Evolutionary lag times and recent origin of the biota of an ancient desert (Atacama–Sechura)

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1308721110
• Publication Date: 2013-06-25T04:20:05Z
• Authors: Pablo C. Guerrero; Marcelo Rosas; Mary T. K. Arroyo; John J. Wiens
• Keywords: Biota; Desert (philosophy)

The assembly of regional biotas and organismal responses to anthropogenic climate change both depend on the capacity organisms adapt novel ecological conditions. Here we demonstrate concept evolutionary lag time, time between when a climatic regime or habitat develops in region it is colonized by given clade. We analyzed colonization four clades (three plant genera one lizard genus) into Atacama–Sechura Desert South America, Earth’s driest oldest deserts. reconstructed time-calibrated phylogenies for each clade timing shifts distributions biogeography compared these estimates independent geological origin Chaetanthera Malesherbia (plants) Liolaemus (animal) invaded arid regions last 10 million years, some 20 years after initial onset aridity region. There are also major times they habitats within (typically 4–14 years). Similarly, hyperarid climates developed ∼8 ago, but most diverse ( Nolana ) only them ∼2 ago. Similar may occur other habitats, results important suggesting that many lineages require very long scales modern desertification change.