RT Journal Article
T1 Deep vicariance and frequent transoceanic dispersal shape the evolutionary history of a globally distributed fern family
A1 Testo, Weston L.
A1 De Gasper, André L.
A1 Molino De Miguel, Sonia
A1 Gabriel Y Galán Moris, José María
A1 Salino, Alexandre
A1 Dittrich, Vinícius Antonio de Oliveira
A1 Sessa, Emily B.
AB Premise. The historical biogeography of ferns is typically expected to be dominated by long‐distance dispersal due to their minuscule spores. However, few studies have inferred the historical biogeography of a large and widely distributed group of ferns to test this hypothesis. Our aims were to determine the extent to which long‐distance dispersal vs. vicariance have shaped the history of the fern family Blechnaceae, to explore ecological correlates of dispersal and diversification, and to determine whether these patterns differ between the northern and southern hemispheres. Methods. We used sequence data for three chloroplast loci to infer a time‐calibrated phylogeny for 154 of 265 species of Blechnaceae, including representatives of all genera in the family. This tree was used to conduct ancestral range reconstruction and stochastic character mapping, estimate diversification rates, and identify ecological correlates of diversification. Results. Blechnaceae originated in Eurasia and began diversifying in the late Cretaceous. A lineage comprising most extant diversity diversified principally in the austral Pacific region around the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum. Land connections that existed near the poles during periods of warm climates likely facilitated migration of several lineages, with subsequent climate‐mediated vicariance shaping current distributions. Long‐distance dispersal is frequent and asymmetrical, with New Zealand/Pacific Islands, Australia, and tropical America being major source areas. Conclusions. Ancient vicariance and extensive long‐distance dispersal have shaped the history of Blechnaceae in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The exceptional diversity in austral regions appears to reflect rapid speciation in these areas; mechanisms underlying this evolutionary success remain uncertain.
PB John Wiley & Sons
SN 0002-9122
YR 2022
FD 2022-10
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/125012
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/125012
LA eng
NO Testo, W. L., de Gasper, A. L., Molino, S., Galán, J. M. G. y., Salino, A., Dittrich, V. A. d. O., & Sessa, E. B. (2022). Deep vicariance and frequent transoceanic dispersal shape the evolutionary history of a globally distributed fern family. American Journal of Botany, 109(10), 1579-1595. https://doi.org/10.1002/AJB2.16062
NO W.L.T. received support from NSF under Grant DEB-2045319.
NO National Science Foundation (U.S.)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 31 dic 2025