Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 99(2), С. 430 - 457
Опубликована: Дек. 11, 2023
ABSTRACT Vertebrate‐mediated seed dispersal is a common attribute of many living plants, and variation in the size abundance fleshy diaspores influenced by regional climate nature vertebrate dispersers among present‐day floras. However, potential drivers large‐scale distributions through geological time, importance geographic variation, are incompletely known. This knowledge gap important because key mechanism energy transfer from photosynthesis to animals may part explain diversification major groups within birds mammals. Various hypotheses have been proposed distribution including plant–frugivore co‐evolution, angiosperm diversification, changes vegetational structure climate. We present new data set more than 800 georeferenced fossil diaspore occurrences spanning Triassic–Oligocene, across low mid‐ high palaeolatitudes. use this quantify patterns long‐term change diaspores, examining timing geographical context shifts as test evolutionary climatic explanations. find that fruit sizes angiosperms increased for much Cretaceous, during early herbaceous ancestors with small fruits. Nevertheless, did not cause substantial net gymnosperms had achieved similar at least Late Triassic. Furthermore, gymnosperm‐dominated Mesozoic ecosystems were mostly open, harboured proportions specialised frugivores until latest suggesting vegetation co‐evolution probably over long timescales. Instead, be largely constrained physical or life‐history limits shared diversify plant group expands into different growth forms/sizes, habitats, regimes. gymnosperm floras (<50% taxa), was surpassed some low‐latitude Cretaceous. Eocene show latitude peak abundance, very fruits even exceed those seen latitudes both today. Mid‐ declined substantially Eocene–Oligocene transition, resulting shift modern‐like highest proportion occurring tropical assemblages. coincident global cooling onset Southern Hemisphere glaciation, rapid caused decrease availability conditions most favourable angiosperms. Future research could focused on environmental niches modern fruits, effects frugivore diversity.
Язык: Английский