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Comparative evolutionary diversity and phylogenetic structure across multiple forest dynamics plots: a mega-phylogeny
David L Erickson1, Frank A Jones2, Nathan G Swenson3
1Department of Botany, Museum Routing Code-166, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC, USA.
Frontiers in Genetics
|November 22, 2014
Summary
A global mega-phylogeny of forest tree species improved community phylogenetic resolution and consistency. Forest communities assemble with more closely related species than expected, showing low differentiation and deep floristic connections.
Area of Science:
- Community ecology
- Phylogenetics
- Forest ecology
Background:
- Forest dynamics plots provide insights into ecological and evolutionary assembly processes.
- Phylogenetic relationships are crucial for understanding community assembly but are often limited by inaccurate species phylogenies.
- Accurate, high-resolution phylogenies are needed for robust comparisons between forest communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct a multi-community mega-phylogeny for 1347 tree species across 15 ForestGEO plots.
- To assess the advantage of a mega-phylogeny over individual plot phylogenies for ecological inference.
- To investigate phylogenetic diversity and community assembly patterns across global forest plots.
Main Methods:
- DNA barcode sequence data (rbcL, matK, psbA-trnH) were used to build a mega-phylogeny.
- Community phylogenies were compared for topological support and branch lengths.
- Phylogenetic diversity metrics (PD, MPD, MNTD) were estimated and partitioned among plots.
Main Results:
- The DNA barcode-based mega-phylogeny showed high evolutionary resolution.
- Phylogenetic resolution and consistency of diversity estimates improved for individual plots within the mega-phylogeny context.
- Forest communities comprised more closely related species than expected by chance, with low inter-community differentiation.
Conclusions:
- A multi-community mega-phylogeny enhances phylogenetic resolution and reduces bias in ecological studies.
- Global forest plots reveal non-random assembly of closely related species.
- Low differentiation among communities suggests widespread floristic connections, opening new research avenues.
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