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1.
Jaime García‐Moreno José Maria Cardoso da Silva 《Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment》2013,48(3):164-173
Very few South American avian superspecies or species groups are composed of both forest and non‐forest taxa. The genus Lepidocolaptes comprises 8–9 species of woodcreepers, most of which are forest birds, but two species, L. angustirostris and L. souleyetii, inhabit open vegetations. Therefore, this genus should play an important role in the discussion about the relationships between forest and non‐forest South American avifaunas. Nucleotide sequences from two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b and ND2, suggest that: (i) L. fuscus should be removed from the genus since its association with other members of this genus is poorly supported. This view has been pointed out also by morphological and behavioural data; (ii) the phylogenetic position of the open‐vegetation species within the Lepidocolaptes radiation indicate that the split between forest and non‐forest elements within this genus took place as recently as two million years ago. This result suggests that the evolutionary relationships between forest and non‐forest biotas in South America may have been more dynamic than previously thought. 相似文献
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Abstract: The infrafamilial relationships of Podostemaceae were deduced from nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast matK gene. The matK phylogenetic analyses show that Podostemaceae are composed of two major clades that correspond to the subfamily Tristichoideae sensu stricto and Weddellina and the subfamily Podostemoideae. Weddellina, which has long been recognized as a member of the Tristichoideae, is sister to the Podostemoideae, supporting the classification that recognized a third subfamily Weddellinoideae. Malaccotristicha malayana and Terniopsis sessilis form a basal clade in Tristichoideae sensu stricto. Tristichoideae show a high morphological diversity and, surprisingly, a close relationship exists between Dalzellia zeylanica and Indotristicha ramosissima, which remarkably differ in their body plans. A few genera defined by particular characters, such as Synstylis and Torrenticola, merge into clades of other larger genera. The Podostemoideae taxa studied are composed of two American clades, an Asian-Australian clade and a Madagascan clade, and may suggest that the subfamily perhaps originated in America and migrated to the Old World. 相似文献
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cedrus (true cedars) is a very important horticultural plant group. It has a disjunct distribution in the Mediterranean region and western Himalaya. Its evolution and biogeography are of great interest to botanists. This study aims to investigate the phylogeny and biogeography of Cedrus based on sequence analyses of seven cytoplasmic DNA fragments. METHODS: The methods used were PCR amplification and sequencing of seven paternal cpDNA and maternal mtDNA fragments, parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of the DNA dataset, and molecular clock estimate of divergence times of Cedrus species. KEY RESULTS: Phylogenies of Cedrus constructed from cpDNA, mtDNA and the combined cp- and mt-DNA dataset are identical in topology. It was found that the Himalayan cedar C. deodara diverged first, and then the North African species C. atlantica separated from the common ancestor of C. libani and C. brevifolia, two species from the eastern Mediterranean area. Molecular clock estimates suggest that the divergence between C. atlantica and the eastern Mediterranean clade at 23.49 +/- 3.55 to 18.81 +/- 1.25 Myr and the split between C. libani and C. brevifolia at 7.83 +/- 2.79 to 6.56 +/- 1.20 Myr. CONCLUSIONS: The results, combined with palaeogeographical and palaeoecological information, indicate that Cedrus could have an origin in the high latitude area of Eurasia, and its present distribution might result from vicariance of southerly migrated populations during climatic oscillations in the Tertiary and further fragmentation and dispersal of these populations. It is very likely that Cedrus migrated into North Africa in the very late Tertiary, while its arrival in the Himalayas would not have been before the Miocene, after which the phased or fast uplift of the Tibetan plateau happened. 相似文献
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ADRIAN L. V. DAVIS CLARKE H. SCHOLTZ 《Biological journal of the Linnean Society. Linnean Society of London》2010,99(2):407-423
We investigate how late Cenozoic orogenics and climatic change might have influenced the history of taxon diversification and current species ranges of an endemic, Afrotropical, insect genus. Diastellopalpus van Lansberge is a near basally‐derived taxon in the dung beetle tribe Onthophagini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) that has diversified into 32 known species primarily centred on intertropical forests. Basal dichotomies in both published and re‐analysed phylogenies divide the species into clades that are geographically centred either to the east or west of the south‐east highlands that underwent uplift from the Miocene. There is broad climatic overlap between many of the species but clear separation along a minimum spanning tree in ordinal space where they are divided into taxa with either lowland or highland centres of distribution. Observed spatial distributions of six defined species groups mostly differ from predicted climatic ranges, presumably as a result of historical constraints on species dispersal. A trend from dominance of montane or wet lowland forest associations in species lineages derived from more basal nodes (Groups A–C) to dominance of drier upland forest and moist woodland associations in species lineages derived from a more terminal node (Groups D–F) is perhaps linked to the stepped trend to cooler, dryer climate in the late Cenozoic. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 99 , 407–423. 相似文献
5.
Molecular Phylogeny and Coevolution 总被引:2,自引:0,他引:2
JUN YOKOYAMA 《Plant Species Biology》1994,9(3):163-167
Abstract Recent advances in molecular phylogenetic estimation in diverse organisms have improved our understanding of coevolution. From the phylogenies of interacting organisms, we can interpret the evolution of adaptive characters, and the history of interaction. Molecular approaches are generally more informative than these based solely on phenotypic characters. Molecular genetic method can be applied to organisms that have only simple morphological features and can be used for comparisons at any taxonomic level. Estimation of divergence time is also possible but still difficult because evolutionary rates of macromolecules are not always constant and suitable fossil records are often not available for calibrating rates of change. Here I review recent progress in the application of molecular techniques to the interpretation of coevolutionary relationships. 相似文献
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Phylogeny of the spider genus Ixchela Huber, 2000 (Araneae: Pholcidae) based on morphological and molecular evidence (CO1 and 16S), with a hypothesized diversification in the Pleistocene 下载免费PDF全文
Alejandro Valdez‐Mondragón Oscar F. Francke 《Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society》2015,175(1):20-58
The genus Ixchela Huber is composed of 20 species distributed from north‐eastern Mexico to Central America, including the five new species described here from Mexico: I xchela azteca sp. nov. , I xchela jalisco sp. nov. , I xchela mendozai sp. nov. , I xchela purepecha sp. nov. and I xchela tlayuda sp. nov. We test the monophyly and investigate the phylogenetic relationships among species of the genus Ixchela using morphological and molecular data. Parsimony (PA) analysis of 24 taxa and 40 morphological characters with equal and implied weights supported the monophyly of Ixchela with eight morphological synapomorphies. The PA analyses with equal and implied weights, and separate Bayesian inference (BI) analyses for the CO1 gene (506 characters), concatenated gene fragments CO1 + 16S (885 characters), morphology + CO1 (546 characters) and the combined evidence data set (morphology + CO1 + 16S) (925 characters) support the monophyly of Ixchela. Our preferred topology shows two large clades; clade 1 has a natural distribution in the Mesoamerican biotic component, whereas clade 2 predominates in the Mexican Montane biotic component. The genus Ixchela diverged in the late Miocene, and the divergence between the internal clades in the genus occurred in the late Pliocene; by contrast, most of the speciation events seem to have occurred mainly during the Pleistocene, where climatic changes brought on by repeated glaciations played an important role in the diversification of the genus. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London 相似文献
8.
We used the results of phylogenetic analyses of relationships among spider monkeys (Ateles) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA to investigate questions of their evolutionary origins and speciation mechanisms. We employed the concept of a local molecular clock to date nodes of interest (corresponding to hypothesized species and subspecies) in the various phylograms for comparison to hypothesized biogeographical events that might have affected speciation. We considered various mechanisms—Pleistocene refuge formation, riverine barriers, geological fluctuations, and ecological changes associated with these mechanisms—for their contribution to speciation in Ateles. Most speciation among the various species of Ateles occurred during the middle to late Pliocene, suggesting that Pleistocene refuge formation was not a key speciation mechanism. However, it is likely that the genetic structure of populations of Ateles was modified to some extent by refuge formation. Additionally, riverine barriers do not seem to interrupt gene flow significantly among Ateles. No river formed a barrier among species of Ateles, with the exception of the lower Amazon and possibly some of the black-water rivers draining the Guianan highlands. Large-scale geographic changes associated with the continued rise of the eastern and western cordilleras of the northern Andes and associated changes in habitat were the most important causes of speciation in Ateles. The various factors that modify genetic structure in Ateles are important to consider in order to protect endangered primate genera in the Neotropics. 相似文献
9.
ROBERT E. HICKSON KERRYN E. SLACK † PETER LOCKHART 《Biological journal of the Linnean Society. Linnean Society of London》2000,70(3):415-433
The evolutionary history of 25 New Zealand scincid lizards in the endemic genera Oligosoma and Cyclodina was examined using 12S rRNA sequence data. Phylogenetic resolution was poor, despite there being up to 9% sequence divergence between taxa. Lack of resolution was not attributable to biases in the data, such as site saturation or differences in sites free to vary, so we infer that New Zealand skinks underwent two relatively rapid phases of divergence. The rate of substitution for the skink sequences appears to be similar to some bird and mammal groups for which times of divergence have been estimated. Using fhese calibrations diversification of Oligosoma skinks probably began at least 23 million years ago (Mya). The pattern of relationships and the timing of this diversification are interpreted as resulting from rapid allopatric speciation during the Oligocene (25–35 Mya) when New Zealand was fragmented into many low lying islands. A second major phase of speciation involving the Cyclodina seems to have occurred during the Miocene (15–24 Mya), probably as a consequence of increasing land area and habitat diversity. This pattern of skink evolution contrasts with the Oligocene 'environmental crisis' hypodiesis of Cooper & Cooper (Proc. R. Soc. Land. B. 261, 293–302), but can be attributed to differences in the ecology of different taxa. This can be tested by examination of other groups, such as land snails and geckos. The large number of lizard species in New Zealand can be considered a legacy both of past geography as well as the absence of small mammals which would have been both competitors and predators. 相似文献
10.
猫科动物的演化关系传统上一直是富有争议的,这很大程度上造成了猫科在属一级的分类众说纷纭。新兴的分子生物学技术为我们理解猫科动物的系统发育提供了新的视角,本文回顾了近些年来的猫科分子系统学研究,以Johnson等(2006)和李钢等(2016)的研究结果为核心,同时结合确切的化石记录进行佐证,推断了猫科的演化历史。我们发现,分子系统学提出的现代猫科动物于晚中新世开始适应辐射、先后分化出了8个支系等观点,与化石证据基本吻合;但是分子系统学对部分支系起源的推断与化石证据存在差异。结合化石记录的分析,我们认为现代猫科8个支系中除狞猫支系和虎猫支系以外,其余均最有可能起源于亚洲,现代猫科动物在演化过程中至少经历了30次洲际迁徙。结合演化历史和形态学研究,我们遵循邱占祥等(2004)的观点,将现存的猫科动物全部归于猫亚科(Felinae),并将现代猫亚科动物划分为15个属40个物种。 相似文献
11.
Phylogeny, evolution, and taxonomy of vannellid amoebae 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
We sequenced 18S rRNA genes from 21 vannellid amoebae (Amoebozoa; Vannellidae), including nearly all available type cultures, and performed a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis for 57 Vannellidae sequences. The results show that species of Vannella and Platyamoeba are completely mixed and do not form distinct clades. Several very closely related species pairs exist, each with a Vannella and a Platyamoeba species differing in only a few nucleotides. Therefore, presence (Vannella) or absence (Platyamoeba) of glycostyles in the cell surface coat is an invalid generic distinction; the genera must be merged. As Vannella has priority, we formally transferred Platyamoeba species into Vannella, except for the non-vannellid P. stenopodia, here renamed Stenamoeba stenopodia gen. n. comb. n. and transferred to the family Thecamoebidae. Our trees show that Vannella glycostyles were probably easily and repeatedly evolutionarily lost. We have established a new genus Ripella, with distinct morphology and sequence signatures for Vannella platypodia and morphologically similar species that form a clearly separate clade, very distant from other Vannellidae. Vannellids form four well-separated single-genus clades: Vannella sensu stricto, Ripella, Clydonella, and Lingulamoeba. Species of the revised genus Vannella comprise four closely related, well-supported subclades: one marine and three freshwater. Here, we provide an illustrated checklist for all 40 known Vannellidae species. 相似文献
12.
