Phylogeographic studies provide an important framework for investigating the mechanisms operating during the earliest stages of speciation, as reproductive barriers can be examined among divergent ...lineages in a geographic context. We investigated the evolution of early stages of intrinsic postmating isolation among different populations and lineages of Epidendrum denticulatum, a Neotropical orchid distributed across different biomes in South America. We estimated genetic diversity and structure for both nuclear and plastid markers, using a haplotype network, differentiation tests, Bayesian assignment analysis, and divergence time estimates of the main lineages. Reproductive barriers among divergent lineages were examined by analyzing seed viability following reciprocal crossing experiments. Strong plastid phylogeographic structure was found, indicating that E. denticulatum was restricted to multiple refuges during South American forest expansion events. In contrast, significant phylogeographic structure was not found for nuclear markers, suggesting higher gene flow by pollen than by seeds. Large asymmetries in seed set were observed among different plastid genetic groups, suggesting the presence of polymorphic genic incompatibilities associated with cytonuclear interactions. Our results confirm the importance of phylogeographic studies associated with reproductive isolation experiments and suggest an important role for outbreeding depression during the early stages of lineage diversification.
Premise of the Study
Historical abiotic and biotic factors have strongly affected species diversification and speciation. Although pre‐Pleistocene events have been linked to the divergence of several ...Neotropical organisms, studies have highlighted a more prominent role of Pleistocene climatic oscillations in shaping current patterns of genetic variation of plants.
Methods
We performed phylogeographic analyses based on plastidial markers and modeled the current distribution and paleodistribution of Bromelia balansae (Bromeliaceae), an herbaceous species with a wide geographical distribution in South America, to infer the processes underlying its evolutionary history.
Key Results
Combined molecular and paleodistributional modeling analyses indicated retraction during the Last Glacial Maximum followed by interglacial expansion. Populations occurring in the semideciduous Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado formed two distinct genetic clusters, which have been historically or ecologically isolated since late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. Populations located in the transition zone had higher levels of genetic diversity, as expected by the long‐term climatic stability in the region detected in our ecological niche models.
Conclusions
Our study adds important information on how herbaceous species have been affected by past climate in Central and Southeast Brazil, helping to disentangle the complex processes that have triggered the evolution of Neotropical biota.
Advances in and perspectives on evolution in Bromeliaceae Palma‐Silva, Clarisse; Leal, Barbara S. S.; Chaves, Cleber J. N. ...
Botanical journal of the Linnean Society,
July 2016, 2016-07-00, 20160701, Letnik:
181, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
To accompany the 12 manuscripts on Bromeliaceae in this issue, we here present a summary of evolutionary and phylogenetic studies at different levels in the family. We discuss biogeography, ...speciation and hybridization in the light of current knowledge.
Nectar gain and loss are important flower transitions observed in angiosperms, and are particularly common in orchids. To understand such transitions, the availability of detailed anatomical data and ...species-level phylogenies are crucial. We investigated the evolution of food deception in Epidendrum, one of the largest orchid genera, using genus phylogeny to map transitions between nectar gain and loss among different clades. Associations between anatomical and histochemical changes and nectar gain and loss were examined using fresh material available from 27 species. The evolution of nectar presence/absence in Epidendrum species was investigated in a phylogenetic framework of 47 species, using one nuclear and five plastid DNA regions available from GenBank and sequenced in this study.
The presence or absence of nectar was strongly associated with changes in the inner epidermal tissues of nectaries. Nectar-secreting species have unornamented epidermal tissue, in contrast to the unicellular trichomes found on the epidermis of food deceptive species. Bayesian tests confirmed that transitions occurred preferentially from nectar presence to nectar absence across the Epidendrum phylogeny. In addition, independent nectar loss events were found across the phylogeny, suggesting a lack of constraint for these transitions.
Ornamented nectaries may play an important role in the deceptive pollination strategy by secreting volatile organic compounds and providing tactile stimuli to pollinators. The recurrent and apparently irreversible pattern of nectar loss in Epidendrum suggests that food deception may constitute an alternative evolutionarily stable strategy, as observed in other orchid groups.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The investigation of reproductive barriers between sister species can provide insights into how new lineages arise, and how species integrity is maintained in the face of ...interspecific gene flow. Different pre- and postzygotic barriers can limit interspecific gene exchange in sympatric populations, and different sources of evidence are often required to investigate the role of multiple reproductive isolation (RI) mechanisms. METHODS: We tested the hypothesis of hybridization and potential introgression between Epidendrum secundum and Epidendrum xonthinum, two Neotropical food-deceptive orchid species, using nuclear and plastid microsatellites, experimental crosses, pollen tube growth observations, and genome size estimates. KEY RESULTS: A large number of hybrids between E. secundum and E. xanthinum were detected, suggesting weak premating barriers. The low fertility of hybrid plants and the absence of haplotype sharing between parental species indicated strong postmating barriers, reducing interspecific gene exchange and the development of advanced generation hybrids. Despite the strength of reproductive barriers, fertile seeds were produced in some backcrossing experiments, and the existence of interspecific gene exchange could not be excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Strong but permeable barriers were found between E. secundum and E. xanthinum. Indeed, haplotype sharing was not detected between parental species, suggesting that introgression is limited by a combination of genic incompatibilities, including negative cytonuclear interactions. Most taxonomic uncertainties in this group were potentially influenced by incomplete RI barriers between species, which mainly occurred sympatrically.
Closely related hybridizing species are ideal systems for identifying genomic regions underlying adaptive divergence. Although gene expression plays a central role in determining ecologically-based ...phenotypic differences, few studies have inferred the role of gene expression for adaptive divergence in Neotropical systems. In this study, we conduct genome-wide expression analysis alongside soil elemental analysis in sympatric and allopatric populations of Epidendrum fulgens and E. puniceoluteum (Orchidaceae), which occur in contrasting adjacent habitats in the Neotropical coastal plains.
These species were highly differentiated by their gene expression profiles, as determined by 18-21% of transcripts. Gene ontology (GO) terms associated with reproductive processes were enriched according to comparisons between species in both allopatric and sympatric populations. Species showed differential expression in genes linked to salt and waterlogging tolerance according to comparisons between species in sympatry, and biological processes related to environmental stimulus appeared as representative among those transcripts associated with edaphic characteristics in each sympatric zone. Hybrids, in their turn, were well differentiated from E. fulgens, but exhibited a similar gene expression profile to flooding-tolerant E. puniceolutem. When compared with parental species, hybrids showed no transcripts with additive pattern of expression and increased expression for almost all transgressive transcripts.
This study sheds light on general mechanisms promoting ecological differentiation and assortative mating, and suggests candidate genes, such as those encoding catalase and calcium-dependent protein kinase, underling adaptation to harsh edaphic conditions in the Neotropical coastal plains. Moreover, it demonstrates that differential gene expression plays a central role in determining ecologically-based phenotypic differences among co-occurring species and their hybrids.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The rapid spread of many weeds into intensely disturbed landscapes is boosted by clonal growth and self-fertilization strategies, which conversely increases the genetic structure of populations. ...Here, we use empirical and modeling approaches to evaluate the spreading dynamics of Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L. populations, a common epiphytic weed with self-reproduction and clonal growth widespread in dry forests and deforested landscapes in the American continent. We introduce the TRec model, an individual-based approach to simulate the spreading of T. recurvata over time and across landscapes subjected to abrupt changes in tree density with the parameters adjusted according to the empirical genetic data based on microsatellites genotypes. Simulations with this model showed that the strong spatial genetic structure observed from empirical data in T. recurvata can be explained by a rapid increase in abundance and gene flow followed by stabilization after ca. 25 years. TRec model's results also indicate that deforestation is a turning point for the rapid increase in both individual abundance and gene flow among T. recurvata subpopulations occurring in formerly dense forests. Active reforestation can, in turn, reverse such a scenario, although with a milder intensity. The genetic-based study suggests that anthropogenic changes in landscapes may strongly affect the population dynamics of species with 'weedy' traits.
Abstract The pollination syndrome hypothesis usually does not successfully apply to the diversity of floral phenotypes or help predict the pollinators of most plant species. In Bromeliaceae, there is ...a wide range of floral visitors, making its species ideal to test for a correlation between nectar and floral traits with pollination syndrome. In this study, we analyzed the floral features, nectar production patterns, pollinators and floral visitors of Vriesea gigantea, and discussed its potential adaptive and ecological significance. We study three natural populations from the Atlantic Forest, Southern Brazil. The species presented protogyny and herkogamy, and its anthesis occurred at different periods among different populations. Vriesea gigantea has a relatively constant rate of nectar production during the day that continues overnight but at a reduced rate. Newly opened flowers already have around 80.0 μl of nectar. Although classified as chiropterophilous, based on flower morphology and pollinator observations, our results show that hummingbirds are effective pollinators in the studied populations of V. gigantea.
Resumo A hipótese da síndrome da polinização geralmente não se refere exatamente à diversidade de fenótipos florais ou ajuda a predizer os polinizadores da maioria das espécies de plantas. Em Bromeliaceae, podemos encontrar uma ampla gama de visitantes florais, tornando suas espécies ideais para testar uma correlação entre características florais e do néctar com síndromes de polinização. Neste estudo, analisamos características florais, padrões de produção de néctar, polinizadores e visitantes florais em três populações naturais da Mata Atlântica de Vriesea gigantea, e discutimos seu potencial adaptativo e significado ecológico. A espécie apresentou protoginia e hercogamia, e sua antese ocorreu em diferentes períodos entre as populações. Vriesea gigantea tem uma taxa constante de produção de néctar durante o dia, com uma quantidade reduzida durante a noite. Flores recém-abertas possuem um considerável acúmulo de néctar. Embora a espécie tenha sido classificada como quiropterófila com base na morfologia das flores e observação de polinizadores, nossos resultados mostraram que os beija-flores são os polinizadores prováveis nas populações estudadas de V. gigantea.
The South American continent is composed of several biogeographical regions harbouring the highest biodiversity on the globe, encompassing five of the world's biodiversity ‘hot spots’. Nonetheless, ...the patterns and processes responsible for shaping its astonishing species diversity are largely unknown. Here, we present a review of current South American phylogeographical knowledge based on published articles on this topic. An appraisal of the literature reveals emerging phylogeographical patterns in the biota of South America. The striking phylogeographical divergence observed among organism lineages in South American studies is suggestive of high levels of undocumented species diversity. The interplay between Pleistocene climatic oscillations and Pliocene/Miocene orogenic events has contributed to shaping the current diversity and distribution of modern lineages in both the tropical and temperate regions of South America. Although older divergence times were observed for a range of species, most herpetofauna underwent an intraspecific lineage split much earlier than other organisms. The geographical ranges of species associated with forest habitats were reduced mainly during glacial cycles, whereas species associated with open vegetation domains have shown variable responses to climatic oscillations. The results suggest a highly complex mosaic of phylogeographical patterns in South America. We suggest future research directions to promote a better understanding of the origin and maintenance of the South American biota.
Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed for Orthophytum ophiuroides, a rupicolous bromeliad species endemic to neotropical rocky fields. These microsatellite loci will be used to ...investigate population differentiation and species cohesion in such fragmented environments. The loci were tested for cross-amplification in related bromeliad species. Methods and Results: Eleven polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized from an enriched library of O. ophiuroides. The loci were tested on 42 individuals from two populations of this species. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to nine and the expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.167 to 0.870 and from 0.369 to 0.958, respectively. Seven loci successfully amplified in other related bromeliad species. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the microsatellite loci developed here will be useful to assess genetic diversity and gene flow in O. ophiuroides for the investigation of population differentiation and species cohesion in neotropical mountainous habitats.
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