The History Of Distribution Of The Family Lecythidaceae S. L.
https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2026-4560
Abstract
The modern distribution and dispersal history of the family Lecythidaceae s. l. present scientific interest so far as Lecythidaceae has a pantropical areal, thus forming several disjunctions, that may represent ancient continental contacts. Species of this family are distributed in Central America, firstly in the subequatorial and equatorial areas of South America, particularly, in Amazon Basin and some zones of Northern and Central Andes, in the equatorial forests of Congo Basin, along the Gulf of Guinea in Africa, and in South and Southeast Asia. Species of the family are also found in Australia and also in some Oceania Islands. According to modern data, the family, which is part of the order Ericales, includes 30 genera and 395 species [PoWO 2025]. The purpose of research is to point a hypothetical center of origin of the entire family and reconstruct the spreading routes of family species and genera. Several morphological and ecological features (mostly pollination and dissemination) of family representatives were analyzed and compiled. The molecular genetic data for selected taxa of Lecythidaceae s. l. was also analyzed and the results of reconstructing probable dispersal routes were compared with available paleobotanical materials. The resulting molecular genetic model was calibrated according to age of found fossils. The parsimony reconstruction of hypothetical dispersal tracks and dispersal ways of Lecythidaceae s. l. species and genera was based on a detailed calibrated model and became the result of this research. A hypothetical center of origin for the ancestor of the family Lecythidaceae s. l. was identified.
Keywords
Phytogeography,
Dispersal tracks,
Molecular-genetic analyses,
Calibration based on available paleobotanical data
Supporting agencies: The study was carried out with the support of the Moscow State University Development Program (P. 1220; MVC, VAV, AVB, AOG, MSRos, ASG, ADN) and within the Moscow State University Project No. 121051100137-4 “Spatiotemporal organization of ecosystems in conditions of environmental change” within the Development Program of the Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of Moscow State University named after Lomonosov “The Future of the Planet and Global Environmental Change” (MVC, VAV, AVB, AOG, MSRos, ASG, ADN).
About the Authors
Maksim V. Kandidov
M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography, Department of Biogeography
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Leninskye Gory, 1, 119991, Moscow
Alexey V. Bobrov
M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography, Department of Biogeography
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Leninskye Gory, 1, 119991, Moscow
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Kandidov M.V., Bobrov A.V. The History Of Distribution Of The Family Lecythidaceae S. L.. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2026-4560
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