Inserting Tropical Dry Forests Into the Discussion on Biome Transitions in the Tropics

Dexter, Kyle G.; Pennington, R. Toby; Oliveira‐Filho, Ary Teixeira de; Bueno, Marcelo Leandro; Miranda, Pedro Luiz Silva de; Neves, D. M.

doi:10.3389/fevo.2018.00104

Cited by 128 publications

(127 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Climatically, the distribution of grid cells containing at least two genera of stem succulents closely matches the proposed climate of the succulent biome (Dexter et al, 2018; Oliveira‐Filho et al, 2013; Schrire et al, 2005; Silva de Miranda et al, 2018; Figure 2). Ninety percent of cells containing stem succulents receive less than 1,300 mm annual precipitation, close to the 1,200 mm upper limit for succulent biome in eastern South America proposed by Oliveira‐Filho et al (2013) (Figure 2d).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 72%

“…Quantifying phylogenetic biome conservatism and the convergence of traits within a biome depends on how biomes are defined and mapped, but there is no universally accepted framework for this (Higgins, Buitenwerf, & Moncrieff, 2016; Moncrieff et al, 2016), nor is there a general agreement about the number and location of tropical biomes. As pointed out by Dexter et al (2018) and setting aside true deserts, most research on tropical biodiversity divides the vegetation of the lowland tropics into two broad categories: rain forests and savannas, or forest versus ‘open’ vegetation (Antonelli et al, 2018; Oliveras & Malhi, 2016; Staver, Archibald, & Levin, 2011). Savannas are found in areas with a pronounced dry season and abundant C 4 grasses, and are prone to regular fires (Lehmann et al, 2019; Lehmann & Parr, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rain forests, in contrast, receive year‐round precipitation, have few grasses, and do not experience fire (Eiserhardt et al, 2017). However, a third major lowland tropical biome, the seasonally dry, drought‐deciduous, but grass‐poor and fire‐free vegetation referred to as the succulent biome sensu Schrire, Lavin, and Lewis, 2005, has been recognized (Dexter et al, 2018; Gagnon, Ringelberg, Bruneau, Lewis, & Hughes, 2019; Lavin et al, 2004; Oliveira‐Filho et al, 2013; Schrire et al, 2005), but remains little known, lacks a quantitative distribution map, and is often neglected.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomes as evolutionary arenas: Convergence and conservatism in the trans‐continental succulent biome

Ringelberg

Zimmermann

Weeks

et al. 2020

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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Aim: Historically, biomes have been defined based on their structurally and functionally similar vegetation, but there is debate about whether these similarities are superficial, and about how biomes are defined and mapped. We propose that combined assessment of evolutionary convergence of plant functional traits and phylogenetic biome conservatism provides a useful approach for characterizing biomes. We focus on the little-known succulent biome, a trans-continentally distributed assemblage of succulent-rich, drought-deciduous, fire-free forest, thicket and scrub vegetation as a useful exemplar biome to gain insights into these questions. Location: Global lowland (sub)tropics. Time period: Present. Major taxa studied: Angiosperms. Methods: We use a model ensemble approach to model the distribution of 884 species of stem succulents, a plant functional group representing a striking example of evolutionary convergence. Using this model, phylogenies, and species occurrence data, we quantify phylogenetic succulent biome conservatism for 10 non-succulent trans-continental plant clades including prominent elements of the succulent biome, representing over 800 species. Results: The geographical and climatic distributions of stem succulents provide an objective and quantitative proxy for mapping the distribution of the succulent biome. High fractions of succulent biome occupancy across continents suggest all 10 nonsucculent study clades are phylogenetically conserved within the succulent biome. Main conclusions: The trans-continental succulent and savanna biomes both show evolutionary convergence in key biome-related plant functional traits. However, in contrast to the savanna biome, which was apparently assembled via repeated local recruitment of lineages via biome shifts from adjacent biomes within continents, the succulent biome forms a coherent trans-continental evolutionary arena for droughtadapted tropical biome conserved lineages. Recognizing the important functional differences between the succulent-rich, grass-poor, fire-free succulent biome and the grass-dominated, succulent-poor, fire-prone savanna biome, and defining them | 1101 RINGELBERG Et aL.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomes as evolutionary arenas: Convergence and conservatism in the trans‐continental succulent biome

