scholarly journals Convergent evolution in floral morphology in a plant ring species, the Caribbean Euphorbia tithymaloides

2019 ◽  
Vol 106 (7) ◽  
pp. 1032-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ivalú Cacho ◽  
María José Monteverde‐Suárez ◽  
Patrick J. McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Floral Morphology ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Ring Species

Geographic Patterns In Pollen Production In The Plant Ring Species Euphorbia tithymaloides In The Caribbean

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 845-853
Author(s):  
N. Ivalú Cacho ◽  
Daniel José-Zacatula
Keyword(s):  
Floral Morphology ◽  
Pollen Production ◽  
Geographic Pattern ◽  
Male Function ◽  
Inflorescence Morphology ◽  
Geographic Patterns ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Alternative Scenarios ◽  
Ring Species ◽  
Ovule Production

Abstract—We examine investment in male function in the context of geography and floral morphology in the plant ring species Euphorbia tithymaloides, which colonized the Caribbean from Mexico/Guatemala along two fronts that roughly correspond to the Greater and the Lesser Antilles and that meet in the vicinity of the Anegada Passage. Our results on investment in pollen relative to ovule production are consistent with E. tithymaloides relying on pollinators for reproduction across its range in the Caribbean. We document a geographic pattern of reduction in anther number and pollen:ovule ratios in populations of E. tithymaloides towards the Anegada Passage, which is consistent with a possible geographic transition towards a mixed breeding system where selfing has increased importance in this area where its two expansion fronts meet. The reduction in pollen production is correlated with inflorescence morphology, which converges to relatively shorter cyathia towards the Anegada Passage along both fronts. We discuss alternative scenarios and potential drivers of the patterns we document.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic analysis of Andinia (Pleurothallidinae; Orchidaceae) and a systematic re-circumscription of the genus

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 295 (2) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARK WILSON ◽  
GRAHAM S. FRANK ◽  
LOU JOST ◽  
ALEC M. PRIDGEON ◽  
SEBASTIAN VIEIRA-URIBE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Floral Morphology ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Evolutionary Diversification ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Deceit Pollination ◽  
Nuclear Its ◽  
The Individual

Most of the species studied in this paper have previously been placed in either Pleurothallis or Lepanthes. However, at one time or another, members of the group have also been placed in the genera Andinia, Brachycladium, Lueranthos, Masdevalliantha, Neooreophilus, Oreophilus, Penducella, Salpistele and Xenosia. Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ITS and plastid matK sequences indicate that these species form a strongly supported clade that is only distantly related to Lepanthes and is distinct from Pleurothallis and Salpistele. Since this clade includes the type species of Andinia, A. dielsii, and it has taxonomic precedence over all other generic names belonging to this group, Andinia is re-circumscribed and expanded to include 72 species segregated into five subgenera: Aenigma, Andinia, Brachycladium, Masdevalliantha and Minuscula. The required taxonomic transfers are made herein. We hypothesize that convergent evolution towards a similar pollinator syndrome involving deceit pollination via pseudocopulation by Diptera resulted in a similar floral morphology between species of subgenus Brachycladium and species of Lepanthes; hence the prior placement of the species of subgenus Brachycladium in Lepanthes. Species of the re-circumscribed Andinia are confined exclusively to the Andes, ranging from about 1,200 to 3,800 m, from Colombia south to Bolivia, making the generic name very apt. Elevational distributions of the individual clades are discussed in relation to the possible evolutionary diversification of the most species-rich clade, subgenus Brachycladium.

A new species of Andinia (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae) from Huánuco, Peru, and the first Peruvian locality for Andinia schizopogon

Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 361 (2) ◽  
pp. 222
Author(s):  
ALEX GUSTAVO DIAZ HERNÁNDEZ ◽  
LUIS ANTONIO OCUPA HORNA ◽  
LUIS ENRIQUE YUPANQUI GODO ◽  
MARK WILSON
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
National Park ◽  
Floral Morphology ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Species Pair ◽  
Pollination Syndromes ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Andinia in subgenus Andinia from Tingo María National Park is described, illustrated and compared to the most similar species pair.  Andinia tingomariana is distinguished by unguiculate, reniform, ciliate petals, a longer column without the terminal dilation and a trilobed, ciliate lip in which the narrow, semi-auriculate lateral lobes project upward around the column, adnate in the middle, creating a furrowed surface. The floral morphology of the new species is compared to that of the phylogenetically unrelated Salpistele group of Stelis and possible convergent evolution of pollination syndromes is discussed. Finally, the first confirmed locality of A. schizopogon is reported and a preliminary list of Andinia species in Peru is provided.

scholarly journals The Caribbean slipper spurge Euphorbia tithymaloides : the first example of a ring species in plants

2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1742) ◽  
pp. 3377-3383 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ivalú Cacho ◽  
David A. Baum
Keyword(s):  
Species Complex ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Virgin Islands ◽  
Greater Antilles ◽  
Species Integrity ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Northern South America ◽  
Ring Species

A ring species arises when a parental population expands around an area of unsuitable habitat in such a way that when the two fronts meet they behave as distinct species while still being connected through a series of intergrading populations. Ring species offer great possibilities for studying the forces causing species divergence (e.g. the nature of pre-zygotic or post-zygotic reproductive isolation) or helping to maintain species integrity (e.g. reinforcement). Yet, ring species are extremely rare, and have only been documented convincingly in animals. Here, we present phylogenetic analyses of two nuclear gene regions from the Caribbean slipper spurge ( Euphorbia tithymaloides ) species complex that provide evidence that this group forms a ring species. These data show that the species complex originated in the area where Mexico and Guatemala meet, and expanded around the Caribbean basin along two distinct fronts: one eastward through the Yucatan Peninsula and into the Greater Antilles (GA); one southeastward through northern South America and then northward to the Lesser Antilles and eastern GA. The two terminal forms co-occur in the Virgin Islands and appear to be morphologically and ecologically distinct. Thus, our results suggest that Euphorbia tithymaloides is the first compelling example of a ring species in plants.

Variation in tail morphology across urban and forest populations of the crested anole (Anolis cristatellus)

2019 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 632-644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia R Prado-Irwin ◽  
Liam J Revell ◽  
Kristin M Winchell
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Functional Significance ◽  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Caribbean Island ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Urban Sites ◽  
Shed Light

AbstractAnolis lizards are well known for their specialist ecomorphs characterized by the convergent evolution of suites of traits linked to the use of particular microhabitats. Many of these same traits evolve rapidly in response to novel selection pressures and have been very well studied. In contrast, the tail crest, a feature present in a subset of lineages, has been almost entirely overlooked. Variation in tail crest morphology within and among species remains largely unstudied, as does the function of the trait. Here, we use the natural experiment provided by urbanization to ask whether tail crest size differs between urban and forest populations of the crested anole (Anolis cristatellus) across the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. We find that tail crest size differs primarily between regions; however, within regions, crests are invariably larger in urban than in forest environments. This difference in size is correlated with the hotter, drier conditions and sparser distribution of perches that typify urban sites, leading to the intriguing possibility that the tail crest might be under differential natural selection for signalling and/or because of the thermoregulatory challenge of urban habitats. Further study is required to shed light on the functional significance and evolution of this under-studied trait.

Delusions in the Caribbean

1963 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-70
Author(s):  
WALTER MISCHEL
Keyword(s):  
The Caribbean
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