Abstract Detail

Empirical Approaches to Phylogenetic Comparative Methods in Plant Science

Hinchliff, Cody [1], Smith, Stephen A. [2], Soltis, Douglas E. [3], Drew, Bryan T. [4].

Evolutionary patterns and processes of epiphytism in vascular plants.

Vascular plants include 350,000 or more species and play critical roles in Earth's terrestial ecosystems. Much of this diversity consists of epiphytic species specialized to grow on the surfaces of other plants (notably tree canopies). Vascular epiphytes are ecologically important, especially in the tropics, and comprise about 10% of global vascular plant diversity. In many cases, epiphytism is phylogenetically conserved, with several large clades making up the great majority of vascular epiphyte diversity. However, epiphytes may be characterized by a diversity of ecological strategies, and epiphytism itself has evolved independently in many lineages. The processes that underlie the evolution of epiphytism in vascular plants, however, are not well understood. Here we more thoroughly characterize the phylogenetic patterns of epiphytism in vascular plants using a nearly complete generic-level phylogeny (containing about 90% of vascular plant genera), and test a variety of hypotheses regarding underlying evolutionary processes.

1 - Biological Sciences, 2071A Kraus Nat. Sciences, 830 N University, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1048, USA
2 - University of Michigan, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2071A Kraus Natural Science Building, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
3 - University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, PO Box 117800, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
4 - Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-85

Keywords:
epiphytism
systematics
tracheophyta.

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: C1
Location: Summit/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 3:00 PM
Number: C1007
Abstract ID:838
Candidate for Awards:None