Savanna fire and the origins of the 'underground forests' of Africa
© 2014 The Authors New Phytologist © 2014 New Phytologist Trust.
| Veröffentlicht in: | The New phytologist. - 1979. - 204(2014), 1 vom: 15. Okt., Seite 201-214 |
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| 1. Verfasser: | |
| Weitere Verfasser: | , , , , , , |
| Format: | Online-Aufsatz |
| Sprache: | English |
| Veröffentlicht: |
2014
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| Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk: | The New phytologist |
| Schlagworte: | Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Pliocene fire adaptation geoxylic suffrutex phylogeny savanna trees of southern Africa underground forests |
| Zusammenfassung: | © 2014 The Authors New Phytologist © 2014 New Phytologist Trust. The origin of fire-adapted lineages is a long-standing question in ecology. Although phylogeny can provide a significant contribution to the ongoing debate, its use has been precluded by the lack of comprehensive DNA data. Here, we focus on the 'underground trees' (=geoxyles) of southern Africa, one of the most distinctive growth forms characteristic of fire-prone savannas. We placed geoxyles within the most comprehensive dated phylogeny for the regional flora comprising over 1400 woody species. Using this phylogeny, we tested whether African geoxyles evolved concomitantly with those of the South American cerrado and used their phylogenetic position to date the appearance of humid savannas. We found multiple independent origins of the geoxyle life-form mostly from the Pliocene, a period consistent with the origin of cerrado, with the majority of divergences occurring within the last 2 million yr. When contrasted with their tree relatives, geoxyles occur in regions characterized by higher rainfall and greater fire frequency. Our results indicate that the geoxylic growth form may have evolved in response to the interactive effects of frequent fires and high precipitation. As such, geoxyles may be regarded as markers of fire-maintained savannas occurring in climates suitable for forests |
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| Beschreibung: | Date Completed 09.05.2016 Date Revised 17.03.2022 published: Print-Electronic CommentIn: New Phytol. 2014 Oct;204(1):4-6. - PMID 25154641 Citation Status MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1469-8137 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/nph.12936 |