Data from: Reconstructing the origins of high-alpine niches and cushion life form in the genus Androsace s.l. (Primulaceae)

Relatively few species have been able to colonize extremely cold alpine environments. We investigate the role played by the cushion life form in the evolution of climatic niches in the plant genus Androsace s.l., which spreads across the mountain ranges of the Northern Hemisphere. Using robust methods that account for phylogenetic uncertainty, intraspecific variability of climatic requirements and different life history evolution scenarios, we show that climatic niches of Androsace s.l. exhibit low phylogenetic signal and that they evolved relatively recently and punctually. Models of niche evolution fitted onto phylogenies show that the cushion life form has been a key innovation providing the opportunity to occupy extremely cold environments, thus contributing to rapid climatic niche diversification in the genus Androsace. We then propose a plausible scenario for the adaptation of plants to alpine habitats.

仅有相对较少的物种能够成功定植于极端寒冷的高山生境中。本研究以广泛分布于北半球各大山系的广义点地梅属（Androsace s.l.）植物为研究类群，探讨垫状生活型（cushion life form）在其气候生态位（climatic niches）演化过程中所发挥的作用。我们采用能够考量系统发育不确定性、气候需求的种内变异以及多种生活史演化情景的稳健分析方法，结果表明广义点地梅属的气候生态位仅表现出较弱的系统发育信号，且其演化过程相对近期且呈间断式发生。拟合至系统发育树的生态位演化模型结果显示，垫状生活型属于一项关键创新，为类群占领极端寒冷生境提供了适应性契机，进而推动了广义点地梅属的气候生态位快速分化。本研究最终提出了一套合理的植物适应高山生境的演化情景。