The interplay between climatic niche evolution, polyploidy and reproductive traits explains plant speciation in the Mediterranean Basin: a case study in (Gentianaceae).

Speciation and diversification patterns in angiosperms are frequently shaped by niche evolution. Hill is a Mediterranean genus with ca. 25 species, of which 60% are polyploids (tetra- and hexaploids), distributed mainly in the Mediterranean Basin and in areas with temperate and arid climates of Asia, Europe, North-Central Africa and North America.

Three complete chloroplast genomes from two north American Rhus species and phylogenomics of Anacardiaceae.

Background: The suamc genus Rhus (sensu stricto) includes two subgenera, Lobadium (ca. 25 spp.) and Rhus (ca.

High rate of species misidentification reduces the taxonomic certainty of European biodiversity databases of ivies (Hedera L.).

The digitization of natural history specimens and the popularization of citizen science are creating an unprecedented availability of large amounts of biodiversity data. These biodiversity inventories can be severely affected by species misidentification, a source of taxonomic uncertainty that is rarely acknowledged in biodiversity data management. For these reasons, taxonomists debate the use of online repositories to address biological questions at the species level.

A Protocol to Retrieve and Curate Spatial and Climatic Data from Online Biodiversity Databases Using R.

Ecological and evolutionary studies often require high quality biodiversity data. This information is readily available through the many online databases that have compiled biodiversity data from herbaria, museums, and human observations. However, the process of preparing this information for analysis is complex and time consuming.

A snapshot of progenitor-derivative speciation in Iberodes (Boraginaceae).

Traditional classification of speciation modes has focused on physical barriers to gene flow. Allopatric speciation with complete reproductive isolation is viewed as the most common mechanism of speciation. Parapatry and sympatry, by contrast, entail speciation in the face of ongoing gene flow, making them more difficult to detect.

Complete chloroplast genome of the grain Willd., an important economical and dietary plant.

The grain Willd. is the main traditional food of Inca aboriginal, which was a native grain in South American Andes Mountains, the edible and cultivation history of which has been more than five thousand years. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of on the Illumina platform by shotgun genome skimming method.

Being in the right place at the right time? Parallel diversification bursts favored by the persistence of ancient epizoochorous traits and hidden factors in Cynoglossoideae.

Premise Of The Study: Long-distance dispersal (LDD) syndromes, especially endozoochory, facilitate plant colonization of new territories that trigger diversification. However, few studies have analyzed how epizoochorous fruits influence both range distribution and diversification rates. We examined the evolutionary history of a hyperdiverse clade of Boraginaceae (subfamily Cynoglossoideae, eight tribes, ~60 genera, ~1100 species) and the evolution of fruit traits.

Correction: Pre-Holocene Origin for the Coronopus navasii Disjunction: Conservation Implications from Its Long Isolation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Pre-Holocene Origin for the Coronopus navasii Disjunction: Conservation Implications from Its Long Isolation.

Integration of unexpected discoveries about charismatic species can disrupt their well-established recovery plans, particularly when this requires coordinate actions among the different governments responsible. The Critically Endangered Coronopus navasii (Brassicaceae) was considered a restricted endemism to a few Mediterranean temporary ponds in a high mountain range of Southeast Spain, until a new group of populations were discovered 500 km North in 2006. Ten years after this finding, its management has not been accommodated due to limited information of the new populations and administrative inertia.

Karyotypic changes through dysploidy persist longer over evolutionary time than polyploid changes.

Chromosome evolution has been demonstrated to have profound effects on diversification rates and speciation in angiosperms. While polyploidy has predated some major radiations in plants, it has also been related to decreased diversification rates. There has been comparatively little attention to the evolutionary role of gains and losses of single chromosomes, which may or not entail changes in the DNA content (then called aneuploidy or dysploidy, respectively).

The origin of the early differentiation of ivies (Hedera L.) and the radiation of the Asian Palmate group (Araliaceae).