CHRISTELLE TOUGARD PATRICK BRUNET-LECOMTE MAGALI FABRE SOPHIE MONTUIRE 《Biological journal of the Linnean Society. Linnean Society of London》2008,93(2):309-323
To investigate the phylogenetic and phylogeographical relationships of arvicolines, we use several Western European ground voles. More particularly, our study is focused on Microtus ( Terricola ) savii and M. ( T. ) pyrenaicus . These two allopatric species are usually considered as having originated from the same ancestor, possibly M . ( T. ) mariaclaudiae . We propose molecular and morphological approaches: nucleotidic data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b and 12S rRNA genes and global morphological analyses from the first lower molar. Four other Terricola species ( multiplex , lusitanicus , duodecimcostatus , subterraneus ) were added to the data set for both analyses, and two other vole species ( Clethrionomys glareolus and Chionomys nivalis ) as outgroup to the molecular analysis, and five fossil populations to the morphological one. Palaeontological data are also widely taken into account. Both molecular and morphological analyses indicate that intra- Terricola relationships reflect the present-day geographical distribution of our data set species. Our results show that M. ( T. ) savii and M. ( T. ) pyrenaicus are from separate speciation events leading to two different biogeographical groups, respectively the Alpine–Italian group and the French–Iberian group, the latter being much more homogeneous. These speciation events could be related to Quaternary climatic changes, which induced southward migration, leading first to M. ( T. ) savii and second to M. ( T. ) pyrenaicus . The classical hypothesis of a geographical speciation for these two taxa from M. ( T. ) mariaclaudiae is invalid. However, the morphological data suggest a potential phylogenetic relationship between M. ( T. ) mariaclaudiae (ancestor) and M. ( T. ) pyrenaicus (descendant). © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 93 , 309–323. 相似文献
13.
Geoffrey Fryer 《Hydrobiologia》1995,307(1-3):57-68
The distinctness of the Anomopoda and the polyphyletic nature of the so-called Cladocera are emphasized.An attempt is made to reconstruct the ancestral anomopod, which probably lived in Palaeozoic times. This task is facilitated by the availability of detailed information on extant forms, which includes functional as well as purely morphological considerations and enables us to understand the means whereby complex mechanisms were transformed during evolution. Comparative studies on the ecology and habits of extant forms also throw light on the probable way of life of the ancestral anomopod.Adaptive radiation within the Anomopoda is briefly surveyed and an outline of the suggested phylogeny of the order is indicated.Institute of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Lancaster 相似文献
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Species of the tribe Adramini (Tephritidae: Trypetinae) are usually slender, and some specific species have eyes borne at the ends of their long stalks. This tribe is mainly distributed in the tropics and subtropics of the Afrotropical, Oriental and Australasian Regions; relatively few species occur in the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The phylogeny of the tribe Adramini is presented here based on analysis of morphological and molecular information (DNA sequences of nuclear 28S rDNA, mitochondrial COI and COII, and 16S rDNA genes) for its representative species in most genera. Three monophyletic groups (Adrama‐com‐group, Pelmatops‐com‐group and Dimeringophrys‐com‐group) were discovered in the combined morphological and molecular tree. The results showed moderate support for the monophyly of Adramini and strong support for most of its genera. However, Euphranta appears to be polyphyletic. Sapadrama, Celidodacus and Euphranta are basal taxon, and Coelopacidia, Soita and Trypanophion are closely related to the stalk‐eyed fruit flies (Pelmatops + Pseudopelmatops). A hypothesis regarding the morphology–function relationships for two main groups of Adramini (Adrama‐group and Pelmatops‐group) with different evolving probabilities is inferred. Sapadrama is proposed be removed from Adramini; a new genus, Ichneumonomacula Chen gen. n. and a new species Ichneumonmacula wangyongi Chen sp. n., are recognized and described, and a key to recognize the genera of Adramini around the world is provided. 相似文献
16.
