Ecological specialization promotes diversity and diversification in the East Mediterranean genus Ricotia (Brassicaceae)

摘要: Despite its amazing biodiversity, the Eastern Mediterranean remains a highly understudied region especially when compared to Western Mediterranean. Scarcity of such studies restrict our understanding processes shaping diversity across entire To this end we used combination molecular markers and presence/absence data from all species Mediterrranean genus Ricotia collected full geographic range determine historical, ecological evolutionary factors responsible for lineage-specific diversification in genus. Network analysis based on nuclear ribosomal chloroplast DNA revealed high genetic structure within lineages phylogenetic reconstructions multispecies coalescent showed that lineage corresponded onset climate. Reconstruction ancestral histories indicate originated Anatolia slowly spread Levant using Taurus mountains. Ecological niche models climatic environmental variables suggest local populations did not go through any major distributional shifts have persisted present day habitats since LGM. Furthermore, differentiation tests significant differences between closely related main predicting limits be different each species. Our results give crucial information patterns show factor promoting dynamics specialization large scale latitudinal movements as often reported southern Europe. By determining regional global an eastern further trends influencing plant basin whole.