Evolutionary patterns of range size, abundance and species richness in Amazonian angiosperm trees

Dexter, Kyle G.; Chave, Jérôme

doi:10.7717/peerj.2402

Cited by 39 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In previous studies, some traits showed low but significant PS [6,7,13], while others have even found that traits are randomly dispersed over the phylogeny [10,11]. However, although K -values are standardized to allow comparison between traits and phylogenetic trees [1,4], direct comparisons of PS are affected by differences in the spatial and taxonomic scale of the studies, the number of lineages and the use of different kinds of phylogenies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, we use a large dataset of several hundred permanent forest plots that occur across a wide range of the environmental conditions from all nine Amazonian countries [26], to quantify key demographic traits of more than 300 lineages of tropical trees and explore the PS of these traits using recently published molecular genus- [13] and species-level phylogenies ([27], KG Dexter & RT Pennington 2013, unpublished data). By exploring how traits are correlated and the strength of PS, our goal is to address the fundamental question of whether repeated convergent and divergent evolution of life-history strategies has erased PS for life-history-related traits in tropical trees, or whether phylogenetic information can be used to understand ecosystem function in the world's most diverse and ecologically important forest.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evolutionary heritage influences Amazon tree ecology

Souza¹,

Dexter²,

Phillips³

et al. 2016

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Lineages tend to retain ecological characteristics of their ancestors through time. However, for some traits, selection during evolutionary history may have also played a role in determining trait values. To address the relative importance of these processes requires large-scale quantification of traits and evolutionary relationships among species. The Amazonian tree flora comprises a high diversity of angiosperm lineages and species with widely differing life-history characteristics, providing an excellent system to investigate the combined influences of evolutionary heritage and selection in determining trait variation. We used trait data related to the major axes of life-history variation among tropical trees (e.g. growth and mortality rates) from 577 inventory plots in closed-canopy forest, mapped onto a phylogenetic hypothesis spanning more than 300 genera including all major angiosperm clades to test for evolutionary constraints on traits. We found significant phylogenetic signal (PS) for all traits, consistent with evolutionarily related genera having more similar characteristics than expected by chance. Although there is also evidence for repeated evolution of pioneer and shade tolerant life-history strategies within independent lineages, the existence of significant PS allows clearer predictions of the links between evolutionary diversity, ecosystem function and the response of tropical forests to global change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary heritage influences Amazon tree ecology

Souza¹,

Dexter²,

Phillips³

et al. 2016

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…As discussed above, previously published lists of Amazon tree flora contain major errors (14,17,18), yet have been used in largescale analyses to infer patterns and processes of historical community assembly (e.g., ref. 18). It is difficult to draw conclusions regarding the ecological and evolutionary processes that have led to the assembly and maintenance of the Amazon tree flora based on a list of 631 genera, which includes 140 (22%) that do not occur in the Amazon or are not trees and omits 332 tree genera known to occur in the Amazon.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Floristic lists can now be generated quickly for any region through automated data harvesting (e.g., refs. 14, 17,18), using the increasing amounts of digitally available occurrence data from specimens stored in the world's herbaria; however, such approaches do not necessarily provide reliable or complete data for undercollected areas, such as the Amazon rain forests. They are also prone to a myriad of errors, due principally to the high percentage of incorrectly named specimens in herbaria worldwide (19) and the compilation of lists over time as accepted names change but old synonyms are not weeded out.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list

Cardoso

Särkinen

Alexander

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

330

198

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Recent debates on the number of plant species in the vast lowland rain forests of the Amazon have been based largely on model estimates, neglecting published checklists based on verified voucher data. Here we collate taxonomically verified checklists to present a list of seed plant species from lowland Amazon rain forests. Our list comprises 14,003 species, of which 6,727 are trees. These figures are similar to estimates derived from nonparametric ecological models, but they contrast strongly with predictions of much higher tree diversity derived from parametric models. Based on the known proportion of tree species in neotropical lowland rain forest communities as measured in complete plot censuses, and on overall estimates of seed plant diversity in Brazil and in the neotropics in general, it is more likely that tree diversity in the Amazon is closer to the lower estimates derived from nonparametric models. Much remains unknown about Amazonian plant diversity, but this taxonomically verified dataset provides a valid starting point for macroecological and evolutionary studies aimed at understanding the origin, evolution, and ecology of the exceptional biodiversity of Amazonian forests.Amazonia | floristics | rain forests | seed plants | species diversity

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Rarity patterns of woody plant species are associated with life form and diversification rates in Pacific islands forests

Ibanez¹,

Ainsworth

Gross

et al. 2021

American J of Botany

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Premise Rarity is a complex and central concept in ecology and conservation biology. Yet, it is still poorly understood why some species are rare and others common. Here, we aimed to understand the drivers of species rarity patterns in woody plant communities. Methods We analyzed the local abundance and landscape frequency of 121 woody plant species across 238 plots on American Samoa and Hawaiian islands. We first assessed whether taxonomy, life form (shrub, small tree, large tree), and dispersal syndrome (dispersed by animals or by other means) are associated with the rarity of species. We then analyzed phylogenetic patterns in plant rarity and tested whether rarity patterns are associated with species evolutionary distinctiveness and the number of species within genera and families. Results Large trees were less abundant but more frequent than shrub species. Animal‐dispersed species tended to be less abundant than species dispersed by other means, while species frequency was not associated with dispersal syndromes. Relative frequency in Hawai′i exhibited a more robust phylogenetic signal than did abundance. Both evolutionary distinctiveness and taxa species richness were significantly associated with the frequency of shrub species in Hawai′i. Conclusions Life form appears consistently associated with the rarity of species. High diversification rate is probably a key factor explaining landscape‐scale rarity of native species on isolated archipelagos like Hawai′i. At the landscape scale, rarity appears to be inversely associated with evolutionary distinctiveness, but at the local scale, species abundance may be not associated with evolutionary distinctiveness.

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Evolutionary patterns of range size, abundance and species richness in Amazonian angiosperm trees

Cited by 39 publications

References 28 publications

Evolutionary heritage influences Amazon tree ecology

Evolutionary heritage influences Amazon tree ecology

Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list

Rarity patterns of woody plant species are associated with life form and diversification rates in Pacific islands forests

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