Phylogenomic Study of <i>Monechma</i> Reveals Two Divergent Plant Lineages of Ecological Importance in the African Savanna and Succulent Biomes
<i>Monechma</i> Hochst. s.l. (Acanthaceae) is a diverse and ecologically important plant group in sub-Saharan Africa, well represented in the fire-prone savanna biome and with a striking radiation into the non-fire-prone succulent biome in the Namib Desert. We used RADseq to reconstruct...
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/6/237 |
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| author | Iain Darbyshire Carrie A. Kiel Corine M. Astroth Kyle G. Dexter Frances M. Chase Erin A. Tripp |
| author_facet | Iain Darbyshire Carrie A. Kiel Corine M. Astroth Kyle G. Dexter Frances M. Chase Erin A. Tripp |
| author_sort | Iain Darbyshire |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Monechma</i> Hochst. s.l. (Acanthaceae) is a diverse and ecologically important plant group in sub-Saharan Africa, well represented in the fire-prone savanna biome and with a striking radiation into the non-fire-prone succulent biome in the Namib Desert. We used RADseq to reconstruct evolutionary relationships within <i>Monechma</i> s.l. and found it to be non-monophyletic and composed of two distinct clades: Group I comprises eight species resolved within the <i>Harnieria</i> clade, whilst Group II comprises 35 species related to the Diclipterinae clade. Our analyses suggest the common ancestors of both clades of <i>Monechma</i> occupied savannas, but both of these radiations (~13 mya crown ages) pre-date the currently accepted origin of the savanna biome in Africa, 5–10 mya. Diversification in the succulent biome of the Namib Desert is dated as beginning only ~1.9 mya. Inflorescence and seed morphology are found to distinguish Groups I and II and related taxa in the Justicioid lineage. <i>Monechma</i> Group II is morphologically diverse, with variation in some traits related to ecological diversification including plant habit. The present work enables future research on these important lineages and provides evidence towards understanding the biogeographical history of continental Africa. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:15:27Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:15:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-dd16f88994db42a9a7d3c4b503fd130b2023-11-20T03:30:20ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-06-0112623710.3390/d12060237Phylogenomic Study of <i>Monechma</i> Reveals Two Divergent Plant Lineages of Ecological Importance in the African Savanna and Succulent BiomesIain Darbyshire0Carrie A. Kiel1Corine M. Astroth2Kyle G. Dexter3Frances M. Chase4Erin A. Tripp5Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, UKRancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont Graduate University, 1500 North College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711, USAScripps College, 1030 Columbia Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711, USASchool of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JN, UKNational Herbarium of Namibia, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, National Botanical Research Institute, Private Bag 13306, Windhoek 10005, NamibiaDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, UCB 334, Boulder, CO 80309, USA<i>Monechma</i> Hochst. s.l. (Acanthaceae) is a diverse and ecologically important plant group in sub-Saharan Africa, well represented in the fire-prone savanna biome and with a striking radiation into the non-fire-prone succulent biome in the Namib Desert. We used RADseq to reconstruct evolutionary relationships within <i>Monechma</i> s.l. and found it to be non-monophyletic and composed of two distinct clades: Group I comprises eight species resolved within the <i>Harnieria</i> clade, whilst Group II comprises 35 species related to the Diclipterinae clade. Our analyses suggest the common ancestors of both clades of <i>Monechma</i> occupied savannas, but both of these radiations (~13 mya crown ages) pre-date the currently accepted origin of the savanna biome in Africa, 5–10 mya. Diversification in the succulent biome of the Namib Desert is dated as beginning only ~1.9 mya. Inflorescence and seed morphology are found to distinguish Groups I and II and related taxa in the Justicioid lineage. <i>Monechma</i> Group II is morphologically diverse, with variation in some traits related to ecological diversification including plant habit. The present work enables future research on these important lineages and provides evidence towards understanding the biogeographical history of continental Africa.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/6/237AfricabiomeRADseq<i>Monechma</i><i>Justicia</i>phylogeny |
| spellingShingle | Iain Darbyshire Carrie A. Kiel Corine M. Astroth Kyle G. Dexter Frances M. Chase Erin A. Tripp Phylogenomic Study of <i>Monechma</i> Reveals Two Divergent Plant Lineages of Ecological Importance in the African Savanna and Succulent Biomes Diversity Africa biome RADseq <i>Monechma</i> <i>Justicia</i> phylogeny |
| title | Phylogenomic Study of <i>Monechma</i> Reveals Two Divergent Plant Lineages of Ecological Importance in the African Savanna and Succulent Biomes |
| title_full | Phylogenomic Study of <i>Monechma</i> Reveals Two Divergent Plant Lineages of Ecological Importance in the African Savanna and Succulent Biomes |
| title_fullStr | Phylogenomic Study of <i>Monechma</i> Reveals Two Divergent Plant Lineages of Ecological Importance in the African Savanna and Succulent Biomes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phylogenomic Study of <i>Monechma</i> Reveals Two Divergent Plant Lineages of Ecological Importance in the African Savanna and Succulent Biomes |
| title_short | Phylogenomic Study of <i>Monechma</i> Reveals Two Divergent Plant Lineages of Ecological Importance in the African Savanna and Succulent Biomes |
| title_sort | phylogenomic study of i monechma i reveals two divergent plant lineages of ecological importance in the african savanna and succulent biomes |
| topic | Africa biome RADseq <i>Monechma</i> <i>Justicia</i> phylogeny |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/6/237 |
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