Biology subjects

Arjona, Y.

Publications and source records attributed to Arjona, Y..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Trait-dependent diversification and spatio-ecological limits drive angiosperm diversity unevenness across the Canary Islands archipelago

Island biotas often show highly uneven species richness among lineages, influenced by clade age, diversification rates, and/or spatio-ecological limits. However, disentangling these drivers has been challenging due to the lack of comprehensive datasets across multiple lineages in the same geographical arena. The flora of the Canary Islands includes hundreds of plant lineages with contrasting species richness and harbours the highest number of species that evolved their woodiness in-situ ("insular woodiness"). Here, we present a phylogenomic reconstruction for Canary Island angiosperms and show that diversity unevenness in the flora is not driven by lineage age but by trait-dependent diversification and spatio-ecological limits. Our phylogenomic dataset, based on 1,244 newly generated and 501 published DNA sequences for 669 Canary Island species and 771 closely related mainland taxa, allows us to simultaneously study 435 plant lineages ([~]50% of total). Applying dynamic stochastic modelling, we find the flora is shaped by high extinction and colonisation rates, maintaining a macroevolutionary equilibrium. Additionally, insular woody lineages exhibit higher diversification rates than the remaining flora. Our results suggest the uneven diversity of a highly dynamic insular region can be explained by the interaction of trait evolution and ecological constraints, providing insights into island biodiversity dynamics.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Taming Darwin's conundrum: On the role of phylogenetic and functional differentiation in plant naturalization on oceanic islands

O_LIBiological invasions are a major threat to global biodiversity, particularly on oceanic islands and their unique and fragile biotas. However, the complexity of the processes underlying invasions has prevented the identification of general patterns explaining why some plant species successfully establish and spread beyond their native ranges. C_LIO_LIWe investigated Darwins naturalization conundrum in the most species-rich angiosperm family of the Canary Islands, considering two invasion stages across two spatial scales. Using a high-resolution phylogeny covering the Asteraceae species from the archipelago and functional traits measured from fresh specimens, we calculated phylogenetic and functional distances of invasive and noninvasive introduced species to natives. C_LIO_LIOur findings reveal that successful introduced Asteraceae species were phylogenetically distant from native relatives, with invasive species even more distantly related than noninvasive introduced species to their closest native relative. Functionally, noninvasive species were distinct, while invasive species showed unexpected similarity to native species. These patterns were consistent across spatial scales. C_LIO_LIThis study underscores the importance of a multidimensional approach to understanding plant invasion success. Identifying key patterns driving biological invasions is crucial for developing effective strategies against future ecological disruptions on islands. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Genetic legacies of mega-landslides: cycles of isolation and contact across flank collapses in an oceanic island

Catastrophic flank collapses are recognised as important drivers of insular biodiversity dynamics, through the disruption of species ranges and subsequent allopatric divergence. However, little empirical data supports this conjecture, with their evolutionary consequences remaining poorly understood. Using genome-wide data within a population genomics and phylogenomics framework, we evaluate how mega-landslides have impacted evolutionary and demographic history within a species complex of weevils (Curculionidae) within the Canary island of Tenerife. We reveal a complex genomic landscape, within which individuals of single ancestry were sampled in areas characterised by long-term geological stability, relative to the timing of flank collapses. In contrast, individuals of admixed ancestry were almost exclusively sampled within the boundaries of flank collapses. Estimated divergence times among ancestral populations aligned with the timings of mega-landslide events. Our results provide first evidence for a cyclical dynamic of range fragmentation and secondary contact across flank collapse landscapes, with support for a model where this dynamic is mediated by Quaternary climate oscillations. The context within which we reveal climate and topography to interact cyclically through time to shape the geographic structure of genetic variation, together with related recent work, highlights the importance of topoclimatic phenomena as an agent of diversification within insular invertebrates.

evolutionary biology↗