Phylogeny, historical biogeography, and diversification of angiosperm order Ericales suggest ancient Neotropical and East Asian connections

Author(s)
Jeffrey P. Rose, Thomas J. Kleist, Stefan D. Löfstrand, Bryan T. Drew, Jürg Schönenberger, Kenneth J. Sytsma
Abstract

Inferring interfamilial relationships within the eudicot order Ericales has remained one of the more recalcitrant problems in angiosperm phylogenetics, likely due to a rapid, ancient radiation. As a result, no comprehensive time-calibrated tree or biogeographical analysis of the order has been published. Here, we elucidate phylogenetic relationships within the order and then conduct time-dependent biogeographical and diversification analyses by using a taxon and locus-rich supermatrix approach on one-third of the extant species diversity calibrated with 23 macrofossils and two secondary calibration points. Our results corroborate previous studies and also suggest several new but poorly supported relationships. Newly suggested relationships are: (1) holoparasitic Mitrastemonaceae is sister to Lecythidaceae, (2) the clade formed by Mitrastemonaceae + Lecythidaceae is sister to Ericales excluding balsaminoids, (3) Theaceae is sister to the styracoids + sarracenioids + ericoids, and (4) subfamilial relationships with Ericaceae suggest that Arbutoideae is sister to Monotropoideae and Pyroloideae is sister to all subfamilies excluding Arbutoideae, Enkianthoideae, and Monotropoideae. Our results indicate Ericales began to diversify 110 Mya, within Indo-Malaysia and the Neotropics, with exchange between the two areas and expansion out of Indo-Malaysia becoming an important area in shaping the extant diversity of many families. Rapid cladogenesis occurred along the backbone of the order between 104 and 106 Mya. Jump dispersal is important within the order in the last 30 My, but vicariance is the most important cladogenetic driver of disjunctions at deeper levels of the phylogeny. We detect between 69 and 81 shifts in speciation rate throughout the order, the vast majority of which occurred within the last 30 My. We propose that range shifting may be responsible for older shifts in speciation rate, but more recent shifts may be better explained by morphological innovation.

Organisation(s)
Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
External organisation(s)
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stockholm University, University of Nebraska - Kearney
Journal
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Volume
122
Pages
59-79
No. of pages
21
ISSN
1055-7903
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.01.014
Publication date
05-2018
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
106042 Systematic botany, 106008 Botany, 106012 Evolutionary research
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Molecular Biology, Genetics
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/phylogeny-historical-biogeography-and-diversification-of-angiosperm-order-ericales-suggest-ancient-neotropical-and-east-asian-connections(e79c946a-581b-49ea-8333-f204d9fcf182).html