Dataset Information

A Phylogenetic Perspective on Biogeographical Divergence of the Flora in Yunnan, Southwestern China.

ABSTRACT: In recent years, an increasing number of studies incorporated biogeography with phylogenetic analyses to reveal the origin and evolutionary history of specific floras. In this study, we constructed the mega-phylogeny of the floras of three representative regions across Yunnan, southwestern China. We analyzed the phylogenetic structure and beta diversity based on the presence/absence of species (genus or family) data to investigate the phylogenetic patterns of regional floras. We found conspicuous divergence at the genus and species level in the pattern of phylogenetic structures, which most likely related to historical biogeography. The flora of southern Yunnan was shaped by the strike-slip extrusion of Indochina and the regional climatic stability, while the flora of northwestern Yunnan was shaped by the uplift of the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau and the oscillations of the glacial-interglacial periods. The flora of central Yunnan had nearly equal proportions of the northern and southern floras that may be derived from a common Tertiary tropical or subtropical flora. Geological events fit well with the floristic and phylogenetic patterns across Yunnan. This study highlighted the importance of linking phylogenetic analyses to biogeographic interpretations to improve our understanding of the origin, evolution and divergence of regional floras.

SUBMITTER: Liu S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5318862 | biostudies-other | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

ACCESS DATA

Publications

A Phylogenetic Perspective on Biogeographical Divergence of the Flora in Yunnan, Southwestern China.

Liu Shuiyin S Zhu Hua H Yang Jie J

Scientific reports 20170221

In recent years, an increasing number of studies incorporated biogeography with phylogenetic analyses to reveal the origin and evolutionary history of specific floras. In this study, we constructed the mega-phylogeny of the floras of three representative regions across Yunnan, southwestern China. We analyzed the phylogenetic structure and beta diversity based on the presence/absence of species (genus or family) data to investigate the phylogenetic patterns of regional floras. We found conspicuou ...[more]

PMID: 28220864

Similar Datasets

Project description:Spinescence has been thought to have evolved mainly as a defense against herbivores. Thus, studying its evolution in a whole flora is an excellent approach for understanding long-term plant-herbivore interactions. In this study, we characterized the spinescent plant species of Jiaozi Snow Mountain, Southwestern China, in order to explore the effects of life forms, plant organs, phylogenetic position, and phytogeographical origin on spinescence occurrence. The Jiaozi Snow Mountain flora includes 137 spinescent species (9.2%) out of 1488 angiosperm species. We found that in these spinescent species, vegetative organs (70.0%) were significantly more defended than reproductive organs (43.8%). Life form had a significant effect on spinescence occurrence. Woody species (18.6%) were more likely to be spiny than non-woody species (6.4%); moreover, woody species mostly defend their vegetative organs (92.2%), whereas herbaceous species mostly defend their reproductive organs (73.3%). For woody plants, leaf habit has a significant effect on spinescence. Specifically, spinescence was more common on the reproductive organs of deciduous woody species than on those of evergreen woody species; furthermore, spinescence was more common on the leaf blades of evergreens than on those of deciduous species; however, the proportion of spinescent petioles in deciduous species was significantly higher than in evergreens. The most common spine color was yellow (40.8%), followed by white (16.8%), red (15.8%), and brown (14.3%); furthermore, 74.4% of spinescence that showed aposematic color was a different color than the plant organ on which grown. These findings suggest that spinescence is visually aposematic in the Jiaozi Snow Mountain flora. Phylogenetically, more families tended to have spines on vegetative organs (83.3% in vegetative organs, 50.0% in reproductive organs), but the phylogenetic signals were weak. The proportion of spinescence was not significantly different between tropical (9.8% of genera, 7.6% of species) and temperate (13.2% of genera, 9.5% of species) elements. These results indicate that in the Jiaozi Snow Mountain flora spinescence evolved differently in various life forms and plant organs, but that these differences were not influenced by phylogenetic position or phytogeographical origin.

Project description:Atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) causes severe haze in China and is regarded as a threat to human health. The health effects of PM2.5 vary location by location due to the variation in size distribution, chemical com position, and sources. In this study, the cytotoxicity effect, oxidative stress, and gene expression regulation of PM2.5 in Chengdu and Chongqing, two typical urban areas in southern China, were evaluated. Urban PM2.5 in summer and winter significantly inhibited cell viability and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in A549 cells. Notably, PM2.5 in winter exhibited higher cytotoxicity and ROS level than summer. Moreover, in this study, PM2.5 commonly induced cancer-related gene expression such as cell adhesion molecule 1(PECAM1), interleukin 24 (IL24), and cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1); meanwhile, PM2.5 commonly acted on cancer-related biological functions such as cell-substrate junction, cell-cell junction, and focal adhesion. In partic ular, PM2.5 in Chengdu in summer had the highest carcinogenic potential among PM2.5 at the two sites in summer and winter. Importantly, cancer-related genes were uniquely targeted by PM2.5, such as epithelial splicing regu latory protein 1 (ESRP1) and membrane-associated ring-CH-type finger 1 (1-Mar) by Chengdu summer PM2.5; collagen type IX alpha 3 chain (COL9A3) by Chengdu winter PM2.5; SH2 domain-containing 1B (SH2D1B) by Chongqing summer PM2.5; and interleukin 1 receptor-like 1 (IL1RL1) and zinc finger protein 42 (ZNF423) by Chongqing winter PM2.5. Meanwhile, important cancer-related biological functions were specially induced by PM2.5, such as cell cycle checkpoint by Chengdu summer PM2.5; macromolecule methylation by Chengdu win ter PM2.5; endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment membrane by Chongqing summer PM2.5;and cellular lipid catabolic process by Chongqing winter PM2.5. Conclusively, in the typical urban areas of southern China, both summer and winter PM2.5 illustrated significant gene regulation effects. This study contrib utes to evaluating the adverse health effects of PM2.5 in southern China and providing public health suggestions for policymakers.

Dataset Information

A Phylogenetic Perspective on Biogeographical Divergence of the Flora in Yunnan, Southwestern China.

Publications

A Phylogenetic Perspective on Biogeographical Divergence of the Flora in Yunnan, Southwestern China.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets