Premium
Can evolutionary constraints explain the rarity of nitrogen‐fixing trees in high‐latitude forests?
Author(s) -
Menge Duncan N. L.,
Crews Timothy E.
Publication year - 2016
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/nph.14080
Subject(s) - latitude , temperate climate , ecology , taiga , boreal , high latitude , biological dispersal , biology , temperate forest , trait , geography , population , demography , geodesy , sociology , computer science , programming language
Summary The rarity of symbiotic nitrogen (N)‐fixing trees in temperate and boreal (‘high‐latitude’) forests is curious. One explanation – the evolutionary constraints hypothesis – posits that high‐latitude N‐fixing trees are rare because few have evolved. Here, we consider traits necessary for high‐latitude N‐fixing trees. We then use recent developments in trait evolution to estimate that > 2000 and > 500 species could have evolved from low‐latitude N‐fixing trees and high‐latitude N‐fixing herbs , respectively. Evolution of N‐fixing from nonfixing trees is an unlikely source of diversity. Dispersal limitation seems unlikely to limit high‐latitude N‐fixer diversity. The greater number of N‐fixing species predicted to evolve than currently inhabit high‐latitude forests suggests a greater role for ecological than evolutionary constraints.ContentsSummary 1195 I. Introduction 1196 II. The role of diversity 1196 III. An evolutionary framework for the success of high‐latitude N‐fixing woody symbioses 1196 IV. Conclusions 1200Acknowledgements 1200References 1200