Southeast Asian Dipterocarp origin and diversification driven by Africa-India floristic interchange

• DOI: 10.1126/science.abk2177
• Publication Date: 2022-01-27T18:57:26Z
• Authors: Mahi Bansal; Robert J. Morley; Shivaprakash K. N...; Suryendu Dutta; Ashish Kumar Mishra; Jeyakumar Selveraj; Sumit Kumar; Deepti Niyolia; Sachin Medigeshi ...; Omer Babiker Abde...; Shaa eldin Hasan; Bramasamdura Rang...; Selvadurai Dayana...; Harsanti P. Morley; Peter S. Ashton; Vandana Prasad
• Keywords: Dipterocarpaceae; Tropical Asia

The evolution and diversification of ancient megathermal angiosperm lineages with Africa-India origins in Asian tropical forests is poorly understood because the lack reliable fossils. Our palaeobiogeographical analysis pollen fossils from Africa India combined molecular data fossil amber records suggest a tropical-African origin Dipterocarpaceae during mid-Cretaceous its dispersal to Late Maastrichtian Paleocene, leading range expansion aseasonal dipterocarps on Indian Plate. India-Asia collision further facilitated similar climatic zones Southeast Asia, which supports their out-of-India migration. pathway suggested for may provide framework an alternative biogeographic hypothesis several families that are presently widely distributed Asia.