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Nature Research, Scientific Reports, 1(4), 2014

DOI: 10.1038/srep05974

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Epiphytic leafy liverworts diversified in angiosperm-dominated forests

Journal article published in 2014 by Kathrin Feldberg, Harald Schneider, Tanja Stadler ORCID, Alfons Schaefer-Verwimp, Alfons Schäfer-Verwimp, Alexander R. Schmidt, Jochen Heinrichs
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

AbstractRecent studies have provided evidence for pulses in the diversification of angiosperms, ferns, gymnosperms and mosses as well as various groups of animals during the Cretaceous revolution of terrestrial ecosystems. However, evidence for such pulses has not been reported so far for liverworts. Here we provide new insight into liverwort evolution by integrating a comprehensive molecular dataset with a set of 20 fossil age constraints. We found evidence for a relative constant diversification rate of generalistic liverworts (Jungermanniales) since the Palaeozoic, whereas epiphytic liverworts (Porellales) show a sudden increase of lineage accumulation in the Cretaceous. This difference is likely caused by the pronounced response of Porellales to the ecological opportunities provided by humid, megathermal forests, which were increasingly available as a result of the rise of the angiosperms.