Testing for ecological limitation of diversification: a case study using parasitic plants

Hardy, Nate B. and Cook, Lyn G. (2012) Testing for ecological limitation of diversification: a case study using parasitic plants. American Naturalist, 180 4: 438-449.


Author Hardy, Nate B.
Cook, Lyn G.
Title Testing for ecological limitation of diversification: a case study using parasitic plants
Journal name American Naturalist  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A*)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2012-10
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1086/667588
Volume number 180
Issue number 4
ISSN 0003-0147; 1537-5323
Start page 438
End page 449
Total pages 12
Place of publication Chicago, IL, United States
Publisher University of Chicago Press
Collection year 2013
Language eng
Abstract Imbalances in phylogenetic diversity could be the result of variable diversification rates, differing limits on diversity, or a combination of the two. We propose an approach to distinguish between rates and limits as the primary cause of phylogenetic imbalance, using parasitic plants as a model. With sister-taxon comparisons, we show that parasitic plant lineages are typically much less diverse than their autotrophic sisters. We then use age estimates for taxa used in the sister-taxon comparisons to test for correlations between clade age and clade diversity. We find that parasitic plant diversity is not significantly correlated with the age of the lineage, whereas there is a strong positive correlation between the age and diversity of nonparasitic sister lineages. The Ericaceae sister pair Monotropoideae (parasitic) and Arbutoideae (autotrophic) is sufficiently well sampled at the species level to allow more parametric comparisons of diversification patterns. Model fitting for this group supports ecological limitation in Monotropoideae and unconstrained diversification in Arbutoideae. Thus, differences in diversity between parasitic plants and their autotrophic sisters might be caused by a combination of ecological limitation and exponential diversification. A combination of sister-taxon comparisons of diversity and age, coupled with model fitting of well-sampled phylogenies of focal taxa, provides a powerful test of likely causes of asymmetry in the diversity of lineages.
Keyword Diversification rates
Sister-taxon comparisons
Dated phylogenies
Parasitic plants
Ecological limitation
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2013 Collection
School of Biological Sciences Publications
 
Versions
Version Filter Type
Citation counts: TR Web of Science Citation Count  Cited 0 times in Thomson Reuters Web of Science Article
Scopus Citation Count Cited 0 times in Scopus Article
Google Scholar Search Google Scholar
Access Statistics: 11 Abstract Views  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Sun, 21 Oct 2012, 00:05:33 EST by System User on behalf of School of Biological Sciences