Different historical backgrounds determine contrasting phylogeographical patterns in two co-distributed Erica species (Ericaceae) across the Strait of Gibraltar

Erica australis and Erica arborea are morphologically and ecologically similar heather species. Erica australis is restricted to the western Mediterranean Basin where it overlaps with the westernmo ...

Strong signature of selection in seeder populations but not in resprouters of the fynbos heathErica coccinea(Ericaceae)

A higher frequency of natural selection is expected in populations of organisms with shorter generation times. In fire-prone ecosystems, populations of seeder plants behave as functionally semelparous populations, with short generation times compared to populations of resprouter plants, which are truly iteroparous. Therefore, a stronger signature of natural selection should be detected in seeder populations, favoured by their shorter generation times and higher rates of population turnover. Here we test this idea in Erica coccinea from the Cape Floristic Region, which is dimorphic for post-fire regeneration mode. We measured three floral traits supposedly subject to natural selection in see…

From the Strait of Gibraltar to northern Europe: Pleistocene refugia and biogeographic history of heather (Calluna vulgaris, Ericaceae)

Abstract Calluna vulgaris (Ericaceae) is the most widespread and prevalent woody species of the European dry heathland, from the African side of the Strait of Gibraltar to northern Europe. However, previous biogeographic analyses of this species have ignored the western Mediterranean region, despite its preponderant role as a major glacial refugium for European biota. Here, we explore the existence of further Pleistocene glacial refugia for C. vulgaris in the Iberian Peninsula and the Strait of Gibraltar area and provide new insights into the post-glacial colonization of Europe by this emblematic heathland species. We carried out phylogeographical analyses of C. vulgaris samples from 44 loc…

Influence of habitat patchiness on diversity patterns of a habitat specialist plant community

Floristic distinctiveness and endemic richness of woody plants highlight the biodiversity value of the herriza among all Mediterranean heathlands

Background: Heathlands are relatively abundant in the landscape of the western Mediterranean region, especially in the Strait of Gibraltar region, where it is locally known as herriza. They are ass...

Floristic distinctiveness and endemic richness of woody plants highlight the biodiversity value of the herriza among all Mediterranean heathlands

Background: Heathlands are relatively abundant in the landscape of the western Mediterranean region, especially in the Strait of Gibraltar region, where it is locally known as herriza. They are associated with a mild Mediterranean climate regime and with acid, nutrient-poor soils. They harbour a high plant diversity, often viewed as a consequence of the transition between European Atlantic heathland and Mediterranean sclerophyllous shrubland floras. Aims: To determine whether species-rich Mediterranean heathlands, including the herriza, constitute distinct heathland formations rather than transitional vegetation units between Atlantic heathlands and Mediterranean garrigue shrublands. Method…