@article{PAR00008190,
  title = {{L}ittle ecological divergence associated with speciation in two {A}frican rain forest tree genera},
  author = {{C}ouvreur, {T}homas and {P}orter-{M}organ, {H}. and {W}ieringa, {J}. {J}. and {C}hatrou, {L}. {W}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {T}he tropical rain forests ({TRF}) of {A}frica are the second largest block of this biome after the {A}mazon and exhibit high levels of plant endemism and diversity. {T}wo main hypotheses have been advanced to explain speciation processes that have led to this high level of biodiversity: allopatric speciation linked to geographic isolation and ecological speciation linked to ecological gradients. {B}oth these hypotheses rely on ecology: in the former conservation of ecological niches through time is implied, while in the latter adaptation via selection to alternative ecological niches would be a prerequisite. {H}ere, we investigate the role of ecology in explaining present day species diversity in {A}frican {TRF} using a species level phylogeny and ecological niche modeling of two predominantly restricted {TRF} tree genera, {I}solona and {M}onodora ({A}nnonaceae). {B}oth these genera, with 20 and 14 species, respectively, are widely distributed in {A}frican {TRF}s, with a few species occurring in slightly less humid regions such as in {E}ast {A}frica. {R}esults: {A} total of 11 sister species pairs were identified most of them occurring in allopatry or with little geographical overlap. {O}ur results provide a mixed answer on the role of ecology in speciation. {A}lthough no sister species have identical niches, just under half of the tests suggest that sister species do have more similar niches than expected by chance. {PCA} analyses also support little ecological differences between sister species. {M}ost speciation events within both genera predate the {P}leistocene, occurring during the {L}ate {M}iocene and {P}liocene periods. {C}onclusions: {E}cology is almost always involved in speciation, however, it would seem to have had a little role in species generation within {I}solona and {M}onodora at the scale analyzed here. {T}his is consistent with the geographical speciation model for {TRF} diversification. {T}hese results contrast to other studies for non-{TRF} plant species where ecological speciation was found to be an important factor of diversification. {T}he {P}liocene period appears to be a vital time in the generation of {A}frican {TRF} diversity, whereas {P}leistocene climatic fluctuations have had a smaller role on speciation than previously thought. {E}cological niche modeling, species level phylogeny, ecological speciation, {A}frican tropics, {I}solona, {M}onodora, {A}nnonaceae},
  keywords = {{E}cological niche modeling ; species level phylogeny ; ecological ; speciation ; {A}frican tropics ; {I}solona ; {M}onodora ; {A}nnonaceae},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{B}mc {E}volutionary {B}iology},
  volume = {11},
  numero = {},
  pages = {296},
  ISSN = {1471-2148},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1186/1471-2148-11-296},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00008190},
}