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Molecular Phylogenetic Studies of Caribbean Palms (Arecaceae) and Their Relationships to Biogeography and Conservation

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An Erratum to this article was published on 22 August 2008

Abstract

The Caribbean Islands are one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots, remarkable for its biological richness and the high level of threat to its flora and fauna. The palms (family Arecaceae) are well represented in the West Indies, with 21 genera (three endemic) and 135 species (121 endemic). We provide an overview of phylogenetic knowledge of West Indian Palms, including their relationships within a plastid DNA-based phylogeny of the Arecaceae. We present new data used to reconstruct the phylogeny of tribe Cryosophileae, including four genera found in the West Indies, based on partial sequences of the low-copy nuclear genes encoding phosphoribulokinase (PRK) and subunit 2 of RNA polymerase II (RPB2). Recently published phylogenetic studies of tribe Cocoseae, based on PRK sequences, and tribes Cyclospatheae and Geonomateae, based on PRK and RPB2 sequences, also provide information on the phylogenetic relationships of West Indian palms. Results of these analyses show many independent origins of the West Indian Palm flora. These phylogenetic studies reflect the complex envolutionary history of the West Indies and no single biogeographical pattern emerges for these palms. The present day distributions of West Indian palms suggest complicated evolutionary interchange among islands, as well as between the West Indies and surrounding continents. We identified six palm lineages that deserve conservation priority. Species-level phylogenies are needed for Copernicia, Sabal, and Roystonea before we can build a more complete understanding of the origin and diversification of West Indian palms.

Resumen

Las Islas del Caribe constituyen uno de los 34 “hotspots” de biodiversidad del mundo, notables por su riqueza biológica y el alto grado de amenaza de su flora y fauna. La familia Arecaceae esta bien representada en Las Antillas con 21 géneros (tres endémicos) y 135 especies (121 endémicas). Presentamos una síntesis del conocimiento filogénetico de las palmas de Las Antillas incluyendo su posición dentro de la filogenia de la familia Arecaceae basada en ADN cloroplástico. Construímos una nueva filogenia para la tribu Cryosophileae, la cual incluye cuatro géneros de Las Antillas, basada en secuencias parciales de los genes nucleares de copia baja fosforibulokinasa (PRK) y la ARN polimerasa II (RPB2). Los estudios filogenéticos publicados de la tribu Cocoseae basada en secuencias de PRK, y de las tribus Cyclospatheae y Geonomateae basadas en secuencias de PRK y RPB2, también proveen información sobre las relaciones filogéneticas de las palmas de Las Antillas. Estos resultados indican el origen evolutivo múltiple de estas palmas. Los estudios filogenéticos reflejan la compleja historia evolutiva de Las Antillas y no existe un único patrón biogeográfico para las palmas de esta región. Las distribuciones actuales de las palmas de Las Antillas sugieren un complejo intercambio entre islas, así como estre islas y las masas continentales vecinas. Identificamos seis linajes de palmas que merecen prioridad de conservación. Se necesitan estudios filogéneticos para los géneros Copernicia, Sabal, y Roystonea con el fin de mejorar nuestro entendimiento sobre el origen y diversificación de las palmas de Las Antillas.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Javier Francisco-Ortega, Fabian Michelangeli, and Mike Maunder for their comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. Financial support for phylogenetic studies developed by the authors came from the Tropical Biology Program at Florida International University (TBP-FIU), Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, the International Palm Society, the Danish National Science Research Council, the South Florida Palm Society, the Marina Riley Scholarship, and the Botanical Society of America. This is contribution 145 of TBP-FIU. We acknowledge Trénel et al. for making accessible online their phylogenetic trees prior to publication and Sandy Namoff for GenBank assistance with the Cryosophileae. NSF program CREST-CATEC of the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras funded JR’s participation in the IX Latin American Botanical Conference.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade 1540, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Julissa Roncal

  2. Deparment of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Scott Zona & Carl E. Lewis

  3. Center for Tropical Plant Conservation, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 11935 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL, 33156, USA

    Carl E. Lewis

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  1. Julissa Roncal
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  2. Scott Zona
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  3. Carl E. Lewis
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Correspondence to Julissa Roncal.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12229-008-9015-7

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Roncal, J., Zona, S. & Lewis, C.E. Molecular Phylogenetic Studies of Caribbean Palms (Arecaceae) and Their Relationships to Biogeography and Conservation. Bot. Rev 74, 78–102 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-008-9005-9

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