A5041790995- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Plant and animal studies
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Sesquiterpenes and Asteraceae Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Botanical Research and Chemistry
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Plant Toxicity and Pharmacological Properties
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Plant and fungal interactions
- Leaf Properties and Growth Measurement
University of Cape Town
2016-2025
University of Gothenburg
2024-2025
Göteborgs Stads
2024
University of Zurich
2006
The grasses (Poaceae) are the fifth most diverse family of angiosperms, including 800 genera and more than 10 000 species. Few phylogenetic studies have tried to investigate palaeo-biogeographical palaeo-ecological scenarios that may led present-day distribution diversity at level. We produced a dated tree based on combined plastid DNA sequences comprehensive sample Poaceae. Furthermore, we an additional using supermatrix morphological molecular data included all grass so ancestral...
In the last decade, efforts to reconstruct suprageneric phylogeny of Cyperaceae have intensified. We present an analysis 262 taxa representing 93 genera in 15 tribes, sequenced for plastid rbcL and trnL-F (intron intergenic spacer). are monophyletic resolved into two clades, here recognised as Mapanioideae Cyperoideae, overall topology is similar results from previous studies. Within Trilepideae sister rest whereas Cryptangieae, Bisboeckelerieae Sclerieae within Schoeneae. Cladium...
Summary 1. Small leaves of species endemic to Mediterranean‐type climate areas have been associated with both low rainfall and nutrient availability, but the physiological reasons for this association remain unknown. 2. We postulated that small thin boundary layers facilitate transpiration in winter sensible heat loss summer. High rates when water is available may acquisition winter, whereas efficient reduces requirement transpirational leaf cooling 3. The consequences varying sizes Cape...
Species co‐occurrence at fine spatial scales is expected to be nonrandom with respect phylogeny because of the joint effects evolutionary (trait convergence and conservatism) ecological (competitive exclusion habitat filtering) processes. We use data from 11 existing vegetation surveys test whether in schoenoid sedge assemblages Cape Floristic Region shows significant phylogenetic structuring examine this changes scale analysis. provide evidence for overdispersion an alliance closely related...
Transpiration may enhance mass-flow of nutrients to roots, especially in low-nutrient soils or where the root system is not extensively developed. Previous work suggested that nitrogen (N) regulate nutrients. Experiments were conducted determine whether N regulates water fluxes, and this regulation has a functional role controlling roots. Phaseolus vulgaris grown troughs designed create an availability gradient by restricting roots from intercepting slow-release source, which was placed at...
ABSTRACT Aim The Cape Fold Belt Mountains, underlying the fynbos flora, facilitate widespread moisture collection and groundwater availability across region, with importance for maintaining hydric habitat niches. We assessed contribution of habitat‐associated species (HH species) to richness this how varies phylogenetically spatially. Location Floristic Region (CFR), South Africa. Methods compiled data describing preference distributions 3114 in 23 clades. used published descriptions...
Transpiration-driven 'mass-flow' of soil-water can increase nutrient flow to the root surface. Here it was investigated whether transpiration could be partially regulated by status. Seeds Ehrharta calycina from nine sites across a rainfall gradient were supplied with slow-release fertilizer dibbled into sand surrounding roots and directly available through interception, mass-flow diffusion (dubbed 'interception'), or sequestered behind 40-microm mesh not accessible roots, but which nutrients...
Abstract C 4 grasses constitute the main component of savannas and are pervasive in other dry tropical ecosystems where they serve as diet for grazing animals. Among potential factors driving evolution grasses, interaction between grazers has not been investigated. To evaluate if increased pressure may have selected higher leaf silica production diverged, we reconstructed phylogeny all 800 genera grass family with both molecular (combined multiplastid DNA regions) morphological characters....
ABSTRACT Aim Interpretations of global‐scale patterns in foliar N and P concentrations N:P ratios across climatic gradients biomes often ignore complications imposed by taxonomic phylogenetic structure the nutrient constituent taxa. We analysed species from similar climate zones, but with contrasting soil fertility, to determine relative importance phylogeny geographic region driving concentrations. Location Mediterranean regions. Methods Mean 564 five mediterranean regions were compiled....
Abstract Rutaceae is a family of angiosperms well known for the economically important genus Citrus . The division into subfamilies still inadequate and provisional. Previous phylogenetic studies at level are characterized by limited sampling genera lack several crucial taxa. Here, we present study based on six nuclear plastid markers including 87.7% currently accepted genera, which more than twice as many in previous studies. Seven included analysis first time. Most clades resolved with...
Abstract Climatic and geological change may play a key role in stimulating biological radiations. Here, we use phylogenetic data to test whether the comparatively high diversity of ehrharteoid grasses Cape region South Africa is result rapid radiation associated with onset seasonally arid climate during late Miocene. A hypothesis based on morphological nucleotide sequence (nuclear ITS1 plastid trn L-F) confirms monophyly African Ehrharta species shows that diversification this lineage was...
Summary The rugged topography of the Cape Floristic Region ( CFR ), South Africa, is frequently invoked to explain spectacular radiation flora, but mechanisms involved remain unclear. Where recent authors emphasize importance elevation gradients as stimuli for ecological speciation, earlier workers stressed role an isolating mechanism, particularly in montane lineages. Using six plant lineages, we tested whether niches are phylogenetically conserved. We then assessed high‐elevation species...
In the context of molecularly-dated phylogenies, inferences informed by ancestral habitat reconstruction can yield valuable insights into origins biomes, palaeoenvironments and landforms. this paper, we use dated phylogenies 12 plant clades from Cape Floristic Region (CFR) in southern Africa to test hypotheses Neogene climatic geomorphic evolution. Our combined dataset for CFR strengthens refines previous palaeoenvironmental reconstructions based on a sparse, mostly offshore fossil record....
In most documented examples of adaptive radiation, the processes underlying divergence in form and function are poorly explored remain speculative. Here, data from a comparative seedling growth experiment used to explore Ehrharta, group grasses that radiated seasonally arid environments Cape region South Africa. Seedlings eight Ehrharta species variable were grown liquid culture under conditions high resource availabilty for 56 d, during which time changes dry mass, allocation, leaf...
We present a new generic classification of the largely Southern Hemisphere grass subfamily Danthonioideae. This is based on an almost completely sampled and well-resolved molecular phylogeny complete morphological data set. have attempted to delimit monophyletic genera (complicated by presence apparent intergeneric hybridization), which are diagnosable, as well morphologically ecogeographically coherent. recognize 17 genera, including five (Austroderia N. P. Barker & H. Linder, Capeochloa...
The flora of southern Africa is, for its latitude and area, very species-rich. Although the hyperdiverse Cape contributes almost half this richness, three other radiations (desert, grassland, woodland) contribute significantly to botanical wealth Africa. Each radiation occurs in a different ecological setting has diversification history. Such parallel can develop suitably complex environments, given gradual change through time no region-wide catastrophes. These four cross-seeded each other,...
Abstract In this study the contribution of climatic factors and phylogenetic relationships affecting geographical distribution C 3 4 genera Cyperaceae in South Africa was investigated. The δ 13 values herbarium specimens 68 southern African species from 22 eight tribes were used to assign either or photosynthetic pathway. Geographical data for investigate between number proportional abundance per region. 2° × square across varied less than five north‐western regions more 15 south‐western...