Evolution of the Xerocarpa clade (<i>Opuntia</i>; Opuntieae): Evidence for the Role of the Grand Canyon in the Biogeographic History of the Iconic Beavertail Cactus and Relatives
The formation of the western North American drylands has led to the evolution of an astounding diversity of species well adapted for such communities. Complex historical patterns often underlie the modern distribution of the flora and fauna of these areas. We investigated the biogeography of a group...
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| author | Lucas C. Majure Thomas H. Murphy Matias Köhler Raul Puente Wendy C. Hodgson |
| author_facet | Lucas C. Majure Thomas H. Murphy Matias Köhler Raul Puente Wendy C. Hodgson |
| author_sort | Lucas C. Majure |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The formation of the western North American drylands has led to the evolution of an astounding diversity of species well adapted for such communities. Complex historical patterns often underlie the modern distribution of the flora and fauna of these areas. We investigated the biogeography of a group of desert-adapted prickly pears, known as the Xerocarpa clade, from western North America. The Xerocarpa clade originated in the mid-late Pliocene, likely on the Colorado Plateau, and then moved south into the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts, and California montane regions, further diversifying, mostly into the Quaternary. The southward trajectory of the clade was likely greatly influenced by the formation of the Grand Canyon. The synapomorphy of dry fruit presumably impeded the long-distance dispersibility of the beavertail cactus, <i>Opuntia basilaris</i>, while dry, spiny fruit may have enabled <i>O. polyacantha</i> to substantially increase its distribution. <i>Opuntia basilaris</i> evolved a pubescent epidermis, allowing it to invade hotter, drier conditions, while the spine-clothed stems of <i>O. polyacantha</i> may have given it an advantage for increasing its northern range into colder environments. The Xerocarpa clade shows a cold desert origin, and changes in morphological characters have made these sister taxa well adapted for invading broadscale, but oftentimes contrasting habitats. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:43:06Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:43:06Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-8c1b9582a7574bf895ebcfd662c559da2023-11-18T21:00:27ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-07-011214267710.3390/plants12142677Evolution of the Xerocarpa clade (<i>Opuntia</i>; Opuntieae): Evidence for the Role of the Grand Canyon in the Biogeographic History of the Iconic Beavertail Cactus and RelativesLucas C. Majure0Thomas H. Murphy1Matias Köhler2Raul Puente3Wendy C. Hodgson4University of Florida Herbarium (FLAS), Florida Museum, Department of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USAUniversity of Florida Herbarium (FLAS), Florida Museum, Department of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USACentro de Ciências Humanas e Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), Sorocaba 18052-780, SP, BrazilDepartment of Research and Conservation, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USADepartment of Research and Conservation, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USAThe formation of the western North American drylands has led to the evolution of an astounding diversity of species well adapted for such communities. Complex historical patterns often underlie the modern distribution of the flora and fauna of these areas. We investigated the biogeography of a group of desert-adapted prickly pears, known as the Xerocarpa clade, from western North America. The Xerocarpa clade originated in the mid-late Pliocene, likely on the Colorado Plateau, and then moved south into the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts, and California montane regions, further diversifying, mostly into the Quaternary. The southward trajectory of the clade was likely greatly influenced by the formation of the Grand Canyon. The synapomorphy of dry fruit presumably impeded the long-distance dispersibility of the beavertail cactus, <i>Opuntia basilaris</i>, while dry, spiny fruit may have enabled <i>O. polyacantha</i> to substantially increase its distribution. <i>Opuntia basilaris</i> evolved a pubescent epidermis, allowing it to invade hotter, drier conditions, while the spine-clothed stems of <i>O. polyacantha</i> may have given it an advantage for increasing its northern range into colder environments. The Xerocarpa clade shows a cold desert origin, and changes in morphological characters have made these sister taxa well adapted for invading broadscale, but oftentimes contrasting habitats.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/14/2677Colorado PlateauMojave Desert<i>Opuntia</i>prickly pearsSonoran Desert |
| spellingShingle | Lucas C. Majure Thomas H. Murphy Matias Köhler Raul Puente Wendy C. Hodgson Evolution of the Xerocarpa clade (<i>Opuntia</i>; Opuntieae): Evidence for the Role of the Grand Canyon in the Biogeographic History of the Iconic Beavertail Cactus and Relatives Plants Colorado Plateau Mojave Desert <i>Opuntia</i> prickly pears Sonoran Desert |
| title | Evolution of the Xerocarpa clade (<i>Opuntia</i>; Opuntieae): Evidence for the Role of the Grand Canyon in the Biogeographic History of the Iconic Beavertail Cactus and Relatives |
| title_full | Evolution of the Xerocarpa clade (<i>Opuntia</i>; Opuntieae): Evidence for the Role of the Grand Canyon in the Biogeographic History of the Iconic Beavertail Cactus and Relatives |
| title_fullStr | Evolution of the Xerocarpa clade (<i>Opuntia</i>; Opuntieae): Evidence for the Role of the Grand Canyon in the Biogeographic History of the Iconic Beavertail Cactus and Relatives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolution of the Xerocarpa clade (<i>Opuntia</i>; Opuntieae): Evidence for the Role of the Grand Canyon in the Biogeographic History of the Iconic Beavertail Cactus and Relatives |
| title_short | Evolution of the Xerocarpa clade (<i>Opuntia</i>; Opuntieae): Evidence for the Role of the Grand Canyon in the Biogeographic History of the Iconic Beavertail Cactus and Relatives |
| title_sort | evolution of the xerocarpa clade i opuntia i opuntieae evidence for the role of the grand canyon in the biogeographic history of the iconic beavertail cactus and relatives |
| topic | Colorado Plateau Mojave Desert <i>Opuntia</i> prickly pears Sonoran Desert |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/14/2677 |
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