Ringelberg

Zimmermann

Weeks

et al. 2020

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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“…(). This biome encompasses a range of seasonally dry tropical vegetation, from medium stature closed‐canopy deciduous forests – exemplified by Neotropical seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) (Pennington et al ., , , ; Särkinen et al ., ; DRYFLOR, ; Dexter et al ., ; Silva de Miranda et al ., ) – to lower stature open thorn and cactus scrub and thicket vegetation, together grouped as seasonally dry tropical forest and woodland (SDTFW rather than SDTF) (de Queiroz et al ., ). As defined by Schrire et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Succulent Biome phylogenetic conservatism across the pantropical Caesalpinia Group (Leguminosae)

et al. 2019

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Summary The extent to which phylogenetic biome conservatism vs biome shifting determines global patterns of biodiversity remains poorly understood. To address this question, we investigated the biogeography and trajectories of biome and growth form evolution across the Caesalpinia Group (Leguminosae), a clade of 225 species of trees, shrubs and lianas distributed across the Rainforest, Succulent, Temperate and Savanna Biomes. We focused especially on the little‐known Succulent Biome, an assemblage of succulent‐rich, grass‐poor, seasonally dry tropical vegetation distributed disjunctly across the Neotropics, Africa, Arabia and Madagascar. We reconstructed a time‐calibrated phylogeny, assembled species occurrence data and assigned species to areas, biomes and growth forms. These data are used to estimate the frequency of transcontinental disjunctions, biome shifts and evolutionary transitions between growth forms and test for phylogenetic biome conservatism and correlated evolution of growth forms and biome shifts. We uncovered a pattern of strong phylogenetic Succulent Biome conservatism. We showed that transcontinental disjunctions confined within the Succulent Biome are frequent and that biome shifts to the Savanna, Rainforest and Temperate Biomes are infrequent and closely associated with shifts in plant growth forms. Our results suggest that the Succulent Biome comprises an ecologically constrained evolutionary arena spanning large geographical disjunctions across the tropics.

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“…Tropical dry forests are widely distributed, diverse habitats that simultaneously support a number of endemic species while also experiencing significant anthropogenic disturbance (Dryflor et al, 2016; Miles et al, 2006). Despite warnings about the vulnerability of these habitats (e.g., Janzen, 1988), tropical dry forests worldwide remain unprotected and understudied (Dexter et al, 2018). For example, over 90% of the tropical dry forests in North and Central America are vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance (Miles et al, 2006), due in part to high fragmentation (e.g., in Costa Rica: Portillo‐Quintero & Sánchez‐Azofeifa, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High density of white‐faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) and habitat quality in the Taboga Forest of Costa Rica

Johnson

Benítez

Fuentes

et al. 2020

American J Primatol

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Across the globe, primates are threatened by human activities. This is especially true for species found in tropical dry forests, which remain largely unprotected. Our ability to predict primate abundance in the face of human activity depends on different species' sensitivities as well as on the characteristics of the forest itself. We studied plant and primate distribution and abundance in the Taboga Forest, a 516‐ha tropical dry forest surrounded by agricultural fields in northwestern Costa Rica. We found that the density of white‐faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) at Taboga is 2–6 times higher than reported for other long‐term white‐faced capuchin sites. Using plant transects, we also found relatively high species richness, diversity, and equitability compared with other tropical dry forests. Edge transects (i.e., within 100 m from the forest boundary) differed from interior transects in two ways: (a) tree species associated with dry forest succession were well‐established in the edge and (b) canopy cover in the edge was maintained year‐round, while the interior forest was deciduous. Sighting rates for capuchins were higher near water sources but did not vary between the edge and interior forest. For comparison, we also found the same to be true for the only other primate in the Taboga Forest, mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). Year‐round access to water might explain why some primate species can flourish even alongside anthropogenic disturbance. Forest fragments like Taboga may support high densities of some species because they provide a mosaic of habitats and key resources that buffer adverse ecological conditions.

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Inserting Tropical Dry Forests Into the Discussion on Biome Transitions in the Tropics

Cited by 128 publications

References 55 publications

Biomes as evolutionary arenas: Convergence and conservatism in the trans‐continental succulent biome

Biomes as evolutionary arenas: Convergence and conservatism in the trans‐continental succulent biome

Global Succulent Biome phylogenetic conservatism across the pantropical Caesalpinia Group (Leguminosae)

High density of white‐faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) and habitat quality in the Taboga Forest of Costa Rica

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