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Phylogenetic niche conservatism: what are the underlying evolutionary and ecological causes?
Author(s) -
Crisp Michael D.,
Cook Lyn G.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04298.x
Subject(s) - phylogenetic tree , niche , biology , evolutionary biology , ecology , phylogenetic comparative methods , biological dispersal , ecological niche , extinction (optical mineralogy) , competition (biology) , gene , genetics , paleontology , habitat , population , demography , sociology
Summary Phylogenetic niche conservatism ( PNC ) is the tendency of lineages to retain their niche‐related traits through speciation events. A recent surge in the availability of well‐sampled molecular phylogenies has stimulated phylogenetic approaches to understanding ecological processes at large geographical scales and through macroevolutionary time. We stress that PNC is a pattern, not a process, and is found only in some traits and some lineages. At the simplest level, a pattern of PNC is an inevitable consequence of evolution – descent with modification and divergence of lineages – but several intrinsic causes, including physicochemical, developmental and genetic constraints, can lead directly to a marked pattern of PNC . A pattern of PNC can also be caused indirectly, as a by‐product of other causes, such as extinction, dispersal limitation, competition and predation. Recognition of patterns of PNC can contribute to understanding macroevolutionary processes: for example, release from constraint in traits has been hypothesized to trigger adaptive radiations such as that of the angiosperms. Given the multiple causes of patterns of PNC , tests should address explicit questions about hypothesized processes. We conclude that PNC is a scientifically useful concept with applications to the practice of ecological research.ContentsSummary 681 I. Introduction 681 II. What is phylogenetic niche conservatism? 682 III. Pattern or process? 683 IV. What causes a pattern of PNC? 683 V. Tests for PNC 687 VI. Conclusion: is a concept of PNC scientifically useful? 961Acknowledgements 692References 692