Abstract
AbstractHybridization can facilitate both evolutionary diversification and extinction and has had a critical role in plant evolution, with c. 25% of species known to hybridize in some temperate floras. However, in the species-rich Neotropical flora, the role of hybridization in the evolution of diversity remains unclear. Our review examines studies of hybridization in seed plants from across the Neotropics and explores its outcomes on Neotropical plant evolution. We review studies on a per-biome basis and a spectrum of evolutionary outcomes from hybridization are evident across Neotropical biomes and taxa. These range from short-term impacts, such as the broadening of ecological amplitude in hybrid progeny with transgressive phenotypes and genetic swamping, through to long term impacts, such as the generation of new lineages. Among these studies certain themes emerge, such as the pervasive hybridization among species-rich plant radiations from the Andean páramos, suggesting a role for hybridization in rapid diversification events. Finally, we highlight that hybridization is relatively understudied in the Neotropical flora, despite its remarkable species richness. The advent of genomic techniques can facilitate the study of hybridization and its effects in understudied biomes and plant groups. The increasing availability of genomic resources will eventually allow comparisons between tropical and temperate floras and therefore shed light on the evolutionary impacts of hybridization across the latitudinal biodiversity gradient.
Highlights
Hybridization is a common occurrence among certain lineages and is known to generate evolutionary novelty, in plants (Rieseberg et al, 2007)
Floristic inventories of just 1610 sites in seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) across the Neotropics recorded 7338 species of free-standing woody plants alone (DRYFLOR: Banda et al, 2016), indicative of a species diversity that rivals that in rainforests and savannas. Another major portion of the biological diversity of the Neotropics is found in the Andes, which harbour different biomes, distinct elevational zones and isolated valleys, making the wider cordillera an ideal location for speciation and adaptive radiation (Hughes & Eastwood, 2006; Elias et al, 2009; Madriñán, Cortés & Richardson, 2013)
Given that many rapid plant radiations elsewhere present significant evidence of hybridization (e.g. Hawaiian silverswords: Barrier et al, 1999), our goal in this review is to evaluate the role that interspecific gene flow has played in generating Neotropical plant diversity
Summary
Hybridization can facilitate both evolutionary diversification and extinction and has had a critical role in plant evolution, with c. We review studies on a per-biome basis and a spectrum of evolutionary outcomes from hybridization are evident across Neotropical biomes and taxa These range from short-term impacts, such as the broadening of ecological amplitude in hybrid progeny with transgressive phenotypes and genetic swamping, through to long term impacts, such as the generation of new lineages. Among these studies certain themes emerge, such as the pervasive hybridization among species-rich plant radiations from the Andean páramos, suggesting a role for hybridization in rapid diversification events.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
