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Island geography drives evolution of rattan palms in tropical Asian rainforests

Abstract:
Distributed across two continents and thousands of islands, the Asian tropics are among the most species-rich areas on Earth. The origins of this diversity, however, remain poorly understood. Here, we reveal and classify contributions of individual tropical Asian regions to their overall diversity by leveraging species-level phylogenomic data and new fossils from the most species-rich Asian palm lineage, the rattans and relatives (Arecaceae, Calamoideae). Radiators (Borneo) generate and distribute diversity, incubators (Indochina, New Guinea, and Sulawesi) produce diversity in isolation, corridors (Java, Maluku, Sumatra, and the Thai-Malay Peninsula) connect neighboring regions, and accumulators (Australia, India, Palawan, and the Philippines) acquire diversity generated elsewhere. These contrasting contributions can be explained by differences in region size and isolation, elucidating how the unique island-dominated geography of the Asian tropics drives their outstanding biodiversity.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1126/science.adp3437

Authors


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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Biology
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-0944-5391
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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0009-0001-1927-658X
More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-6042-8290
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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-6334-9435


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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/03thb3e06


Publisher:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Journal:
Science More from this journal
Volume:
387
Issue:
6739
Pages:
1204-1209
Publication date:
2025-03-13
Acceptance date:
2025-01-08
DOI:
EISSN:
1095-9203
ISSN:
0036-8075
Pmid:
40080567


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
2097270
Local pid:
pubs:2097270
Deposit date:
2025-04-01

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