The adaptive challenge of extreme conditions shapes evolutionary diversity of plant assemblages at continental scales.

ABSTRACT: The tropical conservatism hypothesis (TCH) posits that the latitudinal gradient in biological diversity arises because most extant clades of animals and plants originated when tropical environments were more widespread and because the colonization of colder and more seasonal temperate environments is limited by the phylogenetically conserved environmental tolerances of these tropical clades. Recent studies have claimed support of the TCH, indicating that temperate plant diversity stems from a few more recently derived lineages that are nested within tropical clades, with the colonization of the temperate zone being associated with key adaptations to survive colder temperatures and regular freezing. Drought, however, is an additional physiological stress that could shape diversity gradients

SUBMITTER: Neves DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8449343 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature