Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Phylogeny01:28

Microbial Phylogeny

Understanding the evolutionary relationships among microorganisms is fundamental to microbial ecology and taxonomy. Phylogenetic trees are essential tools for inferring these relationships, relying primarily on comparative analyses of molecular sequences such as DNA, RNA, or proteins. In microbial studies, these trees typically depict the evolutionary paths of diverse bacterial and archaeal species by mapping genetic differences accumulated over time.Phylogenetic trees are composed of tips,...
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons02:54

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.
Phylogeny01:23

Phylogeny

Phylogeny is concerned with the evolutionary diversification of organisms or groups of organisms. A group of organisms with a name is called a taxon (singular). Taxa (plural) can span different levels of the evolutionary hierarchy. For instance, the group containing all birds is a taxon (comprising the class Aves), and the group of all species of daisies (the genus Bellis) is a taxon. Phylogenies can likewise include just one genus (i.e., depict species relationships) or span an entire...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Squirrels reduce post-fire regeneration potential in serotinous pines.

Annals of botany·2026
Same author

High phylogenetic turnover magnifies evolutionary relatedness along bacterial primary succession.

Ecology·2026
Same author

Does fire-induced bud mortality reduce phenotypic variability?

Annals of botany·2026
Same author

Reimagining plant science training in the era of generative artificial intelligence: a global perspective.

The Plant cell·2026
Same author

Fire-stimulated flowering enhances multiple plant fitness components.

Annals of botany·2026
Same author

Drought response of fire-adapted Mediterranean shrubs under elevated CO2.

Tree physiology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin
08:57

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

Burning phylogenies: fire, molecular evolutionary rates, and diversification.

Miguel Verdú1, Juli G Pausas, José Gabriel Segarra-Moragues

  • 1Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CSIC-UV-GV), Apdo Oficial, 46470 Albal (Valencia), Spain. Miguel.Verdu@uv.es

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|September 5, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Fire-prone ecosystems feature seeders and resprouters. Contrary to theory, seeders do not exhibit higher molecular evolution or diversification rates than resprouters, suggesting fire

More Related Videos

A Practical Guide to Phylogenetics for Nonexperts
12:00

A Practical Guide to Phylogenetics for Nonexperts

Published on: February 5, 2014

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
10:23

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin
08:57

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

A Practical Guide to Phylogenetics for Nonexperts
12:00

A Practical Guide to Phylogenetics for Nonexperts

Published on: February 5, 2014

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
10:23

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Plant Evolutionary Ecology
  • Molecular Evolution

Background:

  • Mediterranean-type ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots where fire plays a crucial evolutionary role.
  • Plant species in these ecosystems exhibit contrasting life-history strategies: resprouters (survive fire) and seeders (rely on post-fire recruitment).
  • Shorter generation times in seeders were hypothesized to increase molecular evolutionary and diversification rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether seeders exhibit higher molecular evolutionary rates than resprouters.
  • To determine if seeders have higher diversification rates compared to resprouters.
  • To test theoretical predictions linking life-history strategies and evolutionary rates in fire-prone environments.

Main Methods:

  • Molecular evolutionary rates were compared across DNA regions in 45 phylogenetically paired congeneric taxa exhibiting seeder and resprouter life histories.
  • Differential diversification was analyzed using topological and chronological methods in five genera from Australia and South Africa.
  • Phylogenetic analyses were conducted on taxa from fire-prone Mediterranean-type ecosystems.

Main Results:

  • Seeders did not show significantly higher molecular evolutionary rates than resprouters.
  • No significant differences in diversification rates were found between seeder and resprouter lineages.
  • Findings contradicted theoretical predictions regarding generation time and evolutionary rates.

Conclusions:

  • The study's results suggest that the hypothesized link between seeding strategy, shorter generation times, and accelerated molecular evolution/diversification is not supported.
  • Potential explanations for the lack of difference include life-history switches near terminal branches, somatic mutations in resprouters, or non-determinate germ-line replication.
  • Fire's role as a direct driver of diversification through differential life-history strategies is not a universal rule in fire-prone ecosystems.