Phylogeny and biogeography of the Daniellia clade (Leguminosae: Detarioideae), a tropical tree lineage largely threatened in Africa and Madagascar

Publication date: Available online 3 February 2020Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and EvolutionAuthor(s): Le Min Choo, Félix Forest, Jan J. Wieringa, Anne Bruneau, Manuel de la EstrellaAbstractThe legume subfamily Detarioideae is exceptionally diverse in tropical Africa and Madagascar, compared to South America or Asia, a trend contrary to that shown by most other pantropical plant groups. We aim to elucidate the process of diversification giving rise to these high diversity levels by focussing our investigations on the Daniellia clade, which is present in both Africa and Madagascar. The Daniellia clade is an early-diverging lineage of subfamily Detarioideae (Leguminosae; pea family) and consists of three genera: Daniellia, Brandzeia and Neoapaloxylon. The species belonging to this group exhibit a wide range of habitat types. The Madagascar endemics Brandzeia (1 species) and Neoapaloxylon (3 species) occupy dry woodlands and arid succulent habitats respectively. Daniellia alsteeniana and D. oliveri are found in savannahs while the remaining eight species within Daniellia all occupy rainforest habitats. Phylogenetic analyses were generated from a dense, multi-individual species level sampling of the clade. Divergence time estimates were carried out using a molecular clock method to investigate biogeographical patterns and shifts in habitat types within the Daniellia clade, and conservation assessments were conducted to determine the levels of extinction risks these species ar...
Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution - Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research