Interspecific geographic range size–body size relationship and the diversification dynamics of Neotropical furnariid birds

Among the earliest macroecological patterns documented, is the range and body size relationship, characterized by a minimum geographic range size imposed by the species’ body size. This boundary for the geographic range size increases linearly with body size and has been proposed to have implications in lineages evolution and conservation. Nevertheless, the macroevolutionary processes involved in the origin of this boundary and its consequences on lineage diversification have been poorly explored. We evaluate the macroevolutionary consequences of the difference (hereafter the distance) between the observed and the minimum range sizes required by the species’ body size, to untangle its role on the diversification of a Neotropical species‐rich bird clade using trait‐dependent diversification models. We show that speciation rate is a positive hump‐shaped function of the distance to the lower boundary. The species with highest and lowest distances to minimum range size had lower speciation rates, while species close to medium distances values had the highest speciation rates. Further, our results suggest that the distance to the minimum range size is a macroevolutionary constraint that affects the diversification process responsible for the origin of this macroecological pattern in a more complex way than previously envisioned.     

Sensitivity of macroecological patterns of South American parrots to differences in data sources

A criticism of macroecological studies has been their extensive use of secondary data sources. In this note we evaluate how different data sources affect macroecological patterns for the parrots of South America. We mapped extents of parrot occurrence based on four sources of range maps. We compared basic statistics for geographical range size distribution (mean, variance and skew) and calculated correlations between geographical range size estimates and grid cell species richness estimates. Finally, results from multiple regression analyses of species richness against six environmental variables were also compared. We found that patterns were very robust to the data source, with only relatively slight quantitative differences. Our results reinforce the notion that patterns emerging from macroecological analyses are robust to variations in data sources and cannot be merely artefacts resulting from low data quality, notably poorly defined mapping and conflicting taxonomy.     

Diversity and Evolution of Body Size in Fishes

The diversity of body sizes observed among species of a clade is a combined result of microevolutionary processes (i.e. natural selection and genetic drift) that cause size changes within phylogenetic lineages, and macroevolutionary processes (i.e. speciation and extinction) that affect net rates of diversification among lineages. Here we assess trends of size diversity and evolution in fishes (non-tetrapod craniates), employing paleontological, macroecological, and phylogenetic information. Fishes are well suited to studies of size diversity and evolution, as they are highly diverse, representing more than 50% of all living vertebrate species, and many fish taxa are well represented in the fossil record from throughout the Phanerozoic. Further, the frequency distributions of sizes among fish lineages resemble those of most other animal taxa, in being right-skewed, even on a log scale. Using an approach that measures rates of size evolution (in darwins) within a formal phylogenetic framework, we interpret the shape of size distributions as a balance between the competing forces of diversification, pushing taxa away from ancestral values, and of conservation, drawing taxa closer to a central tendency. Within this context we show how non-directional mechanisms of evolution (i.e. passive diffusion processes) can produce an hitherto unperceived bias to larger size, when size is measured on the conventional log scale. These results demonstrate how the interpretation of macroecological datasets can be enriched from an historical perspective, and document the ways in which macroevolutionary and microevolutionary processes may be decoupled in the production of size diversity.     

The relationship between global and regional distribution diminishes among phylogenetically basal species

Phylogenetic legacy and phylogenetic trends affect the ecology of species-except, apparently, for the width of their distribution. As a result, "macroecological" patterns of species distributions emerge constantly in phylogenetically very distinct species assemblages. The width of the global distribution of species, for instance, constantly correlates positively to the width of their regional distribution. However, such patterns primarily reflect the phylogenetically derived species that dominate most assemblages. Basal species, in contrast, might show different macroecological patterns. We tested the hypothesis that the correlation between global and regional distributions of species diminishes among the phylogenetically basal species. We considered central European higher plants and defined global distribution as the occupancy of global floristic zones, regional distribution as the grid occupancy in Eastern Germany, and phylogenetic position as the rank distance to tree base. We also took into account a number of confounding variables. We found that, across all lineages, the global/regional correlation diminished among basal species. We then reanalyzed 19 lineages separately and always found the same pattern. The pattern reflected both increases in global distributions and decreases in regional distributions among basal species. The results indicate that many basal species face a risk of global or at least regional extinction, but have escaped the downward spiral of mutually reinforcing extinction risks at multiple scales. We suggest that many basal species had much time to expand their global ranges but are presently displaced locally by more derived species. Overall, the study shows that macroecological patterns may not be static and universal, but may undergo macroevolutionary trends. Analyses of macroecological patterns across a phylogeny may thus provide insights into macroevolutionary processes.     

