Insights into the evolutionary dynamics of Neotropical biomes from the phylogeography and paleodistribution modeling of Bromelia balansae

Author(s)

Leal, Barbara S. S. ^[1] ; Medeiros, Lilian R. ^[2] ; Peres, Elen A. ^[3] ; Sobral-Souza, Thadeu ^[1] ; Palma-Silva, Clarisse ^{[4, 1]} ; Romero, Gustavo Q. ^[4] ; Carareto, Claudia M. A. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista Unesp, Inst Biociencias, BR-13506900 Campus De Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista Unesp, Inst Biociencias Letras & Ciencias Exatas Ibilce, BR-15054000 Campus Sao Jose Rio Pret, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estadual Campinas Unicamp, Inst Biol, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY; v. 105, n. 10, p. 1725-1734, OCT 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Premise of the Study Methods Historical abiotic and biotic factors have strongly affected species diversification and speciation. Although pre-Pleistocene events have been linked to the divergence of several Neotropical organisms, studies have highlighted a more prominent role of Pleistocene climatic oscillations in shaping current patterns of genetic variation of plants. We performed phylogeographic analyses based on plastidial markers and modeled the current distribution and paleodistribution of Bromelia balansae (Bromeliaceae), an herbaceous species with a wide geographical distribution in South America, to infer the processes underlying its evolutionary history. Key Results Conclusions Combined molecular and paleodistributional modeling analyses indicated retraction during the Last Glacial Maximum followed by interglacial expansion. Populations occurring in the semideciduous Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado formed two distinct genetic clusters, which have been historically or ecologically isolated since late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. Populations located in the transition zone had higher levels of genetic diversity, as expected by the long-term climatic stability in the region detected in our ecological niche models. Our study adds important information on how herbaceous species have been affected by past climate in Central and Southeast Brazil, helping to disentangle the complex processes that have triggered the evolution of Neotropical biota. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/08087-0 - Phylogeography, adaptive variation and reproductive biology of Pitcairnia lanuginosa complex (Bromeliaceae)
• Grantee: Bárbara Simões Santos Leal
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 08/06534-9 - Phylogeography of mutualism between the plant Bromelia balansae (Bromeliaceae) and the spider Psecas chapoda (Salticidae).
• Grantee: Claudia Marcia Aparecida Carareto
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants