A phylogenetic analysis of macroevolutionary patterns in fermentative yeasts.

ABSTRACT: When novel sources of ecological opportunity are available, physiological innovations can trigger adaptive radiations. This could be the case of yeasts (Saccharomycotina), in which an evolutionary novelty is represented by the capacity to exploit simple sugars from fruits (fermentation). During adaptive radiations, diversification and morphological evolution are predicted to slow-down after early bursts of diversification. Here, we performed the first comparative phylogenetic analysis in yeasts, testing the "early burst" prediction on species diversification and also on traits of putative ecological relevance (cell-size and fermentation versatility). We found that speciation rates are constant during the time-range we considered (ca., 150 millions of years). Phylogenetic signal of both tra

SUBMITTER: Paleo-Lopez R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4972215 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature