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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Savanna fire and the origins of the 'underground forests' of Africa
New Phytologist, Volume 204, No. 1, Year 2014
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Description
The origin of fire-adapted lineages is a long-standing question in ecology. Although phylogeny can provide a significant contribution to the ongoing debate, its use has been precluded by the lack of comprehensive DNA data. Here, we focus on the 'underground trees' (=geoxyles) of southern Africa, one of the most distinctive growth forms characteristic of fire-prone savannas. We placed geoxyles within the most comprehensive dated phylogeny for the regional flora comprising over 1400 woody species. Using this phylogeny, we tested whether African geoxyles evolved concomitantly with those of the South American cerrado and used their phylogenetic position to date the appearance of humid savannas. We found multiple independent origins of the geoxyle life-form mostly from the Pliocene, a period consistent with the origin of cerrado, with the majority of divergences occurring within the last 2 million yr. When contrasted with their tree relatives, geoxyles occur in regions characterized by higher rainfall and greater fire frequency. Our results indicate that the geoxylic growth form may have evolved in response to the interactive effects of frequent fires and high precipitation. As such, geoxyles may be regarded as markers of fire-maintained savannas occurring in climates suitable for forests. © 2014 New Phytologist Trust.
Authors & Co-Authors
Maurin, Olivier
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of Johannesburg
Davies, T. Jonathan
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of Johannesburg
Canada, Montreal
Université Mcgill
Burrows, John E.
South Africa, Lydenburg
Buffelskloof Herbarium
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Daru, Barnabas H.
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of Johannesburg
Yessoufou, Kowiyou
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of Johannesburg
South Africa, Pretoria
University of South Africa
Muasya, A. Muthama
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
van der Bank, Michelle
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of Johannesburg
Bond, William J.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
South Africa, Grahamstown
South African Environmental Observation Network
Statistics
Citations: 191
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/nph.12936
ISSN:
0028646X
e-ISSN:
14698137
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics