Plastid phylogenomics of tribe Perseeae (Lauraceae) yields insights into the evolution of East Asian subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests

Tian-Wen Xiao,Hai-Fei Yan,Xue-Jun Ge

doi:10.1186/s12870-021-03413-8

Abstract

BackgroundThe East Asian subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs) harbor remarkable biodiversity. However, their historical assembly remains unclear. To gain new insights into the assembly of this biome, we generated a molecular phylogeny of one of its essential plant groups, the tribe Perseeae (Lauraceae).ResultsOur plastid tree topologies were robust to analyses based on different plastid regions and different strategies for data partitioning, nucleotide substitution saturation, and gap handling. We found that tribe Perseeae comprised six major clades and began to colonize the subtropical EBLFs of East Asia in the early Miocene. The diversification rates of tribe Perseeae accelerated twice in the late Miocene.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the intensified precipitation in East Asia in the early Miocene may have facilitated range expansions of the subtropical EBLFs and establishment of tribe Perseeae within this biome. By the late Miocene, species assembly and diversification within the EBLFs had become rapid.

Highlights

The East Asian subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs) harbor remarkable biodiversity
Our analyses revealed that the most recent common ancestors (MRCAs) of Phoebe and Machilus occurred in tropical forests in the Oligocene and Miocene, respectively (Fig. 2b)
Our results indicate that tribe Perseeae from tropical forests in the late Paleogene colonized the East Asian subtropical EBLFs in the early Miocene, and this was possibly facilitated by changes in global moisture patterns, including periods of change to the intensity of the East Asian monsoon (EAM)

Summary

Introduction

The East Asian subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs) harbor remarkable biodiversity. Subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs) are an important vegetation type, and are primarily distributed in East Asia [1]. Over the past decades, the subtropical EBLFs have. Biomes, such as the EBLFs of East Asia, are assembled via a complex network of processes that occur at many spatial and temporal scales [5]. Assembly of a biome may be best understood through integrating over local, short-term ecological processes and longerterm, broader-scale evolutionary ones. Achieving a better understanding of the assembly of a biome and its historical dynamics can yield insights into the future of its biodiversity in a changing world [7, 8]. Our knowledge regarding the historical assembly of the East Asian subtropical EBLFs remains limited

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion