New insight into the phylogenetic and biogeographic history of genus Ficus: Vicariance played a relatively minor role compared with ecological opportunity and dispersal

摘要: Studies on the evolution of tropical taxa emphasize role vicariance and break-up Gondwana in explaining modern distributions. Earlier studies figs (Ficus spp.) support this view. In current study, we used an expanded sample (208 improved molecular dating techniques to reconstruct phylogenetic biogeographic history Ficus. Consistent with previous studies, our analysis indicated that ancestor Ficus was present Gondwana. However, a relaxed clock relying uncorrelated rates BEAST suggested Neotropical section Pharmacosycea split-off South America 86.67 Mya, other lineage ancestors originated India. Most basal lineages appeared have diverged following KT extinction, then rapidly diversified after India collided continental Asia. The Afrotropical species most likely evolved initially Indian subcontinent dispersed Africa, either late Cretaceous Madagascar or even later, Eocene collision Americana, island-hopped took northern route Americas through Europe prior terminal global cooling event. may arrived eastern Malesia Asia, widely thereafter. Given wide ranges date estimates, several scenarios are possible. contrary earlier reports, analyses suggest played relatively minor compared ecological opportunity dispersal diversification genus