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- Title
A macro-ecological perspective on crassulacean acid metabolism ( CAM) photosynthesis evolution in Afro-Madagascan drylands: Eulophiinae orchids as a case study.
- Authors
Bone, Ruth E.; Smith, J. Andrew C.; Arrigo, Nils; Buerki, Sven
- Abstract
Crassulacean acid metabolism ( CAM) photosynthesis is an adaptation to water and atmospheric CO2 deficits that has been linked to diversification in dry-adapted plants. We investigated whether CAM evolution can be associated with the availability of new or alternative niches, using Eulophiinae orchids as a case study., Carbon isotope ratios, geographical and climate data, fossil records and DNA sequences were used to: assess the prevalence of CAM in Eulophiinae orchids; characterize the ecological niche of extant taxa; infer divergence times; and estimate whether CAM is associated with niche shifts., CAM evolved in four terrestrial lineages during the late Miocene/Pliocene, which have uneven diversification patterns. These lineages originated in humid habitats and colonized dry/seasonally dry environments in Africa and Madagascar. Additional key features (variegation, heterophylly) evolved in the most species-rich CAM lineages. Dry habitats were also colonized by a lineage that includes putative mycoheterotrophic taxa., These findings indicate that the switch to CAM is associated with environmental change. With its suite of adaptive traits, this group of orchids represents a unique opportunity to study the adaptations to dry environments, especially in the face of projected global aridification.
- Subjects
CRASSULACEAN acid metabolism; CLIMATE change; ARID regions plants; ORCHID varieties; CARBON isotopes; NUCLEOTIDE sequence; EULOPHIA; PHOTOSYNTHESIS
- Publication
New Phytologist, 2015, Vol 208, Issue 2, p469
- ISSN
0028-646X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/nph.13572