| Abstract Detail
Integration of Spatial and Ecological Data in Evolutionary Studies Lohmann, Lucia G. [1], Siqueira, Marinez [2]. Untangling diversity patterns in Neotropical lianas (Bignonieae, Bignoniaceae): An integrative approach. The origin of morphological diversity is a key question in evolutionary biology. It is well established that evolution has produced large amounts of morphological variation but relatively little is known about the processes that underlie this diversity. Comparative studies that integrate phylogenetics, divergence time estimates, and geographic information systems (GIS) are helping to advance our knowledge in this area. The morphological diversity and ecological importance of the tribe Bignonieae (Bignoniaceae) make it an excellent model for investigating morphological diversification in the Neotropics. We used GIS and a comprehensive database of Bignonieae (30,000 geo-referenced entries) to obtain information on environmental conditions (e.g., soil, rainfall, humidity, temperature) associated with the current distribution of Bignonieae species. A broad-scale phylogeny of Bignonieae was then used to reconstruct ancestral environments in order to evaluate specific scenarios for morphological diversification in this diverse group of Neotropical lianas. The current data suggest that key morphological traits have arisen several times during the diversification of the group and seem to reflect a wide range of environmental influences. Divergence time estimates provide further insights, suggesting that the independent origins of morphological features occurred across a broad temporal scale.
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1 - Universidade de Sao Paulo, Departamento de Botanica, Instituto de Biociencias, Caixa Postal 11461, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 05422-970, Brazil
2 - Centro de Referencia em Informacao Ambiental, Av. Romeu tortima, 388, Barao Geraldo, Campinas, Sao Paulo, 13084-791, Brazil
Keywords:
Bignonieae
lianas
diversification
divergence times
GIS
Bignoniaceae.
Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: C02
Location: Stevens 2/Hilton
Date: Wednesday, July 11th, 2007
Time: 9:00 AM
Number: C02004
Abstract ID:1788 |
