Open AccessUsing phylogeny to investigate the origins of the Cape flora: the importance of taxonomic, gene and genome sampling strategies
Author(s) -
Hawkins J. A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
diversity and distributions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.918
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1472-4642
pISSN - 1366-9516
DOI - 10.1111/j.1366-9516.2006.00209.x
Subject(s) - flora (microbiology) , cape , phylogenetic tree , biology , phylogenetics , sampling (signal processing) , evolutionary biology , lineage (genetic) , sister group , ecology , species richness , geography , clade , gene , paleontology , genetics , archaeology , filter (signal processing) , bacteria , computer science , computer vision
Phylogenetic methods hold great promise for the reconstruction of the transition from precursor to modern flora and the identification of underlying factors which drive the process. The phylogenetic methods presently used to address the question of the origin of the Cape flora of South Africa are considered here. The sampling requirements of each of these methods, which include dating of diversifications using calibrated molecular trees, sister pair comparisons, lineage through time plots and biogeographical optimizations, are reviewed. Sampling of genes, genomes and species are considered. Although increased higher‐level studies and increased sampling are required for robust interpretation, it is clear that much progress is already made. It is argued that despite the remarkable richness of the flora, the Cape flora is a valuable model system to demonstrate the utility of phylogenetic methods in determining the history of a modern flora.