussed in order to provide a proper identification of the specimens designated as types.