Bioclimatic niches are conserved and unrelated to pollination syndromes in Antillean Gesneriaceae.

ABSTRACT: The study of the evolution of abiotic niches can be informative regarding the speciation drivers in a given group. Yet, two factors that could potentially affect niche evolution have seldom been addressed concomitantly, which are biotic interactions and geographical isolation. In this study, we used as a model group the Antillean plant genera Gesneria and Rhytidophyllum (Gesneriaceae) to evaluate the effect of pollinators and geographical isolation on the bioclimatic niche. These genera possess species characterized by interspecific geographical isolation in different islands and are pollinated by different pollinators. Some species are pollinated by hummingbirds, other by bats, while some are more generalists and are pollinated by pollinators from both functional groups. Aft

SUBMITTER: Alexandre H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5717624 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature