Correlated evolution between climate and suites of traits along a fast-slow continuum in the radiation of Protea.

ABSTRACT: Evolutionary radiations are responsible for much of Earth's diversity, yet the causes of these radiations are often elusive. Determining the relative roles of adaptation and geographic isolation in diversification is vital to understanding the causes of any radiation, and whether a radiation may be labeled as "adaptive" or not. Across many groups of plants, trait-climate relationships suggest that traits are an important indicator of how plants adapt to different climates. In particular, analyses of plant functional traits in global databases suggest that there is an "economics spectrum" along which combinations of functional traits covary along a fast-slow continuum. We examine evolutionary associations among traits and between trait and climate variables on a strongly supported phylogeny

SUBMITTER: Mitchell N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5792567 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature