Island life - classification, speciation and cryptic species ofPycnandra(Sapotaceae) in New Caledonia

• DOI: 10.1111/boj.12308
• Publication Date: 2015-07-14T19:15:26Z
• Authors: Ulf Swenson; Jérôme Munzinger; Porter P. Lowry; Bodil Cronholm; Stephan Nylinder
• Keywords: Subgenus; Species complex; Lineage (genetic); Maximum parsimony

Pycnandra (Sapotaceae), the largest endemic genus in New Caledonia, comprises 66 species classified six subgenera. We tested phylogenetic relationships and a proposed infrageneric classification by sampling 60 for sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ETS, ITS, RPB2) plastid (trnH–psbA) nine morphological characters. Data were analysed with Bayesian inference, parsimony jackknifing lineage through time. recovered tree supporting recognition subgenera (Achradotypus, Leptostylis, Pycnandra, Sebertia, Trouettia Wagapensia). Because subgeneric is used, nomenclature will be stable when members are transferred to Pycnandra. Morphological traits optimized BEAST analysis, adding evidence earlier work that morphology has limited value successfully diagnosing groups Sapotaceae. confirm previously suspected case cryptic exhibit same features require abiotic conditions, but distantly related tree. detected two possible new cases sibling might warrant recognition. A slowdown speciation rate several genera been suggested as Caledonia was once submerged after rifting from Australia. Plotting lineages time reveals important intervals at 7.5–8.6 Ma present 1.5 Ma, net molecular diversification within zero. This indicates presently reached dynamic equilibrium, providing additional an old Darwinian island, being during Eocene colonized re-emergence c. 37 Ma.