Speaker
Description
Angiosperms (flowering plants), with over 350k species, represent one of the most spectacular and enigmatic evolutionary radiations on earth. A potential explanation for this evolutionary success may be found in the unique functional traits (i.e. “key-innovations”) of angiosperms that presumably allowed them to colonise and compete in novel environments, establish new biotic interactions, and thus benefit from new “ecological opportunities” for diversification and trait evolution. A key but understudied innovation of angiosperms, in terms of its impact on macroevolutionary dynamics, is the evolution of fleshy fruits, a feature whereby angiosperms commonly entice animals to swallow and distribute their seeds. This innovation is thought to have been particularly crucial to solve a dispersal problem introduced by angiosperms entering rainforests, where shady conditions should create a selection pressure for larger and more energy-rich seeds able to grow taller before becoming fully self-reliant. These larger seeds are then hard to disperse via abiotic mechanisms, increasing the need for a trait, such as fleshy fruits, which delivers a biotic dispersal mechanism. Here, I will present results of the mechanisms by which fleshy fruits evolved, and their impact on species diversification of angiosperms.
| Status Group | Postdoctoral Researcher |
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