The Asian Palmate group is one of the four major clades of the family Araliaceae that is formed by 18 genera, including ivies (Hedera L.). The Mediterranean diversity centre and temperate affinity of ivies contrast with the inferred Asian centre of diversity of the primarily tropical and subtropical Asian Palmate group.

Quantitative morphology and species delimitation under the general lineage concept: Optimization for Hedera (Araliaceae).

Premise Of The Study: The use of continuous morphological characters in taxonomy is traditionally contingent on the existence of discrete diagnostic characters. When plant species are the result of recent divergence and gene flow and/or hybridization occur, the use of continuous morphological characters may help in species identification and delimitation. Between nine and 15 species have been recognized in the last treatments of Hedera.

Significance of ecological vicariance and long-distance dispersal in the diversification of Carex sect. Spirostachyae (Cyperaceae).

Plant disjunctions have provided one of the most intriguing distribution patterns historically addressed by biogeographers. Carex sect. Spirostachyae (Cyperaceae) displays an interesting pattern of disjunction to evaluate these scenarios, with species occurring in the main continental landmasses and in oceanic islands of the two hemispheres.

Strait of Gibraltar: an effective gene-flow barrier for wind-pollinated Carex helodes (Cyperaceae) as revealed by DNA sequences, AFLP, and cytogenetic variation.

The Strait of Gibraltar is the most important barrier disconnecting the landmasses of Europe and Africa on the western Mediterranean extreme. Carex helodes is a wind-pollinated species endemic to the western Mediterranean. Because molecular and cytogenetic data allow the inference of its evolutionary history, we analyzed variations in chromosome number, including meiotic chromosome behavior, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprints, and nucleotide substitutions in plastid and nuclear DNA sequences.

Molecular systematics and biogeography of Resedaceae based on ITS and trnL-F sequences.

The Resedaceae, containing 6 genera and ca. 85 species, are widely distributed in the Old World, with a major center of species diversity in the Mediterranean basin. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and plastid trnL-trnF sequences of 66 species from all genera of the Resedaceae reveal (1) monophyly of the family, in congruence with preliminary phylogenetic studies; (2) molecular support for the traditional morphological subdivision of the Resedaceae into three tribes according to ovary and placentation types, and carpel number; (3) two monophyletic genera (Caylusea, Sesamoides), and one natural group (core Reseda), which includes the remaining four genera of the family (Ochradenus, Oligomeris, Randonia, Reseda); (4) a monophyletic origin for four of the six taxonomic sections recognized within Reseda (Leucoreseda, Luteola, Glaucoreseda, Phyteuma).

Chloroplast and nuclear evidence for multiple origins of polyploids and diploids of Hedera (Araliaceae) in the Mediterranean basin.

Chloroplast (trnT-L) and nuclear rDNA (ITS) sequence analyses of the Araliaceae provide strong molecular evidence for the monophyly of the genus Hedera. Phylogenetic reconstructions suggest multiple origins and an active polyploidization process not only in the formation of tetraploids (2n = 96), hexaploids (2n = 144), and octoploids (2n = 192), but also of diploids (2n = 48). A high basic chromosome number of x = 24, extensive polyphyly in widespread diploids, and terminal placement of Hedera in phylogenies of the Araliaceae reveal that extant diploid taxa may be, in fact, assemblages of ancestral polyploids from plants of n = 12.

Phylogenetic position of Mediterranean Astereae and character evolution of daisies (Bellis, Asteraceae) inferred from nrDNA ITS sequences.

Phylogenetic analyses of nrITS sequences of Asteraceae revealed that the Bellis group is a natural assemblage comprising all the species of Bellis and Bellium, but not Rhynchospermum. In contrast, we propose to include the genera Bellis, Bellium, and Bellidastrum in the subtribe Bellidinae in the interest of circumscribing natural groups. Our results also suggest an early diversification in the western Mediterranean Basin of two monophyletic lineages, Bellis and Bellium.