Geographic Range Dynamics Drove Ancient Hybridization in a Lineage of Angiosperms.

Geographic Range Dynamics Drove Ancient Hybridization in a Lineage of Angiosperms.
Am Nat. 2018 Aug;192(2):171-187
Authors: Folk RA, Visger CJ, Soltis PS, Soltis DE, Guralnick RP
Abstract
Elucidating the dynamic distribution of organismal lineages has been central to biology since the nineteenth century, yet the difficulty of combining biogeographic methods with shifts in habitat suitability remains a limitation. This integration, however, is critical to understanding geographic distributions, present and past, as well as the time-extended trajectories of lineages. Here, we link previous advances in phyloclimatic modeling to develop a framework that overcomes existing methodological gaps by predicting potential ecological and geographic overlap directly from estimated ancestral trait distributions. We show the utility of this framework by focusing on a clade in the montane angiosperm genus Heuchera, which is noteworthy in that it experienced ancient introgression from circumboreally distributed species of Mitella, lineages now ~1,300 km disjunct. Using this system, we demonstrate an application of ancestral state reconstruction to assess geographic range dynamics in a lineage lacking a fossil record. We test hypotheses regarding inferred past geographic distributions and examine the potential for ancient geographic contact. Application of this multifaceted approach suggests potential past contact between species of Heuchera and Mitel...

Source: The American Naturalist - July 19, 2018 Category: Biology Authors: Folk RA, Visger CJ, Soltis PS, Soltis DE, Guralnick RP Tags: Am Nat Source Type: research