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Abstract Detail



Macroevolution

Howard, Cody [1], Landis, Jacob [2], Folk, Ryan [3], Beaulieu, Jeremy [4], Cellinese, Nico [5].

Global phylogenetic patterns and diversification of monocotyledonous geophytes.

Geophytes are plants with resting buds that are located beneath the soil surface typically in the form of rhizomes, corms, tubers or bulbs. These adaptations are hypothesized to have evolved in response to an increase in climatic seasonality, and are renowned landscape beautifiers in areas such as the Mediterranean Basin or the Cape Floristic Region. In addition to these geographic hotspots, geophytes can be found across the globe and are distributed across the plant tree of life. However, geophytic taxa are most prevalent within the monocot clade and include members such as ginger, taro, arums and tulips. Interestingly, some clades appear to be more labile in underground morphology shifts (e.g., bulbs, corms, rhizomes in Iridaceae) while others are not (e.g., bulbs in Scilloideae, Asparagaceae). Despite this breadth of diversity, the majority of studies on geophytes have primarily focused on select clades or geographic areas; thus, broad phylogenetic inferences of these traits have yet to be carried out. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the switch to geophytism may promote increased diversification rates but this hypothesis has yet to be tested. Here, we investigate potential factors that have given rise to the diversity of underground organs that we see today. We dig into questions such as: (1) Are there any climatic variables that favor certain geophytes? (2) How might these factors have influenced the evolution of these taxa? (3) Does an underground lifestyle promote diversification when compared to non-geophytes? Using a comprehensive phylogeny and global climate data, we investigate these questions in the monocot clade. While fine scale analyses are useful, unearthing broad evolutionary patterns of geophytism will allow for a more holistic view of the potential factors influencing their evolution, which is of utmost importance in order to promote further research of these complex structures and taxa.


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1 - Florida Museum of Natural History, 1659 Museum Rd., Gainesville, FL, 32611, US
2 - University Of California Riverside, Botany And Plant Sciences, 3401 Watkins Drive, Boyce Hall, Room 4412, Riverside, CA, 92507, United States
3 - Florida Museum Of Natural History, Dickinson Hall, 1659 Museum Road, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States
4 - University of Arkansas, Department of Biological Sciences, SCEN Room 735, Fayetteville, AR, 72701
5 - University Of Florida, FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NAT. HISTORY, 1659 Museum Rd., 354 Dickinson Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States

Keywords:
Geophytes
monocots
diversification
Phylogenetics.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 18, Macroevolution I
Location: 105/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Tuesday, July 24th, 2018
Time: 11:00 AM
Number: 18010
Abstract ID:575
Candidate for Awards:None


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