Inferring differential evolutionary processes of plant persistence traits in Northern Hemisphere Mediterranean fire-prone ecosystems

Authors: PAUSAS, J. G.; KEELEY, J. E.¹; VERDÚ, M.²

Source: Journal of Ecology, Volume 94, Number 1, January 2006 , pp. 31-39(9)

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Abstract:

Summary <listgroup id="l1" type="1"> <li level="1">

Resprouting capacity (R) and propagule-persistence (P) are traits that are often considered to have evolved where there are predictable crown fires. Because several indicators suggest a stronger selective pressure for such traits in California than in the Mediterranean Basin, we hypothesize that plant species should have evolved to become R+ and P+ more frequently in California than in the Mediterranean Basin. </li> <li level="1">

To test this hypothesis we studied the phylogenetic association between R and P states in both California and the Mediterranean Basin using published molecular phylogenies. </li> <li level="1">

The results suggest that R and P evolved differently in the two regions. The occurrence of the states differs significantly between regions for trait P, but not for trait R. The different patterns (towards R+ and P+ in California and towards R+ and P– in the Mediterranean Basin) are reflected in the higher abundance and the wider taxonomic distribution of species with both persistence traits (R+P+ species) in California. </li> <li level="1">

The differential acquisition of fire persistence mechanisms at the propagule level (P+) supports the idea that fire selective pressures has been higher in California than in the Mediterranean Basin. </li> <li level="1">

Our comparative phylogenetic-informed analysis contributes to an understanding of the differential role of the Quaternary climate in determining fire persistence traits in different Mediterranean-type ecosystems and, thus, to the debate on the evolutionary convergence of traits. </li> </listgroup>

Keywords: California; exaptation; fire ecology; fire and plant evolution; Mediterranean basin; persistence traits; resprouting; sprouting; seeding

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2005.01092.x

Affiliations: 1: US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Sequoia-Kings Canyon Field Station, 47050 Generals Hwy, Three Rivers, CA 93271 & Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA, and 2: Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE, CSIC-UV), Camí de la Marjal s/n, Apartado Oficial, 46470 Albal, València, Spain

Publication date: 2006-01-01

Inferring differential evolutionary processes of plant persistence traits in Northern Hemisphere Mediterranean fire-prone ecosystems

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