Speciation in North American black basses,Micropterus (Actinopterygii: Centrarchidae) 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Near TJ Kassler TW Koppelman JB Dillman CB Philipp DP 《Evolution; international journal of organic evolution》2003,57(7):1610-1621
Abstract.— The Pleistocene Epoch has been frequently cited as a period of intense speciation for a significant portion of temperate continental biotas. To critically assess the role of Pleistocene glaciations on the evolution of the freshwater fish clade Micropterus , we use a phylogenetic analysis of complete gene sequences from two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and ND2), and a fossil calibration of the molecular clock to estimate ages of speciation events and rates of diversification. The absence of substantial morphological and ecological divergence together with endemism of five of the eight species in North American tributaries of the Gulf of Mexico may be interpreted as the result of a recent Pleistocene origin for these species. Speciation dates in Micropterus range from 1.01 ± 0.32 to 11.17 ± 1.02 million years ago. Only one speciation event is dated to the Pleistocene, and rates of diversification are not significantly variable in Micropterus. The premise that the Pleistocene was an exceptional period of speciation in Micropterus is not supported. Instead, a Gulf Coast allopatric speciation model is proposed, and predicts periods of dynamic speciation driven by sea level fluctuations in the Late Miocene and Pliocene. The Pleistocene, however, was a period of significant intraspecific mitochondrial lineage diversification. The application of the Gulf Coast allopatric speciation model to the remaining aquatic fauna of the Gulf of Mexico coast in North America will rely on robust phylogenetic hypotheses and accurate age estimations of speciation events. 相似文献
17.
Manuel Schweizer Marcel Güntert Stefan T. Hertwig 《Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research》2012,50(2):145-156
The parrot genus Prioniturus occurs in the oceanic Philippines, Palawan and Wallacea, a geologically dynamic region with a complex history of land and sea. The described taxa of Prioniturus have been variously placed in different assemblages, and different numbers of species have been recognized. However, a phylogenetic framework is so far lacking. This would be the prerequisite to reconstructing dispersal and colonization patterns of Prioniturus across and within Wallacea and the Philippines. Following our robustly supported phylogenetic hypothesis based on two mitochondrial genes, we propose to treat Prioniturus mindorensis comb. nov. as well as Prioniturus montanus and Prioniturus waterstradti as separate species. In Prioniturus discurus discurus and Prioniturus discurus whiteheadi, further studies using additional data and specimens are necessary to clarify their taxonomic status. This result is congruent with other studies demonstrating that alpha diversity of the Philippine avifauna is strongly underestimated. According to our biogeographic reconstruction, Prioniturus has diversified by a complex combination of colonization of islands and subsequent divergence in allopatry among and within island groups. Dispersal between Sulawesi/Wallacea and the Philippines occurred twice and documents a rare case of faunal exchange between these two regions. 相似文献
18.
Molecular Phylogeny of Nepenthaceae Based on Cladistic Analysis of Plastid trnK Intron Sequence Data 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Abstract: Nepenthaceae are an exceptional family with regard to carnivory and the uniformity of characters. This makes it difficult to resolve phylogenetic relationships due to convergent evolution of morphological features. Using comparative sequencing of the chloroplast trnK intron, the monophyly of this complex family and hypotheses of infrageneric relationships were tested. Sequences from 71 Nepenthes taxa, representing all groups and two taxa of the closely related Ancistrocladaceae and Dioncophyllaceae as outgroup, were determined and analysed using maximum parsimony methods. Results of this analysis show that the isolated taxa N. distillatoria (Sri Lanka) and N. pervillei (Seychelles) are the most basal, clearly separated from the Madagascan taxa N. madagascariensis and N. masoalensis which are placed in a distinct subclade. This corresponds with some plesiomorphic characters shared by these taxa. N. khasiana (North India) has an intermediate position between these relic Western species and the remaining taxa. The species of the Malay Archipelago can be referred to three distinct lineages which indicate a correlation to biogeography. Thus the recent disjunct distribution of Nepenthes is interpreted as a result of an incisive extinction of progenitors, a process of migration and a subsequent diversification on the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, Sulawesi and New Guinea. Based on our molecular data, two interpretations concerning the origin of Nepenthes are possible: i) evolution in the Northern Tethys which is supported by fossil pollen records from the European Focene, or, ii) a Gondwanaland origin at a time when the Indian plate was separated from Madagascar. Molecular data indicate that colonization of SE Asia started from an ancient Indian stock. Subsequently, in the Malay Archipelago a new secondary centre of diversity developed. Madagascar, the Seychelles and New Caledonia were probably reached by migration via land bridges, starting from widespead common ancestors with subsequent extinction leaving the current taxa. There is no evidence for long‐distance dispersal. Current infragenic classification of Nepenthes is only partly in accordance with the phylogeny inferred from trnK intron data. 相似文献
19.
