We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Can evolutionary constraints explain the rarity of nitrogen-fixing trees in high-latitude forests?
- Authors
Menge, Duncan N. L.; Crews, Timothy E.
- Abstract
Contents1195I.1195II.1196III.1196IV.12001200References1200 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.
- Subjects
NITROGEN-fixing trees; NITROGEN fixation; FORESTRY &; climate; DISPERSAL (Ecology); LEGUMES
- Publication
New Phytologist, 2016, Vol 211, Issue 4, p1195
- ISSN
0028-646X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/nph.14080