Format: ORAL

G. Anthony Verboom

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Phylogenetic trees are routinely used to examine the evolution of single biological lineages. Where phylogenetic data are available for multiple lineages, however, congruent macroevolutionary pattern can additionally be used to gain insights into regional environment history and flora assembly. In this talk I show how reconstructions of habitat variables across multiple phylogenies reveal the timing of key environmental transitions, while the shapes of phylogenetic trees, and their correlation with habitat variables, can offer insights into past environmental stability. A comparison of such patterns across 14 plant lineages native to the South African Cape reveals that mountain fynbos heathlands are older and have evolved under conditions of greater environmental stability than the semi-arid renosterveld and succulent karoo shrublands that dominate the low elevation zone of the Cape.