FERNANDA DE P. WERNECK LILIAN G. GIUGLIANO† ROSANE G. COLLEVATTI‡ GUARINO R. COLLI 《Molecular ecology》2009,18(2):262-278
The lizard genus Kentropyx (Squamata: Teiidae) comprises nine species, which have been placed in three species groups (calcarata group, associated to forests ecosystems; paulensis and striata groups, associated to open ecosystems). We reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of Kentropyx based on morphology (pholidosis and coloration) and mitochondrial DNA data (12S and 16S), using maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods, and evaluated biogeographic scenarios based on ancestral areas analyses and molecular dating by Bayesian methods. Additionally, we tested the life‐history hypothesis that species of Kentropyx inhabiting open ecosystems (under seasonal environments) produce larger clutches with smaller eggs and that species inhabiting forest ecosystems (under aseasonal conditions) produce clutches with fewer and larger eggs, using Stearns’ phylogenetic‐subtraction method and canonical phylogenetic ordination to take in to account the effects of phylogeny. Our results showed that Kentropyx comprises three monophyletic groups, with K. striata occupying a basal position in opposition to previous suggestions of relationships. Additionally, Bayesian analysis of divergence time showed that Kentropyx may have originated at the Tertiary (Eocene/Oligocene) and the ‘Pleistocene Refuge Hypothesis’ may not explain the species diversification. Based on ancestral reconstruction and molecular dating, we argued that a savanna ancestor is more likely and that historical events during the Tertiary of South America promoted the differentiation of the genus, coupled with recent Quaternary events that were important as dispersion routes and for the diversification at populational levels. Clutch size and egg volume were not significantly different between major clades and ecosystems of occurrence, even accounting for the phylogenetic effects. Finally, we argue that phylogenetic constraints and phylogenetic inertia might be playing essential roles in life history evolution of Kentropyx. 相似文献
20.
THOMAS DENK GUIDO W. GRIMM 《Botanical journal of the Linnean Society. Linnean Society of London》2005,147(2):129-157
To address the evolution and geographical diversification of the genus Zelkova (Ulmaceae) a phylogenetic analysis of morphological data and the sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA were used. Cladistic analyses suggested that the Chinese species Z. schneideriana and Z. sinica are basal within Zelkova. The western Asian Z. carpinifolia either appears nested between the East Asian Z. schneideriana and Z. sinica and a clade formed by the Japanese Z. serrata and two Mediterranean species, Z. abelicea and Z. sicula (ITS), or forms a clade with Z. serrata that is sister to a clade Z. abelicea plus Z. sicula (morphology). Nucleotide data suggested that gene flow occurred between Z. schneideriana and Z. serrata, and Z. carpinifolia and a lineage ancestral to Z. abelicea/sicula. Character evolution in Zelkova appears to have gone from long leaves with numerous secondary veins, coarse to shallow teeth with blunt or slightly pointed apex and small stomata, to leaves that are either long or short with numerous or few secondary veins, coarse teeth with cuspidate or obtuse apex or conspicuously shallow teeth, and dimorphic stomata displaying ‘giant stomata’ surrounded by a ring of small stomata or uniform large stomata. These results are in agreement with fossil data. Early Cainozoic fossils attributed to Zelkova from North America and Central Asia closely resemble the modern Z. schneideriana and Z. carpinifolia. The genus could have originated in the northern Pacific area and migrated to Europe after the Turgai Strait was closed during the Late Oligocene. Geographical differentiation may have started with the isolation of Chinese populations (leading to modern Z. schneideriana and Z. sinica) from high‐latitude Eurasian (North American) populations. This widespread Early Cainozoic type may have diversified into the western Asian Z. carpinifolia and the more derived Japanese and Mediterranean species during the latest Cainozoic. The modern Japanese and European/western Asian species would have differentiated relatively late, while two locally endemic Mediterranean species are the result of the cooling and development of a Mediterranean climate belt in Europe during the Pleistocene. Fossils from the Miocene and Pliocene of Europe resemble modern Z. carpinifolia and Z. serrata. Differentiation of the two Mediterranean species Z. abelicea and Z. sicula in the Late Cainozoic cannot be traced by leaf morphology. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 147 , 129–157. 相似文献