Ongoing climate change is one of the most important threats to biodiversity and crop sustainability. The impact of climate change is often evaluated on the basis of expected changes in species’ geographical distributions, yet genomic diversity, local adaptation, and migration are seldom integrated into projections of species responses to climate change.
Tree ferns
Spatial genetic structure in tree ferns
Spatial genetic structure (SGS) in plants, namely the spatial aggregation of genetically related individuals, has been linked to several biological attributes of species, such as breeding system and life form. However, little is known about SGS in ferns, which together with lycopods are unique among land plants in having two free-living life stages.
Rates of molecular evolution in tree ferns
Variation in the rates of molecular evolution among lineages (heterotachy) has been widely documented throughout the tree of life. However, the processes influencing the speed at which DNA evolves in different lineages are not well understood. Continue reading
Species diversification in scaly tree ferns
Variation in species diversity among lineages is a major feature of evolution. However, factors affecting species diversification remain largely unexplored, specially in plants. Continue reading
