Lexer et al. 2015 (Conference Paper) Tillandsioideae, speciation

Speciation genomics and the (dis-) continuum between speciation and radiation in bromeliads

Author(s):—C. Lexer, L. Versieux, T. Barbará, C. Palma-Silva, M. de La Harpe, M. Paris, O. Loiseau, I. Olivares, A. Weigand, F. Marthaler, E. Bossolini, K. Stölting, M. Kessler, G. Martinelli & N. Salamin in Benko-Iseppon, A.M.; Alves, M. & Louzada, R. (2015) An overview and abstracts of the First World Congress on Bromeliaceae Evolution. Rodriguésia 66(2): A1-A66.

Corresponding email:—christian.lexer@unifr.ch

Publication:— (2015).

Abstract:—Rapid recent developments in ecological and evolutionary genomics have facilitated novel insights into the mechanisms of population divergence, speciation, and species diversification. These issues are not only considered to be among the most relevant topics in biology of our time, they are also of great relevance beyond fundamental science, because research in these topics is expected to further our understanding of the origin, maintenance, and functioning of biological diversity, which is a prerequisite for informed conservation and management efforts. A powerful approach to tackling the complex issues surrounding diversification is to explore genomic and biological data along the entire ?speciation continuum?, that is, the transition from continuous variation to differentiation among local populations, ecotypes, and biogeographic lineages, and on to complete speciation and post-speciational divergence. To date, most in-depth knowledge of these topics stems from a small number of model groups. Bromeliads represent a highly relevant study group for tackling these important issues among Neotropical plants, because (1) they represent a highly species-rich adaptive radiation present throughout the New World tropics, (2) many species and clades within the family appear to exhibit genomes of tractable complexity and size, (3) numerous well understood adaptive traits and key innovations have experienced rapid evolution within the family, (4) bromeliads are involved in diverse plant-animal interaction networks which renders them ecologically important foundation or keystone species. We will commence our talk by sketching current key concepts and approaches in speciation genomics, using published examples from our group. This will include ecological and evolutionary genomic work on ?model taxa? such as hybridizing temperate forest trees (Populus spp.; poplars, aspens, cottonwoods) and other plant groups from the world?s biodiversity ?hotspots?. From there, we will explore recently published and unpublished work on bromeliads by our group, focusing primarily on the speciation continuum in Brazilian species of Alcantarea and Vriesea in the subfamily Tillandsioideae. We will close by presenting a recently initiated research consortium that aims to close the gap that currently exists between micro-evolutionary studies of the speciation continuum and macro-evolutionary work on entire species radiations. Closing this gap is essential for achieving a more complete understanding of the dynamics and functioning of biological diversity. Bromeliads represent an ideal study group for focusing this research, but their extraordinary species richness and complexity represent challenges that can only be met by a collaborative, coordinated effort.

Keywords:—Speciation Continuum; Evolutionary Genomics; Radiation.