Landscape patterns in rainforest phylogenetic signal: isolated islands of refugia or structured continental distributions?

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Identify patterns of change in species distributions, diversity, concentrations of evolutionary history, and assembly of Australian rainforests.

Methods

We used the distribution records of all known rainforest woody species in Australia across their full continental extent. These were analysed using measures of species richness, phylogenetic diversity (PD), phylogenetic endemism (PE) and phylogenetic structure (net relatedness index; NRI). Phylogenetic structure was assessed using both continental and regional species pools. To test the influence of growth-form, freestanding and climbing plants were analysed independently, and in combination.

Results

Species richness decreased along two generally orthogonal continental axes, corresponding with wet to season

SUBMITTER: Kooyman RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3846590 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature