How repeatable is microevolution on islands? Patterns of dispersal and colonization-related plant traits in a phylogeographical context.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Archipelagos provide a valuable framework for investigating phenotypic evolution under different levels of geographical isolation. Here, we analysed two co-distributed, widespread plant lineages to examine if incipient island differentiation follows parallel patterns of variation in traits related to dispersal and colonization.

Methods

Twenty-one populations of two anemochorous Canarian endemics, Kleinia neriifolia and Periploca laevigata, were sampled to represent mainland congeners and two contrasting exposures across all the main islands. Leaf size, seed size and dispersability (estimated as diaspore terminal velocity) were characterized in each population. For comparison, dispersability was also measured in four additional anemochorous island species.

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Verdugo C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6377097 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature