RT Journal Article
T1 Shaped by mountains, driven by climate: the rise of the Neotropical Carex sect. Fecundae
A1 Lois Madera, Raúl
A1 García Moro, Pablo
A1 Morales Alonso, Ana
A1 Cano, Asunción
A1 Dorr, Laurence J
A1 Escudero, Marcial
A1 González-Elizondo, M Socorro
A1 Reznicek, Anton A
A1 Ruiz-Sánchez, Eduardo
A1 Wen, Jun
A1 Acedo, Carmen
A1 Jiménez Mejías, Pedro
K1 Ancestor
K1 Andes
K1 Biogeography
K1 Biome
K1 Central America
K1 Mexico
K1 Neotropics
K1 Orogeny
AB Background and AimsCarex sect. Fecundae is a diverse group of sedges comprising 39 species, notable as a fully tropical lineage within a genus otherwise dominated by boreotemperate elements. Its distribution spans montane regions from Central Mexico to northern Chile and Argentina, where it occupies a variety of habitats. Despite its diversity and ecological importance, the section has remained understudied. The aim of this study was to generate the first nearly complete phylogeny of sect. Fecundae, to clarify evolutionary relationships, reconstruct its biogeographical history and identify the drivers underlying its diversification.MethodsWe conducted phylogenetic analyses including 37 of the 39 known taxa of the section. Historical biogeographical reconstructions were used to infer dispersal pathways and colonization events. Climatic and ecological data were integrated to assess bioclimatic niche evolution, and morphological traits were evaluated for their potential role in diversification.Key ResultsAnalyses strongly support the monophyly of sect. Fecundae, with the exception of Carex hebetata. The phylogeny reveals evidence of rapid diversification associated with complex geological and climatic processes, particularly the uplift of mountain ranges in Mexico, Central America and the Andes. Biogeographical results suggest that the ancestor of the section dispersed long distance from North America to the Central Andes, followed by a progressive northward expansion into Central America and Mexico. Diversification coincided with Miocene global cooling and mountain uplifting, promoting adaptation to montane grasslands, shrublands and tropical moist broadleaf forests. Temperature and precipitation emerged as key variables shaping bioclimatic niches, with marked ecological differentiation between South American and Mexican lineages. Morphological features, such as stigma number and nutlet invaginations, appear to have influenced lineage divergence.ConclusionsThe evolutionary history of sect. Fecundae reflects an interplay of long-distance dispersal, niche conservatism and local adaptation, enabling successful colonization of tropical montane environments. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of Neotropical montane biodiversity and highlight the dynamic processes shaping the evolution of tropical sedges.
PB Oxford University Press
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10433/27255
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10433/27255
LA en
NO R Lois, P García Moro, A Morales Alonso, A Cano, L J Dorr, M Escudero, M S González-Elizondo, A A Reznicek, E Ruiz-Sánchez, J Wen, C Acedo, P Jiménez Mejías, Shaped by Mountains, Driven by Climate: The Rise of the Neotropical Carex sect. Fecundae, Annals of Botany, 2026;, mcag177, https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag177
NO This study has been possible by funding received from the Smithsonian Institution (postdoctoral fellowship towards P.J.-M.), Regional Government of Madrid, Spain (Macondo, Award number SI1/PJI/2019-00333 to P.J.-M.), Spanish Research Agency of the Ministry of Science and Innovation (DANZ, Award number PID2020- 113897GB-I00 to P.J.-M.), Ramon y Cajal postdoctoral funds (Award number RYC2021-031238-I to P.J.-M.), a fund by the Ministry of Science and Innovation 'Ayudas para Incentivar la Consolidación Investigadora 2023' (Making biodiversity knowledge available: an integrative, appealing and dynamic digital dashboard for Carex, Cyperaceae CNS2023-143665) and by funding received from the Universidad de León (Programa de Ayudas Propio 2020 toLois et al. — The rise of the Neotropical Carex sect. Fecundae 15R.L.). Funding for open access publishing: Universidad Pablo de Olavide/CBUA.
NO Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica
DS RIO
RD Aug 5, 2026