Diversification of African Tree Legumes in Miombo–Mopane Woodlands

Abstract

The southern African Miombo and Mopane ecoregions constitute a unique repository of plant diversity whose diversification and evolutionary history is still understudied. In this work, we assessed the diversity, distribution, and conservation status of Miombo and Mopane tree legumes within the Zambezian phytoregion. Data were retrieved from several plant and gene databases and phylogenetic analyses were performed based on genetic barcodes. Seventy-eight species (74 from Miombo and 23 from Mopane, 19 common to both ecoregions) have been scored. Species diversity was high within both ecoregions, but information about the actual conservation status is scarce and available only for ca. 15% of the species. Results of phylogenetic analyses were consistent with current legume classification but did not allow us to draw any conclusion regarding the evolutionary history of Miombo and Mopane tree legumes. Future studies are proposed to dissect the diversity and structure of key species in order to consolidate the network of conservation areas.

Biogeography of global drylands

“…The tropical dry forests of southern Africa (Miombo and Mopane woodlands) host a remarkable plant diversity (Frost, 1996;Maquia et al, 2019). Another important center of plant diversification in southern Africa is the Cape Floristic Region, formed by sclerophyll shrublands and heathlands (also named 'fynbos') hosting c. 6000 endemic species (Goldblatt & Manning, 2000).…”

Low dispersal and ploidy differences in a grass maintain photosynthetic diversity despite gene flow and habitat overlap

“…Geographical locations of all sampled Alloteropsis semialata populations are shown on the large map (bottom panel), with the dense sampling of the Central Zambezian region shown in detail (upper panel). The full extent of miombo woodlands is shown on the bottom panel, with different miombo ecoregions on the upper panel based on Maquia et al, (2019). Populations are coloured based on their genetic lineage (see Figure S3).…”

The genetic legacy of fragmentation and overexploitation in the threatened medicinal African pepper-bark tree, Warburgia salutaris

“…www.nature.com/scientificreports/ poorly understood 31,32 and many natural populations may be at risk. Current exploitation rates, often in tandem with other pressures like fire, invasive species, browsing and land transformation, threaten wild populations unless management methods are established, including community-based approaches 17,21,30 .…”