Abstract Detail

Systematics

Kron, Kathleen A [1], Ghandforoush, Titian [2], Rodriguez-Pena, Rosa A. [3].

Phylogenetic Relationships of Caribbean and Central American blueberries (Vaccinieae, Ericaceae).

The tropical and subtropical islands of the Caribbean are home to many endemic species of Ericaceae, yet these are often overlooked or poorly sampled in phylogenetic studies that analyze relationships broadly across the Neotropics. In this study we investigated the evolutionary relationships of Caribbean Vaccinieae with a focus on species endemic to the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Previous analyses of Neotropical blueberries have had very limited sampling from Vaccinium species that are recognized as endemic to Hispaniola and Cuba (e.g., V. bissei, V. cubense, V. ekmanii) and taxa such as Symphysia racemosa and Vaccinium poasanum have not been sampled from more than one locality. Relationships of these taxa are also confusing because of differing classifications or repeated taxonomic changes, e.g., the transfer of Symphysia racemosa to Vaccinium and/or the recognition of several species of Symphysia due to transfers from Vaccinium to Symphysia. These species and representatives of other Caribbean Vaccinieae were analyzed in combination with Vaccinieae from Central America, e.g., Vaccinium talamancense and Didonica subsessilis. Representatives from the major clades of South American Vaccinieae together with those of Asian tropical and Northern Hemisphere taxa were included in the analyses to provide a broad evolutionary context. DNA sequence data was obtained from coding and non-coding regions in the chloroplast and nuclear genomes. Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods were used to analyze partitioned and combined data. Results support the monophyly of the MesoAmerican clade and its sister group, the Andean Clade. Relationships of Caribbean and Central America endemics indicate a complex evolutionary history, especially among species currently recognized as members of Vaccinium. These results mirror the complex biogeographic history of the Caribbean region and provide further evidence for the polyphyly of the currently circumscribed genus Vaccinium.

1 - Wake Forest University, Department Of Biology, 1834 Wake Forest Road, WINSTON-SALEM, NC, 27106, USA
2 - Wake Forest University, Biology, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
3 - Jardí­n Botánico Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Keywords:
Caribbean
Greater Antilles
endemic/rare
Vaccinieae
Ericaceae
Biogeography
phylogeny.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 12, Rosids II/Basal Asterids & Asterids I part A
Location: 102/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 4:15 PM
Number: 12011
Abstract ID:461
Candidate for Awards:None