Evolutionary ecology ofAgave: distribution patterns, phylogeny, and coevolution (an homage to Howard S. Gentry)
| Autor: | Valeria Souza, Ofelia A Jiménez Barrón, Niza Gámez, Jaime Gasca-Pineda, Erika Aguirre-Planter, Gabriela Castellanos-Morales, Luis E. Eguiarte, Enrique Scheinvar, Alejandra Moreno-Letelier |
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| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Plant Science 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Agave Pollinator Genus Southwestern United States Genetics Animals Nectar Leptonycteris Pollination Keystone species Mexico Phylogeny Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Coevolution Ecology biology Bees biology.organism_classification Evolutionary ecology 010606 plant biology & botany |
| Zdroj: | American Journal of Botany. 108:216-235 |
| ISSN: | 1537-2197 0002-9122 |
| Popis: | With more than 200 species, the genus Agave is one of the most interesting and complex groups of plants in the world, considering for instance its great diversity and adaptations. The adaptations include the production of a single, massive inflorescence (the largest among plants) where after growing for many years, sometimes more than 30, the rosette dies shortly afterward, and the remarkable coevolution with their main pollinators, nectarivorous bats, in particular of the genus Leptonycteris. The physiological adaptations of Agave species include a photosynthetic metabolism that allows efficient use of water and a large degree of succulence, helping to store water and resources for their massive flowering event. Ecologically, the agaves are keystone species on which numerous animal species depend for their subsistence due to the large amounts of pollen and nectar they produce, that support many pollinators, including bats, perching birds, hummingbirds, moths, and bees. Moreover, in many regions of Mexico and in the southwestern United States, agaves are dominant species. We describe the contributions of H. S. Gentry to the understanding of agaves and review recent advances on the study of the ecology and evolution of the genus. We analyze the present and inferred past distribution patterns of different species in the genus, describing differences in their climatic niche and adaptations to dry conditions. We interpret these patterns using molecular clock data and phylogenetic analyses and information of their coevolving pollinators and from phylogeographic, morphological, and ecological studies and discuss the prospects for their future conservation and management. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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