Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Integrating Phylogenomics, Biogeography And Systematics To Explore The Taxonomy And The Rise Of The Ratsnakes, Xin Chen
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Understanding the evolutionary processes that create the spectacular diversity of organisms, both in species numbers and form, is a primary goal for biologists. Global ratsnakes are a species-rich assemblage with high morphological and ecological diversity and a distribution that encompasses both the Old World (OW) and the New World (NW). To explore the mechanism leading to the divergence of the ratsnakes, I tested the hypotheses regarding the area of origin and global dispersal, and examined the patterns of diversification and trait evolution. Given adaptive radiation via ecological opportunity, a diversity-dependent diversification pattern and an early burst trait evolutionary pattern are …
Systematics And Biogeography Of Orthaea Kloztsch (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae), Nelson Salinas
Systematics And Biogeography Of Orthaea Kloztsch (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae), Nelson Salinas
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
In the first chapter a study of the distribution patterns of the neotropical Vaccinieae (Ericaceae) is presented. Five areas of endemism were recovered: Central America, northern Chocó, southern Chocó, eastern Ecuador, and Yungas. Divergence times estimations indicate that the Andean clade of Vaccinieae migrated to South America during the Late Oligocene or Early Miocene (28.9-17.84 MA), and most of the subsequent diversification took place during the Tertiary. The Yungas was the first Andean area to be colonized, and several dispersals towards the north expanded their distribution range. Both areas of endemism and dispersal events were influenced by geological processes, such …