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Dispersal limitations, rather than bottlenecks or habitat specificity, can restrict the distribution of rare and endemic rainforest trees
Citation
Rossetto, M and Kooyman, R and Sherwin, W and Jones, RC, Dispersal limitations, rather than bottlenecks or habitat specificity, can restrict the distribution of rare and endemic rainforest trees, American Journal of Botany, 95, (3) pp. 321-329. ISSN 0002-9122 (2008) [Refereed Article]
Abstract
Despite their narrow distribution, Australian rainforests still contain considerable levels of diversity and include many ancient,
but often rare, lineages. Very little is known about the general biology of rainforest species, yet their long-term management depends
on a better understanding of the main factors leading to rarity. For instance, are they highly endemic taxa, at the early stages
of expansion, nearing the end of a period of decline, or persisting at low numbers over the long term? In this study we combine
molecular, environmental, and ecological data to identify the factors responsible for the narrow distribution of a paleoendemic
rainforest tree: Elaeocarpus sedentarius (Elaeocarpaceae). Between-population and between-generation comparisons of genetic
diversity across all known populations of E. sedentarius show evidence of mutation – drift equilibrium rather than evidence of a
recent bottleneck. Similarly, fl oristic and environmental data negate the hypothesis of rarity as a consequence of highly specialized
habitat requirements. Instead, genetic structure and the available ecological data support the hypothesis of dispersal limitation as
the main cause of endemism and that the species may have attained genetic equilibrium without realizing its full niche potential.
We suggest that these factors are likely to explain narrow endemism in a broader range of taxa.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Evolutionary biology |
Research Field: | Evolutionary biology not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Other environmental management |
Objective Field: | Other environmental management not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Jones, RC (Dr Rebecca Jones) |
ID Code: | 55789 |
Year Published: | 2008 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 57 |
Deposited By: | Plant Science |
Deposited On: | 2009-03-13 |
Last Modified: | 2009-05-18 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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