High speciation rate at temperate latitudes explains unusual diversity gradients in a clade of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Understanding the patterns of biodiversity through time and space is a challenging task. However, phylogeny‐based macroevolutionary models allow us to account and measure many of the processes responsible for diversity buildup, namely speciation and extinction. The general latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is a well‐recognized pattern describing a decline in species richness from the equator polewards. Recent macroecological studies in ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi have shown that their LDG is shifted, peaking at temperate rather than tropical latitudes. Here we investigate this phenomenon from a macroevolutionary perspective, focusing on a well‐sampled group of edible EM mushrooms from the genus Amanita—the Caesar's mushrooms, which follow similar diversity patterns. Our approach consisted in applying a suite of models including (1) nontrait‐dependent time‐varying diversification (Bayesian analysis of macroevolutionary mixtures [BAMM]), (2) continuous trait‐dependent diversification (quantitative‐state speciation and extinction [QuaSSE]), and (3) diversity‐dependent diversification. In short, results give strong support for high speciation rates at temperate latitudes (BAMM and QuaSSE). We also find some evidence for different diversity‐dependence thresholds in “temperate” and “tropical” subclades, and little differences in diversity due to extinction. We conclude that our analyses on the Caesar's mushrooms give further evidence of a temperate‐peaking LDG in EM fungi, highlighting the importance and the implications of macroevolutionary processes in explaining diversity gradients in microorganisms.     

SESAM – a new framework integrating macroecological and species distribution models for predicting spatio‐temporal patterns of species assemblages

Two different approaches currently prevail for predicting spatial patterns of species assemblages. The first approach (macroecological modelling, MEM) focuses directly on realized properties of species assemblages, whereas the second approach (stacked species distribution modelling, S‐SDM) starts with constituent species to approximate the properties of assemblages. Here, we propose to unify the two approaches in a single ‘spatially explicit species assemblage modelling’ (SESAM) framework. This framework uses relevant designations of initial species source pools for modelling, macroecological variables, and ecological assembly rules to constrain predictions of the richness and composition of species assemblages obtained by stacking predictions of individual species distributions. We believe that such a framework could prove useful in many theoretical and applied disciplines of ecology and evolution, both for improving our basic understanding of species assembly across spatio‐temporal scales and for anticipating expected consequences of local, regional or global environmental changes. In this paper, we propose such a framework and call for further developments and testing across a broad range of community types in a variety of environments.     

ABA in bryophytes: how a universal growth regulator in life became a plant hormone?

Abscisic acid (ABA) is not a plant-specific compound but one found in organisms across kingdoms from bacteria to animals, suggesting that it is a ubiquitous and versatile substance that can modulate physiological functions of various organisms. Recent studies have shown that plants developed an elegant system for ABA sensing and early signal transduction mechanisms to modulate responses to environmental stresses for survival in terrestrial conditions. ABA-induced increase in stress tolerance has been reported not only in vascular plants but also in non-vascular bryophytes. Since bryophytes are the key group of organisms in the context of plant evolution, clarification of their ABA-dependent processes is important for understanding evolutionary adaptation of land plants. Molecular approaches using Physcomitrella patens have revealed that ABA plays a role in dehydration stress tolerance in mosses, which comprise a major group of bryophytes. Furthermore, we recently reported that signaling machinery for ABA responses is also conserved in liverworts, representing the most basal members of extant land plant lineage. Conservation of the mechanism for ABA sensing and responses in angiosperms and basal land plants suggests that acquisition of this mechanism for stress tolerance in vegetative tissues was one of the critical evolutionary events for adaptation to the land. This review describes the role of ABA in basal land plants as well as non-land plant organisms and further elaborates on recent progress in molecular studies of model bryophytes by comparative and functional genomic approaches.     

Roles of glycine betaine and proline in improving plant abiotic stress resistance

Glycine betaine (GB) and proline are two major organic osmolytes that accumulate in a variety of plant species in response to environmental stresses such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, UV radiation and heavy metals. Although their actual roles in plant osmotolerance remain controversial, both compounds are thought to have positive effects on enzyme and membrane integrity along with adaptive roles in mediating osmotic adjustment in plants grown under stress conditions. While many studies have indicated a positive relationship between accumulation of GB and proline and plant stress tolerance, some have argued that the increase in their concentrations under stress is a product of, and not an adaptive response to stress. In this article, we review and discuss the evidence supporting each of these arguments. As not all plant species are capable of natural production or accumulation of these compounds in response to stress, extensive research has been conducted examining various approaches to introduce them into plants. Genetically-engineered plants containing transgenes for production of GB or proline have thus far faced with the limitation of being unable to produce sufficient amounts of these compounds to ameliorate stress effects. An alternative “shot-gun” approach of exogenous application of GB or proline to plants under stress conditions, however, has gained some attention. A review of the literature indicates that in many, but not all, plant species such applications lead to significant increases in growth and final crop yield under environmental stresses. In this review article, numerous examples of successful application of these compounds to improve plant stress tolerance are presented. However, to streamline useful and economic applications of these compounds, further investigations are needed to determine the most effective concentrations and number of applications as well as the most responsive growth stage(s) of the plant. All these factors may vary from species to species. Furthermore, a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of exogenously applied GB and proline is expected to aid their effective utilization in crop production in stress environments.     

Role of SERK genes in plant environmental response

In plants, cell signaling connects the environmental input to the intracellular responses in plants. Exogenous signals play an important role in cell metabolism leading to growth and defense responses. Some of these stimuli induce anatomical and physiological modifications that are generally modulated by gene expression. SERK belongs to a small family of genes that code for a transmembrane protein involved in signal transduction and that have been strongly associated with somatic embryogenesis and apomixis in a number of plant species. Recent studies corroborate its role in somatic embryogenesis and suggest a broader range of functions in plant response to biotic and abiotic stimuli. This mini-review aims to present new data on SERK and discuss its involvement in plant development as well as in response to environmental stress.Key words: SERK, fungus tolerance, environmental stress, brassinosteroids, SAR     

Detecting the macroevolutionary signal of species interactions

Species interactions lie at the heart of many theories of macroevolution, from adaptive radiation to the Red Queen. Although some theories describe the imprint that interactions will have over long timescales, we are still missing a comprehensive understanding of the effects of interactions on macroevolution. Current research shows strong evidence for the impact of interactions on macroevolutionary patterns of trait evolution and diversification, yet many macroevolutionary studies have only a tenuous relationship to ecological studies of interactions over shorter timescales. We review current research in this area, highlighting approaches that explicitly model species interactions and connect them to broad‐scale macroevolutionary patterns. We also suggest that progress has been made by taking an integrative interdisciplinary look at individual clades. We focus on African cichlids as a case study of how this approach can be fruitful. Overall, although the evidence for species interactions shaping macroevolution is strong, further work using integrative and model‐based approaches is needed to spur progress towards understanding the complex dynamics that structure communities over time and space.     

Phylogenetic and Experimental Tests of Interactions among Mutualistic Plant Defense Traits in Viburnum (Adoxaceae)

Abstract Plant traits that mediate mutualistic interactions are widespread, yet few studies have linked their macroevolutionary patterns with the ecological interactions they mediate. Here we merged phylogenetic and experimental approaches to investigate the evolution of two common mutualistic plant traits, extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) and leaf domatia. By using the flowering plant clade Viburnum, we tested whether macroevolutionary patterns support adaptive hypotheses and conducted field surveys and manipulative experiments to examine whether ecological interactions are concordant with evolutionary predictions. Phylogenetic reconstructions suggested that EFN-bearing species are monophyletic, whereas the evolution of domatia correlated with leaf production strategy (deciduous or evergreen) and climate. Domatia were also more common in the EFN clade, suggesting that the two traits may jointly mediate ecological interactions. This result was further investigated in a common-garden survey, where plants with domatia and EFNs on the leaf blade had more mutualistic mites than plants with other trait combinations, and in manipulative field experiments, where the traits additively increased mutualist abundance. Taken together, our results suggest that mutualistic traits in Viburnum are not ecologically independent, as they work in concert to attract and retain mutualists, and their long-term evolution may be influenced by complex interactions among multiple traits, mutualists, and geography.     

Dynamic macroecology on ecological time-scales

Aim The discipline of macroecology is increasingly being regarded as an effective vehicle for the evaluation of recent population‐ to ecosystem‐level responses to widespread human and environmental influences. However, due to the prevalent use of time‐averaged and cumulative data in macroecological analyses, the majority of the patterns that emerge from research in this field can be regarded as static. Here we review the application of dynamic macroecological analyses to changes in relationships between macroecological variables on seasonal to decadal scales. We illustrate the strength of this perspective for documenting changing patterns and testing hypotheses related to these dynamics on ecological time‐scales. Location Studies were compiled and reviewed from terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Methods We review examples of temporal changes in macroecological patterns driven by recent anthropogenic influences and environmental change. Results The dynamic nature of macroecological patterns on ecological time‐scales has been revealed in recent years across a wide range of ecosystems, largely through the development, maintenance and analysis of biotic and environmental monitoring time series. The resultant analyses complement examinations of dynamics over evolutionary time and have similarly revealed that static portrayals can conceal important temporal dynamics that underlie the patterns of interest. As a consequence, static depictions, resting as they do on comparative analyses in which the validity of space‐for‐time substitutions is assumed, may be of limited use for testing hypotheses related to the mechanisms underlying the patterns revealed and, by extension, the development of reliable predictions of future states. Main conclusions Recent dynamic macroecological analyses have demonstrated the utility of combined spatial and temporal replication, and have contributed to hypothesis testing related to the mechanistic processes underlying changes in macroecological patterns on ecological time‐scales. We suggest four specific avenues of future research to further the development and application of temporal approaches on similar time‐scales within the field of macroecology.     

Protective mechanisms of heat tolerance in crop plants

High temperature (HT) has become a global concern because it severely affects the growth and production of crops. Heat stress causes an abrupt increase in the expression of stress-associated proteins which provide tolerance by stimulating the defense response in plants. Heat-shock proteins (Hsps) and antioxidant enzymes are important in encountering heat stress in plants. The heat-shock response is characterized by repression of normal cellular protein synthesis and induction of Hsp synthesis. Under HT stress, upregulation of various enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants, maintenance of cell membrane stability, production of various compatible solutes and hormonal changes occurs. Reactive oxygen species involving several pathways such as water–water cycle, Halliwell–Asada, glutathione peroxidase, Haber–Weiss and Fenton reactions helps in protecting plants against toxic radicals which otherwise could cause damage to lipophilic protein. Genetic approaches to elucidate and map genes or quantitative trait loci conferring thermotolerance will facilitate marker-assisted breeding for heat tolerance and also pave the way for characterizing genetic factors which could be useful for engineering plants with improved heat tolerance. This review discusses the protective mechanism of heat stress responses encompassing different pathways that provide tolerance during HT stress.     

Macroevolutionary synthesis of flowering plant sexual systems

Sexual system is a key determinant of genetic variation and reproductive success, affecting evolution within populations and within clades. Much research in plants has focused on evolutionary transitions away from the most common state of hermaphroditism and toward the rare state of dioecy (separate sexes). Rather than transitions predominantly toward greater sexual differentiation, however, evolution may proceed in the direction of lesser sexual differentiation. We analyzed the macroevolutionary dynamics of sexual system in angiosperm genera that contain both dioecious and nondioecious species. Our phylogenetic analyses encompass a total of 2145 species from 40 genera. Overall, we found little evidence that rates of sexual system transitions are greater in any direction. Counting the number of inferred state changes revealed a mild prevalence of transitions away from hermaphroditism and away from dioecy, toward states of intermediate sexual differentiation. We identify genera in which future studies of sexual system evolution might be especially productive, and we discuss how integrating genetic or population‐level studies of sexual system could improve the power of phylogenetic comparative analyses. Our work adds to the evidence that different selective pressures and constraints act in different groups, helping maintain the variety of sexual systems observed among plants.     

Plant proteome changes under abiotic stress--contribution of proteomics studies to understanding plant stress response

Plant acclimation to stress is associated with profound changes in proteome composition. Since proteins are directly involved in plant stress response, proteomics studies can significantly contribute to unravel the possible relationships between protein abundance and plant stress acclimation. In this review, proteomics studies dealing with plant response to a broad range of abiotic stress factors--cold, heat, drought, waterlogging, salinity, ozone treatment, hypoxia and anoxia, herbicide treatments, inadequate or excessive light conditions, disbalances in mineral nutrition, enhanced concentrations of heavy metals, radioactivity and mechanical wounding are discussed. Most studies have been carried out on model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and rice due to large protein sequence databases available; however, the variety of plant species used for proteomics analyses is rapidly increasing. Protein response pathways shared by different plant species under various stress conditions (glycolytic pathway, enzymes of ascorbate-glutathione cycle, accumulation of LEA proteins) as well as pathways unique to a given stress are discussed. Results from proteomics studies are interpreted with respect to physiological factors determining plant stress response. In conclusion, examples of application of proteomics studies in search for protein markers underlying phenotypic variation in physiological parameters associated with plant stress tolerance are given.