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Distinguished Speaker Seminar

Andre Naranjo, Ph.D.

Thu. 01/09/25 - Thu. 01/09/25

Zoom

Scrub Mints radiated as Florida sank and resurfaced during the Pleistocene

 

presented by Andre Naranjo, Ph.D.,

Botanical Curator, Dept. of Biological Sciences

Florida International University

 

Thursday, January 9, 2025

3:30 PM EST

 

Join us on Zoom

When: Jan 9, 2025 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84704845109?pwd=k4bj6f4hd4oKn3Exza1a8sLWpRetA5.1

Passcode:844656

 

 

Abstract

The North American Coastal Plain is a global biodiversity hotspot, yet the mechanisms driving its high species richness in a region with low topographic relief and homogeneous climate are unclear. This study investigates the evolutionary processes behind diversification in the Scrub Mint clade (SMC), comprising Dicerandra, Conradina, Piloblephis, Stachydeoma, and four species of Clinopodium (Lamiaceae), mostly endemic to the region. Using a dated phylogeny generated from a target enrichment/capture dataset, we inferred ancestral areas and identified neo- and palaeo-endemism hotspots. Ancestral potential ranges were reconstructed based on niche and palaeoclimatic data to understand the geographical evolution of subclades. The SMC’s ancestral area was inferred to be the Florida Panhandle/Apalachicola River basin, with a diversification event likely occurring around the mid-Pleistocene Transition. Hotspots of endemism were found in northeastern Florida, the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, and along the Lake Wales Ridge. Potential range reconstructions support the biogeographical findings, suggesting the SMC ancestor was located near the northeastern Gulf Coast during interglacial and glacial periods. The timing of diversification and colonization events aligns with major geological events in the region. The complexity of endemism in this area highlights the evolutionary processes that foster its biodiversity, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts in this threatened region.

 

Biosketch:

Andre Naranjo is the Botanical Curator of the Wertheim Conservatory. He is interested in phylogenetics and biogeography of plants in the North American Coastal Plain and Caribbean Biodiversity hotspots. He is dedicated to engaging primary and undergraduate students to increase awareness of endangered ecosystems and species in South Florida and surrounding areas.