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Eco‐evolutionary evidence for the global diversity pattern of Cycas (Cycadaceae)

Journal Article
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Liu J, Lindstrom AJ, Gong Y, Dong S, Liu Y(, Zhang S, Gong X. 2024. Eco‐evolutionary evidence for the global diversity pattern of Cycas (Cycadaceae). Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 66 (6): 1170-1191. https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.13638.

Abstract

The evolution of the latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG), characterized by a peak in diversity toward the tropics, has captured significant attention in evolutionary biology and ecology. However, the inverse LDG (i‐LDG) mechanism, wherein species richness increases toward the poles, remains inadequately explored. Cycads are among one of the oldest lineages of extant seed plants and have undergone extensive diversification in the tropics. Intriguingly, the extant cycad abundance exhibits an i‐LDG pattern, and the underlying causes for this phenomenon remain largely elusive. Here, using 1,843 nuclear genes from a nearly complete sampling, we conducted comprehensive phylogenomic analyses to establish a robust species‐level phylogeny for Cycas, the largest genus within cycads. We then reconstructed the spatial‐temporal dynamics and integrated global environmental data to evaluate the roles of species ages, diversification rates, contemporary environment, and conservatism to ancestral niches in shaping the i‐LDG pattern. We found Cycas experienced decreased diversification rates, coupled with the cooling temperature since its origin in the Eocene from continental Asia. Different regions have distinctively contributed to the formation of i‐LDG for Cycas, with the northern hemisphere acting as evolutionary museums and the southern hemisphere serving as cradles. Moreover, water‐related climate variables, specifically precipitation seasonality and potential evapotranspiration, were identified as paramount factors constraining Cycas species richness in the rainforest biome near the equator. Notably, the adherence to ancestral monsoonal climates emerges as a critical factor in sustaining the diversity pattern. This study underscores the imperative of integrating both evolutionary and ecological approaches to comprehensively unravel the mechanisms underpinning global biodiversity patterns.

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Cited By 19

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Citations:

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An Updated Reappraisal of the Genus Cycas L. (Cycadaceae) From India
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Dispersal across Wallace's Line: A case study in Endiandra
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Distribution patterns of suitable habitat for Cycas tanqingii in the China-Laos-Vietnam region under the interaction of climate change and pest factors
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Ecological Isolation Maintains the Species Boundaries Between Two Sympatric Cycas From Southwest China
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Sources: OpenAlex & OpenCitations • Counts may differ from Crossref/Google Scholar