Eocene Loranthaceae pollen pushes back divergence ages for major splits in the family
Background We revisit the palaeopalynological record of Loranthaceae, using pollen ornamentation to discriminate lineages and to test molecular dating estimates for the diversification of major lineages. Methods Fossil Loranthaceae pollen from the Eocene and Oligocene are analysed and documented usi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PeerJ Inc.
2017-06-01
|
| Series: | PeerJ |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/3373.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827611112383709184 |
|---|---|
| author | Friðgeir Grímsson Paschalia Kapli Christa-Charlotte Hofmann Reinhard Zetter Guido W. Grimm |
| author_facet | Friðgeir Grímsson Paschalia Kapli Christa-Charlotte Hofmann Reinhard Zetter Guido W. Grimm |
| author_sort | Friðgeir Grímsson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background We revisit the palaeopalynological record of Loranthaceae, using pollen ornamentation to discriminate lineages and to test molecular dating estimates for the diversification of major lineages. Methods Fossil Loranthaceae pollen from the Eocene and Oligocene are analysed and documented using scanning-electron microscopy. These fossils were associated with molecular-defined clades and used as minimum age constraints for Bayesian node dating using different topological scenarios. Results The fossil Loranthaceae pollen document the presence of at least one extant root-parasitic lineage (Nuytsieae) and two currently aerial parasitic lineages (Psittacanthinae and Loranthinae) by the end of the Eocene in the Northern Hemisphere. Phases of increased lineage diversification (late Eocene, middle Miocene) coincide with global warm phases. Discussion With the generation of molecular data becoming easier and less expensive every day, neontological research should re-focus on conserved morphologies that can be traced through the fossil record. The pollen, representing the male gametophytic generation of plants and often a taxonomic indicator, can be such a tracer. Analogously, palaeontological research should put more effort into diagnosing Cenozoic fossils with the aim of including them into modern systematic frameworks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:00:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-487dd90b337946ec9ad6f552222a8df8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:00:25Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-487dd90b337946ec9ad6f552222a8df82023-12-03T00:46:58ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592017-06-015e337310.7717/peerj.3373Eocene Loranthaceae pollen pushes back divergence ages for major splits in the familyFriðgeir Grímsson0Paschalia Kapli1Christa-Charlotte Hofmann2Reinhard Zetter3Guido W. Grimm4Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Wien, AustriaThe Exelixis Lab, Scientific Computing Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Wien, AustriaDepartment of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Wien, AustriaDepartment of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Wien, AustriaBackground We revisit the palaeopalynological record of Loranthaceae, using pollen ornamentation to discriminate lineages and to test molecular dating estimates for the diversification of major lineages. Methods Fossil Loranthaceae pollen from the Eocene and Oligocene are analysed and documented using scanning-electron microscopy. These fossils were associated with molecular-defined clades and used as minimum age constraints for Bayesian node dating using different topological scenarios. Results The fossil Loranthaceae pollen document the presence of at least one extant root-parasitic lineage (Nuytsieae) and two currently aerial parasitic lineages (Psittacanthinae and Loranthinae) by the end of the Eocene in the Northern Hemisphere. Phases of increased lineage diversification (late Eocene, middle Miocene) coincide with global warm phases. Discussion With the generation of molecular data becoming easier and less expensive every day, neontological research should re-focus on conserved morphologies that can be traced through the fossil record. The pollen, representing the male gametophytic generation of plants and often a taxonomic indicator, can be such a tracer. Analogously, palaeontological research should put more effort into diagnosing Cenozoic fossils with the aim of including them into modern systematic frameworks.https://peerj.com/articles/3373.pdfPollen morphologyPollen as minimum age priorsUncorrelated clock node datingTopological uncertaintyPalaeophytogeographyLineage-through-time plot |
| spellingShingle | Friðgeir Grímsson Paschalia Kapli Christa-Charlotte Hofmann Reinhard Zetter Guido W. Grimm Eocene Loranthaceae pollen pushes back divergence ages for major splits in the family PeerJ Pollen morphology Pollen as minimum age priors Uncorrelated clock node dating Topological uncertainty Palaeophytogeography Lineage-through-time plot |
| title | Eocene Loranthaceae pollen pushes back divergence ages for major splits in the family |
| title_full | Eocene Loranthaceae pollen pushes back divergence ages for major splits in the family |
| title_fullStr | Eocene Loranthaceae pollen pushes back divergence ages for major splits in the family |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eocene Loranthaceae pollen pushes back divergence ages for major splits in the family |
| title_short | Eocene Loranthaceae pollen pushes back divergence ages for major splits in the family |
| title_sort | eocene loranthaceae pollen pushes back divergence ages for major splits in the family |
| topic | Pollen morphology Pollen as minimum age priors Uncorrelated clock node dating Topological uncertainty Palaeophytogeography Lineage-through-time plot |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/3373.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT friðgeirgrimsson eoceneloranthaceaepollenpushesbackdivergenceagesformajorsplitsinthefamily AT paschaliakapli eoceneloranthaceaepollenpushesbackdivergenceagesformajorsplitsinthefamily AT christacharlottehofmann eoceneloranthaceaepollenpushesbackdivergenceagesformajorsplitsinthefamily AT reinhardzetter eoceneloranthaceaepollenpushesbackdivergenceagesformajorsplitsinthefamily AT guidowgrimm eoceneloranthaceaepollenpushesbackdivergenceagesformajorsplitsinthefamily |