Despite numerous floristic studies of the Caribbean region, the large-scale evolutionary origins of its diversity remain relatively under-explored. Here, I add to the empirical knowledge of the origin and assembly of the Caribbean flora by large-scale molecular analysis of the biogeography and phylogenetics of its constituent genera, with special emphasis on the conifer genus Podocarpus L'Hér. ex Pers. and its endemic species in the Antillean island chains. Connection of the Greater Antilles to northern South America by a late Eocene / early Oligocene land bridge, GAARlandia, has been hypothesized to facilitate colonization of the Caribbean islands. Well-calibrated estimates from molecular data of the ages of extant Caribbean endemic plant genera show a combination of relatively recent (late Oligocene / early Miocene) and older (late Paleocene / early Eocene) lineages, such that the GAARlandia hypothesis is not necessary to explain floral colonization of the Caribbean. Ancestors of most endemic genera included in my study were of Antillean origin. I show that diversity in Caribbean Podocarpus is paraphyletic, the result of a single colonization of the Greater Antilles from South America in the late Oligocene, species diversification leading to endemism beginning in the early Miocene, and dispersal to the Lesser Antilles from a Greater Antillean ancestor later in the early Miocene. Detailed examination of the phylogeography of the two endemic species on Hispaniola, P. buchii and P. hispaniolensis, shows an initial colonization to the southern palaeo-island of Hispaniola by a P. buchii ancestor. Subsequent northward stepping-stone migration is evident in the localization of genetic clusters across the main cordillera systems. P. hispaniolensis arose by progenitor-derivative speciation in the Central Cordillera. The assembly of Caribbean flora has been complex, and geology, vicariance, dispersal, and in situ speciation, together shaped the biotic assembly of the islands. "Abunda la tierra del Cibao (de Ciba, piedra de pinos mui altos que no llevan piñas, por tal orden compuestos por naturaleza, que parecen azeytunos del Axarafe de Sevilla" C. Columbus.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the patterns of biodiversity in various neotropical ecosystems, as well as a discussion on their historical biogeographies and underlying diversification processes. All chapters were written by prominent researchers in the fields of tropical biology, molecular ecology, climatology, paleoecology, and geography, producing an outstanding collection of essays, synthetic analyses, and novel investigations that describe and improve our understanding of the biodiversity of this unique region. With chapters on the Amazon and Caribbean forests, the Atlantic rainforests, the Andes, the Cerrado savannahs, the Caatinga drylands, the Chaco, and Mesoamerica – along with broad taxonomic coverage – this book summarizes a wide range of hypotheses, views, and methods concerning the processes and mechanisms of neotropical diversification. The range of perspectives presented makes the book a truly comprehensive, state-of-the-art publication on the topic, which will fascinate both scientists and general readers alike.

A fascinating analysis of the main patterns of distribution and evolution of the Australasian biota.

Biogeography, first published in 1983, is one of the most comprehensive text and general reference books in the natural sciences. The Fifth Edition builds on the strengths of previous editions to provide an insightful and integrative explanation of how geographic variation across terrestrial and marine environments has influenced the fundamental processes of immigration, extinction, and evolution to shape species distributions and nearly all patterns of biological diversity. It is an empirically and conceptually rich text that illustrates general patterns and processes using examples from a broad diversity of life forms, time periods and aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Its fundamental assertion is that patterns in biological diversity make little sense unless viewed within an explicit geographic context. Starting from principal patterns and fundamental principles, and assuming only a rudimentary knowledge of biology, geography, and Earth history, the text explains the relationships between geographic variation in biological diversity and the geological, ecological, and evolutionary processes that have produced them. The use of color illustrations, evaluated and optimized for colorblind readers, has transformed our abilities to illustrate key concepts and empirical patterns in the geography of nature. By providing a description of the historical development of biogeography, evolution and ecology, along with a comprehensive account of the principal patterns, fundamental principles and recent advances in each of these fields of science, our ultimate vision is for Biogeography to serve as the centerpiece of a one- or two-semester core course in biological diversity.

The first and so far only Plant Geography of Chile was written about 100 years ago, since when many things have changed: plants have been renamed and reclassified; taxonomy and systematics have experienced deep changes as have biology, geography, and biogeography. The time is therefore ripe for a new look at Chile’s plants and their distribution. Focusing on three key issues – botany/systematics, geography and biogeographical analysis – this book presents a thoroughly updated synthesis both of Chilean plant geography and of the different approaches to studying it. Because of its range – from the neotropics to the temperate sub-Antarctic – Chile’s flora provides a critical insight into evolutionary patterns, particularly in relation to the distribution along the latitudinal profiles and the global geographical relationships of the country’s genera. The consequences of these relations for the evolution of the Chilean Flora are discussed. This book will provide a valuable resource for both graduate students and researchers in botany, plant taxonomy and systematics, biogeography, evolutionary biology and plant conservation.

The Atlantic Forest is one of the 36 hotspots for biodiversity conservation worldwide. It is a unique, large biome (more than 3000 km in latitude; 2500 in longitude), marked by high biodiversity, high degree of endemic species and, at the same time, extremely threatened. Approximately 70% of the Brazilian population lives in the area of this biome, which makes the conflict between biodiversity conservation and the sustainability of the human population a relevant issue. This book aims to cover: 1) the historical characterization and geographic variation of the biome; 2) the distribution of the diversity of some relevant taxa; 3) the main threats to biodiversity, and 4) possible opportunities to ensure the biodiversity conservation, and the economic and social sustainability. Also, it is hoped that this book can be useful for those involved in the development of public policies aimed at the conservation of this important global biome.