Onstein R. E. auteur aut IRD Baker W. J. auteur aut IRD Couvreur Thomas auteur aut IRD Faurby S. auteur aut IRD Svenning J. C. auteur aut IRD Kissling W. D. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Animal-mediated seed dispersal by frugivorous birds and mammals is central to the ecology and functioning of ecosystems, but whether and how frugivory-related traits have affected plant speciation remains little explored. Fruit size is directly linked to plant dispersal capacity and therefore influences gene flow and genetic divergence of plant populations. Using a global species-level phylogeny with comprehensive data on fruit sizes and plant species distributions, we test whether fruit size has affected speciation rates of palms (Arecaceae), a plant family characteristic of tropical rainforests. Globally, the results reveal that palms with small fruit sizes have increased speciation rates compared with those with large (megafaunal) fruits. Speciation of small-fruited palms is particularly high in the understory of tropical rainforests in the New World, and on islands in the Old World. This suggests that frugivory-related traits in combination with geography and the movement behaviour of frugivores can influence the speciation of fleshy-fruited plants. specialized ZONE TROPICALE 076 080 082 1 12 1903-1911 2017 2397-334X https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071879 10.1038/s41559-017-03487 2397-334X [F B010071879] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071879 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2017/12/010071879.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2018-01-05 2021-09-17 fdi:010071879 fre