IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v14y2023i1d10.1038_s41467-023-43396-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Diversification of flowering plants in space and time

Author

Listed:
  • Dimitar Dimitrov

    (Peking University
    University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen
    University of Copenhagen
    University of Oslo)

  • Xiaoting Xu

    (Peking University
    University of Copenhagen
    Sichuan University)

  • Xiangyan Su

    (Peking University
    Ministry of Natural Resources)

  • Nawal Shrestha

    (Peking University
    Lanzhou University)

  • Yunpeng Liu

    (Peking University)

  • Jonathan D. Kennedy

    (University of Copenhagen
    University of Copenhagen
    University of Sheffield)

  • Lisha Lyu

    (Peking University
    Peking University)

  • David Nogués-Bravo

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • James Rosindell

    (Imperial College London)

  • Yong Yang

    (Nanjing Forestry University)

  • Jon Fjeldså

    (University of Copenhagen
    University of Oslo)

  • Jianquan Liu

    (Sichuan University)

  • Bernhard Schmid

    (University of Zurich)

  • Jingyun Fang

    (Peking University)

  • Carsten Rahbek

    (University of Copenhagen
    University of Copenhagen
    University of Southern Denmark)

  • Zhiheng Wang

    (Peking University
    University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

The rapid diversification and high species richness of flowering plants is regarded as ‘Darwin’s second abominable mystery’. Today the global spatiotemporal pattern of plant diversification remains elusive. Using a newly generated genus-level phylogeny and global distribution data for 14,244 flowering plant genera, we describe the diversification dynamics of angiosperms through space and time. Our analyses show that diversification rates increased throughout the early Cretaceous and then slightly decreased or remained mostly stable until the end of the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction event 66 million years ago. After that, diversification rates increased again towards the present. Younger genera with high diversification rates dominate temperate and dryland regions, whereas old genera with low diversification dominate the tropics. This leads to a negative correlation between spatial patterns of diversification and genus diversity. Our findings suggest that global changes since the Cenozoic shaped the patterns of flowering plant diversity and support an emerging consensus that diversification rates are higher outside the tropics.

Suggested Citation

  • Dimitar Dimitrov & Xiaoting Xu & Xiangyan Su & Nawal Shrestha & Yunpeng Liu & Jonathan D. Kennedy & Lisha Lyu & David Nogués-Bravo & James Rosindell & Yong Yang & Jon Fjeldså & Jianquan Liu & Bernhard, 2023. "Diversification of flowering plants in space and time," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43396-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43396-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43396-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-023-43396-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alexandra Auderset & Simone Moretti & Björn Taphorn & Pia-Rebecca Ebner & Emma Kast & Xingchen T. Wang & Ralf Schiebel & Daniel M. Sigman & Gerald H. Haug & Alfredo Martínez-García, 2022. "Enhanced ocean oxygenation during Cenozoic warm periods," Nature, Nature, vol. 609(7925), pages 77-82, September.
    2. Amy E. Zanne & David C. Tank & William K. Cornwell & Jonathan M. Eastman & Stephen A. Smith & Richard G. FitzJohn & Daniel J. McGlinn & Brian C. O’Meara & Angela T. Moles & Peter B. Reich & Dana L. Ro, 2014. "Correction: Corrigendum: Three keys to the radiation of angiosperms into freezing environments," Nature, Nature, vol. 514(7522), pages 394-394, October.
    3. Amy E. Zanne & David C. Tank & William K. Cornwell & Jonathan M. Eastman & Stephen A. Smith & Richard G. FitzJohn & Daniel J. McGlinn & Brian C. O’Meara & Angela T. Moles & Peter B. Reich & Dana L. Ro, 2014. "Three keys to the radiation of angiosperms into freezing environments," Nature, Nature, vol. 506(7486), pages 89-92, February.
    4. Stilianos Louca & Matthew W. Pennell, 2020. "Extant timetrees are consistent with a myriad of diversification histories," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7804), pages 502-505, April.
    5. Daniel L. Rabosky & Jonathan Chang & Pascal O. Title & Peter F. Cowman & Lauren Sallan & Matt Friedman & Kristin Kaschner & Cristina Garilao & Thomas J. Near & Marta Coll & Michael E. Alfaro, 2018. "An inverse latitudinal gradient in speciation rate for marine fishes," Nature, Nature, vol. 559(7714), pages 392-395, July.
    6. C. Klak & G. Reeves & T. Hedderson, 2004. "Unmatched tempo of evolution in Southern African semi-desert ice plants," Nature, Nature, vol. 427(6969), pages 63-65, January.
    7. James C. Zachos & Gerald R. Dickens & Richard E. Zeebe, 2008. "An early Cenozoic perspective on greenhouse warming and carbon-cycle dynamics," Nature, Nature, vol. 451(7176), pages 279-283, January.
    8. W. Jetz & G. H. Thomas & J. B. Joy & K. Hartmann & A. O. Mooers, 2012. "The global diversity of birds in space and time," Nature, Nature, vol. 491(7424), pages 444-448, November.
    9. James S. Eldrett & David R. Greenwood & Ian C. Harding & Matthew Huber, 2009. "Increased seasonality through the Eocene to Oligocene transition in northern high latitudes," Nature, Nature, vol. 459(7249), pages 969-973, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Andrea Santangeli & Benjamin Weigel & Laura H. Antão & Elina Kaarlejärvi & Maria Hällfors & Aleksi Lehikoinen & Andreas Lindén & Maija Salemaa & Tiina Tonteri & Päivi Merilä & Kristiina Vuorio & Otso , 2023. "Mixed effects of a national protected area network on terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Sarah T. Friedman & Martha M. Muñoz, 2023. "A latitudinal gradient of deep-sea invasions for marine fishes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Jamie B. Thompson & Tania Hernández-Hernández & Georgia Keeling & Marilyn Vásquez-Cruz & Nicholas K. Priest, 2024. "Identifying the multiple drivers of cactus diversification," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Felipe O. Cerezer & Cristian S. Dambros & Marco T. P. Coelho & Fernanda A. S. Cassemiro & Elisa Barreto & James S. Albert & Rafael O. Wüest & Catherine H. Graham, 2023. "Accelerated body size evolution in upland environments is correlated with recent speciation in South American freshwater fishes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Hong Qian & Shenhua Qian & Jian Zhang & Michael Kessler, 2024. "Effects of climate and environmental heterogeneity on the phylogenetic structure of regional angiosperm floras worldwide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Maxime Policarpo & Maude W. Baldwin & Didier Casane & Walter Salzburger, 2024. "Diversity and evolution of the vertebrate chemoreceptor gene repertoire," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Yina Ma & Shixiong Wang & Qing Zhang & Kun Guo & Yuejun He & Danmei Chen & Mingzhen Sui & Guangqi Zhang & Lipeng Zang & Qingfu Liu, 2022. "Aerial Seeding Promotes the Restoration of Ecosystem Health in Mu Us Sandy Grasslands in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, August.
    8. Gregory Thom & Marcelo Gehara & Brian Tilston Smith & Cristina Y. Miyaki & Fábio Raposo Amaral, 2021. "Microevolutionary dynamics show tropical valleys are deeper for montane birds of the Atlantic Forest," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Eric Strobl, 2022. "Preserving local biodiversity through crop diversification," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(3), pages 1140-1174, May.
    10. Hong Qian, 2024. "Reassessing data quality underlying the recently updated floristic map of the world," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-3, December.
    11. Heather R. Kates & Brian C. O’Meara & Raphael LaFrance & Gregory W. Stull & Euan K. James & Shui-Yin Liu & Qin Tian & Ting-Shuang Yi & Daniel Conde & Matias Kirst & Jean-Michel Ané & Douglas E. Soltis, 2024. "Shifts in evolutionary lability underlie independent gains and losses of root-nodule symbiosis in a single clade of plants," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    12. Tong Qiu & Robert Andrus & Marie-Claire Aravena & Davide Ascoli & Yves Bergeron & Roberta Berretti & Daniel Berveiller & Michal Bogdziewicz & Thomas Boivin & Raul Bonal & Don C. Bragg & Thomas Caignar, 2022. "Limits to reproduction and seed size-number trade-offs that shape forest dominance and future recovery," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    13. Kun Guo & Petr Pyšek & Mark Kleunen & Nicole L. Kinlock & Magdalena Lučanová & Ilia J. Leitch & Simon Pierce & Wayne Dawson & Franz Essl & Holger Kreft & Bernd Lenzner & Jan Pergl & Patrick Weigelt & , 2024. "Plant invasion and naturalization are influenced by genome size, ecology and economic use globally," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    14. Valentin Journé & Andrew Hacket-Pain & Michał Bogdziewicz, 2023. "Evolution of masting in plants is linked to investment in low tissue mortality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    15. Andrew F Magee & Sebastian Höhna & Tetyana I Vasylyeva & Adam D Leaché & Vladimir N Minin, 2020. "Locally adaptive Bayesian birth-death model successfully detects slow and rapid rate shifts," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(10), pages 1-23, October.
    16. Jan Smyčka & Anna Toszogyova & David Storch, 2023. "The relationship between geographic range size and rates of species diversification," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    17. Laurent Augusto & Antra Boča, 2022. "Tree functional traits, forest biomass, and tree species diversity interact with site properties to drive forest soil carbon," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    18. Joan Garcia-Porta & Daniel Sol & Matt Pennell & Ferran Sayol & Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou & Carlos A. Botero, 2022. "Niche expansion and adaptive divergence in the global radiation of crows and ravens," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    19. Yunpeng Liu & Xiaoting Xu & Dimitar Dimitrov & Loic Pellissier & Michael K. Borregaard & Nawal Shrestha & Xiangyan Su & Ao Luo & Niklaus E. Zimmermann & Carsten Rahbek & Zhiheng Wang, 2023. "An updated floristic map of the world," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    20. Xinwen Zhang & Uriel Gélin & Robert A. Spicer & Feixiang Wu & Alexander Farnsworth & Peirong Chen & Cédric Del Rio & Shufeng Li & Jia Liu & Jian Huang & Teresa E. V. Spicer & Kyle W. Tomlinson & Paul , 2022. "Rapid Eocene diversification of spiny plants in subtropical woodlands of central Tibet," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43396-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.