Phylogenetic signal in flowering phenology weakens over elevation in the high Andes of Chile: evidence for evolutionary convergence in a harsh habitat
Our results suggest that environmental filtering of preadapted lineages plays a minor role in shaping high alpine community structure. Rather, intense environmental pressures at higher elevations appear to drive trait convergence in flowering phenology. We conclude that the general trend for phylogenetic conservatism in floral phenology has been overridden by the harsh environmental conditions in the high Andes. The high alpine environment can be seen as an evolutionary promoter of convergent phenological strategies rather than a gatekeeper of lineages preadapted to cold conditions.
Authors
- Jesús López‐Angulo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3539-2545)
- MARY T. K ARROYO
- Valeria Robles (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1087-0363)
- Pablo C. Guerrero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1034-1899)
- Paola Alejandra Jara-Arancio
- Ítalo Tamburrino
- Jeannine Cavender-Bares
Institutions
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Concepción (CL)
- Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (ES)
- Millennium Institute (BR)
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (CL)
- Evolutionary Genomics (United States) (US)
- Instituto de Ecología (MX)
- Universidad de Magallanes (CL)
- University of Chile (CL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Plant Science
- Published
- 2026-02-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1738754
- Primary Topic
- Plant and animal studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00