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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Continental faunal exchange and the asymmetrical radiation of carnivores

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Author(s):
Pires, Mathias M. [1] ; Silvestro, Daniele [2, 3] ; Quental, Tiago B. [1]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Ecol, BR-05422970 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Lausanne, Dept Ecol & Evolut, CH-1015 Lausanne - Switzerland
[3] Univ Gothenburg, Dept Evolut & Environm Sci, S-41319 Gothenburg - Sweden
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; v. 282, n. 1817 OCT 22 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 19
Abstract

Lineages arriving on islands may undergo explosive evolutionary radiations owing to the wealth of ecological opportunities. Although studies on insular taxa have improved our understanding of macroevolutionary phenomena, we know little about the macroevolutionary dynamics of continental exchanges. Here we study the evolution of eight Carnivora families that have migrated across the Northern Hemisphere to investigate if continental invasions also result in explosive diversification dynamics. We used a Bayesian approach to estimate speciation and extinction rates from a substantial dataset of fossil occurrences while accounting for the incompleteness of the fossil record. Our analyses revealed a strongly asymmetrical pattern in which North American lineages invading Eurasia underwent explosive radiations, whereas lineages invading North America maintained uniform diversification dynamics. These invasions into Eurasia were characterized by high rates of speciation and extinction. The radiation of the arriving lineages in Eurasia coincide with the decline of established lineages or phases of climate change, suggesting differences in the ecological settings between the continents may be responsible for the disparity in diversification dynamics. These results reveal long-term outcomes of biological invasions and show that the importance of explosive radiations in shaping diversity extends beyond insular systems and have significant impact at continental scales. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 12/04072-3 - The role of extinction and speciation rates, and the effect of different levels of biological organization on the origin and maintenance of biodiversity
Grantee:Tiago Bosisio Quental
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
FAPESP's process: 13/22016-6 - The role of immigration on diversification dynamics of North American mammals
Grantee:Mathias Mistretta Pires
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral