Repeated long-distance dispersal and convergent evolution in hazel.

ABSTRACT: Closely related species with a worldwide distribution provide an opportunity to understand evolutionary and biogeographic processes at a global scale. Hazel (Corylus) is an economically important genus of tree and shrub species found in temperate regions of Asia, North America and Europe. Here we use multiple nuclear and chloroplast loci to estimate a time-calibrated phylogenetic tree of the genus Corylus. We model the biogeographic history of this group and the evolutionary history of tree and shrub form. We estimate that multiple Corylus lineages dispersed long distances between Europe and Asia and colonised North America from Asia in multiple independent events. The geographic distribution of tree versus shrub form of species appears to be the result of 4-5 instances of convergent evolu

SUBMITTER: Helmstetter AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6831691 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature