Time-calibrated phylogenies reveal mediterranean and pre-mediterranean origin of the thermophilous vegetation of the Canary Islands.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The Canary Islands have strong floristic affinities with the Mediterranean Basin. One of the most characteristic and diverse vegetation belts of the archipelago is the thermophilous woodland (between 200 and 900 m.a.s.l.). This thermophilous plant community consists of many non-endemic species shared with the Mediterranean Floristic Region together with Canarian endemic species. Consequently, phytogeographic studies have historically proposed the hypothesis of an origin of the Canarian thermophilous species following the establishment of the summer-dry mediterranean climate in the Mediterranean Basin around 2.8 million years ago.

Methods

Time-calibrated phylogenies for 39 plant groups including Canarian thermophilous species were primarily analysed to inf

SUBMITTER: Martin-Hernanz S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10147335 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature