The evolution of ecological specialization underlies plant endemism in the Atlantic Forest.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The evolution of ecological specialization is favoured under divergent selection imposed by increased environmental heterogeneity, although specialization can limit the geographical range of organisms, thus promoting endemism. The Atlantic Forest (AF) is an ancient montane domain with high plant endemism, containing different environments for plant specialization. Miconia is the most diverse genus of woody flowering plant within the AF domain, including AF-endemic and non-endemic lineages. We hypothesized that Miconia species have faced increased environmental heterogeneity and consequently have been selected towards increased specialization in the AF domain, and this increased specialization has greatly reduced species geographical ranges, ultimately promoting

SUBMITTER: Nery EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10332402 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature