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dc.contributor.author | Maurin, O. | |
dc.contributor.author | Davies, T. Jonathan | |
dc.contributor.author | Burrows, John E. | |
dc.contributor.author | Daru, Barnabas H. | |
dc.contributor.author | Yessoufou, Kowiyou | |
dc.contributor.author | Muasya, A. Muthama | |
dc.contributor.author | Van der Bank, Michelle | |
dc.contributor.author | Bond, William J. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2015-08-24T05:49:54Z | |
dc.date.available | 2015-08-24T05:49:54Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2014-10 | |
dc.description.abstract | 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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 Ma. When contrasted with their tree relatives, geoxyles occur in regions characterized by higher rainfall and greater fire frequency. 4. 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. | en_ZA |
dc.description.embargo | 2015-10-31 | en_ZA |
dc.description.librarian | hb2015 | en_ZA |
dc.description.sponsorship | Government of Canada through Genome Canada and the Ontario Genomics Institute (2008-OGI-ICI-03), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada and the University of Johannesburg. | en_ZA |
dc.description.uri | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1469-8137 | en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation | Maurin, O, Davies, TJ, Burrows, JE, Daru, BH, Yessoufou, K, Muasya, AM, Van der Bank, M & Bond, WJ 2014, 'Savanna fire and the origins of the 'underground forests' of Africa', New Phytologist, vol. 2014, no. 1, pp. 201-214. | en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn | 0028-646X (print) | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1469-8137 (online) | |
dc.identifier.other | 10.1111/nph.12936 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/49453 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
dc.publisher | Wiley | en_ZA |
dc.rights | © 2014 New Phytologist Trust. This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article : Savanna fire and the origins of the 'underground forests' of Africa, New Phytologist, vol. 204, no. 1, pp.201-214, 2014. doi : 10.1111/nph.12936. The definite version is available at : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.comjournal/10.1111/(ISSN)1469-8137. | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Geoxylic suffrutex | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Fire adaptation | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Pliocene | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Phylogeny | en_ZA |
dc.subject | Trees of southern Africa | en_ZA |
dc.title | Savanna fire and the origins of the 'underground forests' of Africa | en_ZA |
dc.type | Postprint Article | en_ZA |