Daniel J. Crawford, University of KansasFollow
Elias Landolt, ETH Zürich
Donald H. Les, University of Connecticut
Rebecca T. Kimball, University of Florida

Speciation in Duckweeds (Lemnaceae): Phylogenetic and Ecological Inferences

DOI

10.5642/aliso.20062201.19

First Page

231

Last Page

242

Abstract

Species of duckweeds (Letnnaceae) that were resolved as sister taxa in a phylogeny based on combined molecular and non-molecular data were compared for morphological, physiological, and ecological attributes to infer factors important in the initial divergence leading to speciation. The ability to survive extreme conditions such as desiccation and cold temperatures is the most common difference identified between species. Two morphological characters facilitating survival in extreme environments are production of special resting buds called turions and increased seed production. The prevalent geographic pattern for species pairs consists of one restricted species occurring on the periphery of a more widespread taxon; this pattern indicates that divergence of peripheral isolates is a common geographical mode of speciation in duckweeds. Other species differ in optimal environmental conditions for growth, and these species are largely sympatric. In only one instance does it appear that divergence and speciation occurred following long-distance dispersal. Sympatric species pairs have the lowest molecular divergence; widespread primarily allopatric, and distantly allopatric species have the highest molecular divergence. Despite infrequent sexual reproduction, some degree of detectable variation (molecular, physiological, etc.) occurs within populations and among populations of the same species. Molecular evidence indicates that variation within duckweeds extends from the population and intraspecific levels to very different levels of divergence among recognized species. Contrary to the appearance of morphological and ecological uniformity implied by their reduced morphology and restricted occurrence in fresh water habitats, duckweeds are not a group in evolutionary stasis. Rather, these smallest of all flowering plants are dynamic evolutionarily, and comprise a model system for studying plant evolution and speciation.

Recommended Citation

Crawford, Daniel J.; Landolt, Elias; Les, Donald H.; and Kimball, Rebecca T. (2006) "Speciation in Duckweeds (Lemnaceae): Phylogenetic and Ecological Inferences," Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany: Vol. 22: Iss. 1, Article 19.
Available at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso/vol22/iss1/19