brief history of seed size

Improved phylogenies and the accumulation of broad comparative data sets have opened the way for phylogenetic analyses to trace trait evolution in major groups of organisms. We arrayed seed mass data for 12,987 species on the seed plant phylogeny and show the history of seed size from the emergence...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2005-01, Vol.307 (5709), p.576-580
Main Authors: Moles, A.T, Ackerly, D.D, Webb, C.O, Tweddle, J.C, Dickie, J.B, Westoby, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation (Physiology)
Algorithms
Analysis
Angiosperms
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Evolution
Biological taxonomies
Botany
Corn
Cycadopsida - anatomy & histology
Cycadopsida - classification
Cycadopsida - physiology
Datasets
Daughters
dimensions
Ecological genetics
Evidence
Evolution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gymnosperms
History
Magnoliopsida - anatomy & histology
Magnoliopsida - classification
Magnoliopsida - physiology
Phylogeny
Physiological adaptation
Plant cytology, morphology, systematics, chorology and evolution
Plant evolution
Plants
Pollen tubes
Reproduction
Seed size
Seeds
Seeds - anatomy & histology
Seeds - physiology
Size
Software
Species
Statistical Analysis
Time
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Summary:Improved phylogenies and the accumulation of broad comparative data sets have opened the way for phylogenetic analyses to trace trait evolution in major groups of organisms. We arrayed seed mass data for 12,987 species on the seed plant phylogeny and show the history of seed size from the emergence of the angiosperms through to the present day. The largest single contributor to the present-day spread of seed mass was the divergence between angiosperms and gymnosperms, whereas the widest divergence was between Celastraceae and Parnassiaceae. Wide divergences in seed size were more often associated with divergences in growth form than with divergences in dispersal syndrome or latitude. Cross-species studies and evolutionary theory are consistent with this evidence that growth form and seed size evolve in a coordinated manner.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1104863