In recent years, the understanding of the evolution of patterns of geographical distribution of organisms has been greatly enhanced through the widespread application of molecular methods to the study of systematics, phylogeny and evolution. In the best of cases, molecular data allow us to understand phylogenetic relationships better than ever before, and, using a molecular clock approach, to estimate the absolute age of the divergence of lineages. Combined with an ever-increasing knowledge of earth’s climatic and geological history, such data greatly help to interpret the spread of evolutionary lineages in time and space.
When patterns of geographical distribution result from changes in climate and/or geology, some level of congruency of pattern among unrelated taxa can be expected and indeed has been found in many instances. Accordingly, a comparative approach is of great importance when studying biogeography.
The purpose of this datbase is to provide information on the evolution of distribution patterns in plants, and to allow you to identify taxa which attained their geographical distribution at times and along routes similar to those hypothesized by yourself for the taxon you study.
The information available in this database, and thus its success, entirely depends on authors having entered their own data. Only data published in peer-reviewed journals will be accepted. |
