Morphospace analyses

Floral evolution and diversification in the light of morphospace analyses

FWF-Projekt P 25077-B16
4/2013-12/2016
Project leader: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jürg Schönenberger
Employees: Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Marion Chartier
Collaboration: Dr. Maria von Balthazar
Florian Jabbour (MNHM, France)

A striking feature of organismal morphological variation is that not all the theoretically possible architectures have been explored during the evolution of species. Existing morphologies are restricted to a limited set because of developmental, functional, and phylogenetic constraints. In this project we compare the occupied portion of the morphological space (or morphospace) through geological time and among distinct clades. This project focuses on physical and biological rules, convergence and contingency at play during the evolution of natural shapes. This project addresses the structural diversity of flowers with focus on the order Ericales. The immense morphological disparity found among ericalean flowers as well as the availability of a series of interesting floral fossils and a sound phylogenetic framework provide a strong basis for our project.

Projectpublications

2024

López-Martínez AM, Magallón S, von Balthazar M , Schönenberger J, Sauquet H, Chartier M. Angiosperm flowers reached their highest morphological diversity early in their evolutionary history. New Phytologist. 2024 Feb;241(3):1348-1360. doi: 10.1111/nph.19389

Lopez Martinez A, Magallón S, von Balthazar M , Schönenberger J, Sauquet H, Chartier M. Angiosperm flowers reached their highest morphological diversity early in their evolutionary history. In Bek J, Votočková Frojdová J, editors, XV International Palynological Congress - XI International Organization of Palaeobotany Conference: Abstract Book. Prag: CZECH-IN s. r. o. 2024

2023

López-Martínez A, Magallón S, von Balthazar-Schönenberger AML , Schönenberger J, Sauquet H, Chartier M. Angiosperm flowers reached their highest morphological diversity early in their evolutionary history. In Biosystematics 2023: Celebrating the past | Planning the future; Abstract Book. 2023. p. 123

2017

Chartier M, Loefstrand S, von Balthazar-Schönenberger AML, Gerber S, Jabbour F, Sauquet H et al. How (much) do flowers vary? Unbalanced disparity among flower functional modules and a mosaic pattern of morphospace occupation in the order Ericales. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences. 2017 Apr 12;284(1852):20170066. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0066

2016

Chartier M, Dressler S, Schönenberger J, Mora AR, Sarthou C, Wang W et al. The evolution of afro-montane Delphinium (Ranunculaceae): Morphospecies, phylogenetics and biogeography. Taxon. 2016 Dec;65(6):1313-1327. doi: 10.12705/656.6

Chartier M, Liagre S, Weiss-Schneeweiss H, Kolano B, Bessière JM, Schönenberger J et al. Floral traits and pollination ecology of European Arum hybrids. Oecologia. 2016 Feb;180(2):439–451. Epub 2015 Nov 9. doi: 10.1007/s00442-015-3498-9

2015

Chartier M, Gerber S, Löfstrand S, von Balthazar-Schönenberger AML, Jabbour F, Sauquet H et al. How (much) do flowers vary? – The floral morphospace of Ericales. In Botany 2015. Science and Plants for People. Abstracts. 2015. 124

Schönenberger J , Chartier M, Kriebel R. Morphospaces, Morphometrics, and Phylogenetics. In Botany 2015. Science and Plants for People. Abstracts. 2015. 118

2014

Chartier M, Jabbour F, Gerber S, Mitteroecker P, Sauquet H, von Balthazar M et al. The floral morphospace - a modern comparative approach to study angiosperm evolution. New Phytologist. 2014 Aug 19;204:841-853. doi: 10.1111/nph.12969