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Detecting evolutionary rate heterogeneity among mangroves and their close terrestrial relatives
Author(s) -
Zhong Yang,
Zhao Qiong,
Shi Suhua,
Huang Yelin,
Hasegawa Masami
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1461-0248.2002.00336.x
Subject(s) - rhizophoraceae , mangrove , bruguiera , biology , ecology , adaptation (eye) , phylogenetic tree , synonymous substitution , phylogenetics , evolutionary biology , natural selection , evolutionary ecology , selection (genetic algorithm) , gene , genetics , codon usage bias , neuroscience , genome , artificial intelligence , computer science , host (biology)
Mangroves form the dominant intertidal ecosystems and differ morphologically and physiologically from their close terrestrial relatives. We investigate the molecular evolutionary pattern of the typical mangrove family, i.e. Rhizophoraceae, and rate heterogeneity for the plastid mat K and rbc L genes in different species of the family, as revealed by phylogenetic analyses and relative‐rate tests. Our study documents evolutionary rate heterogeneity in the Rhizophoraceae for the two genes: the mangrove genus Bruguiera has relatively slow substitution rates compared to the terrestrial genus Carallia at both synonymous and non‐synonymous sites in the mat K sequences, and the synonymous and non‐synonymous substitution matrices are correlated. However, the rbc L non‐synonymous sites exhibit a high degree of rate heterogeneity among mangroves and related terrestrial groups, and uncoupling of rates with the synonymous sites. Selection is probably an important influence on the rate variation, suggesting further investigation for better understanding of various forces contributing to the rate heterogeneity and molecular adaptation in mangroves.