Caribbean Island Asteraceae: Systematics, Molecules, and Conservation on a Biodiversity Hotspot

Abstract

The Caribbean Islands are one of the ten insular biodiversity hotspots that are defined based on endemicity, massive habitat loss and vulnerability to extinction. Asteraceae genera endemic to islands have provided well known examples of plant radiation worldwide and illustrate the importance of these insular systems for evolutionary and conservation studies. A review of known patterns of taxonomic diversity and molecular cladistics is provided for Asteraceae genera and species endemic in the Caribbean Island biodiversity hotspot. We found that when compared with other island systems worldwide the Caribbean Islands have the highest number of endemic genera (41), have endemic genera in the highest number of tribes, and harbor the only Asteraceae tribe endemic to an island system, the Feddeeae which is restricted to Cuba. These unique patterns identify the Caribbean Islands as the most important insular area of endemism for this major plant family. Molecular cladistic studies are limited to only seven species in seven endemic genera and six endemic species in five non-endemic genera. These few studies are however relevant as: (1) they confirm the tribal status of the Feddeeae, (2) suggest colonization events from the highlands of Cuba toward low elevation and geologically recent areas of the Bahamas and South Florida, (3) provide evidence for biogeographical links to remote regions of the Pacific Basin, and (4) identify sister relationships with continental taxa, mostly from North America.Resumen Las Islas del Caribe son uno de los diez "punto calientes" insulares de biodiversidad, los cuales vienen definidos por sus niveles de endemicidad, masiva pérdida de habitat y vulnerabilidad y extinción. Asteráceas endémicas de islas han proporcionado ejemplos muy bien conocidos de radiación vegetal a nivel mundial, éstos ilustran la importancia de los sistemas insulares en estudios evolutivos y de conservación. Se presenta una revisión de las pautas de diversidad taxonómica y de

In and out of Madagascar: Dispersal to Peripheral Islands, Insular Speciation and Diversification of Indian Ocean Daisy Trees (Psiadia, Asteraceae)

“…Insular lineages of Asteraceae provide many examples of repeated and often high rates of diversification following colonization (see [118] for an extensive summary). Observed high diversification rates for Psiadia in clades A and B and the repeated pattern of regional subclade diversification are suggestive of a general propensity for cladogenesis when exposed to isolated habitat and when confronted with initial low population densities.…”

Molecular systematics of Selenops spiders (Araneae: Selenopidae) from North and Central America: implications for Caribbean biogeography

“…Molecular phylogenetic data from the genera Croton (Euphorbiaceae) (van Ee et al ., 2008) and Styrax (Styracaceae) (Fritsch, 2003) show that the timing of divergence of lineages is consistent with the GAARlandia hypothesis. However, similar data from endemic legume radiations in the Greater Antilles, although initially thought to indicate ancient splitting between lineages consistent with the GAARlandia hypothesis (Lavin et al ., 2001), show more recent diversification (Lavin & Beyra‐Matos, 2008), which is likely to hold also for lineages of Asteraceae (Francisco‐Ortega et al ., 2008).…”

“…beetles (Liebherr, 1988b), flies (Wilder & Hollocher, 2003)] and plants [e.g. lineages within the Melastomaceae (Michelangeli et al ., 2008) and Asteraceae (Francisco‐Ortega et al ., 2008)]. Although studies to date have provided insights into how the individual lineages have colonized and subsequently diversified within the island system, notable controversies remain, including the source of colonists and the means by which they colonized the islands, biogeographic patterns within lineages and whether these patterns might be expected to be shared across multiple lineages (Guyer & Savage, 1986; Williams, 1989; Hedges, Hass & Maxon, 1992; Crother & Guyer, 1996; Hedges, 1996a,b).…”

Zamia (Cycadales: Zamiaceae) on Puerto Rico: Asymmetric genetic differentiation and the hypothesis of multiple introductions

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