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RECONSTRUCTING THE ORIGINS OF HIGH‐ALPINE NICHES AND CUSHION LIFE FORM IN THE GENUS ANDROSACE S.L. (PRIMULACEAE)
Author(s) -
Boucher Florian C.,
Thuiller Wilfried,
Roquet Cristina,
Douzet Rolland,
Aubert Serge,
Alvarez Nadir,
Lavergne Sébastien
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01483.x
Subject(s) - ecological niche , biology , intraspecific competition , primulaceae , niche , phylogenetic tree , ecology , genus , adaptation (eye) , podospora anserina , phylogenetics , evolutionary biology , convergent evolution , habitat , biochemistry , neuroscience , gene , mutant
Relatively, few species have been able to colonize extremely cold alpine environments. We investigate the role played by the cushion life form in the evolution of climatic niches in the plant genus Androsace s.l ., which spreads across the mountain ranges of the Northern Hemisphere. Using robust methods that account for phylogenetic uncertainty, intraspecific variability of climatic requirements and different life‐history evolution scenarios, we show that climatic niches of Androsace s.l. exhibit low phylogenetic signal and that they evolved relatively recently and punctually. Models of niche evolution fitted onto phylogenies show that the cushion life form has been a key innovation providing the opportunity to occupy extremely cold environments, thus contributing to rapid climatic niche diversification in the genus Androsace s.l . We then propose a plausible scenario for the adaptation of plants to alpine habitats.