Data from: Functional traits in parallel evolutionary radiations and trait-environment associations in the Cape Floristic region of South Africa

Evolutionary radiations with extreme levels of diversity present a unique
opportunity to study the role of the environment in plant evolution. If
environmental adaptation played an important role in such radiations, we
expect to find associations between functional traits and key climatic
variables. Similar trait-environment associations across clades may
reflect common responses, while contradictory associations may suggest
lineage-specific adaptations. Here, we explore trait-environment
relationships in two evolutionary radiations in the fynbos biome of the
highly biodiverse Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of South Africa. Protea and
Pelargonium are morphologically and evolutionarily diverse genera that
typify the CFR yet are substantially different in growth form and
morphology. Our analytical approach employs a Bayesian multiple-response
generalized linear mixed-effects model, taking into account covariation
among traits and controlling for phylogenetic relationships. Of the
pairwise trait-environment associations tested, 6 out of 24 were in the
same direction and 2 out of 24 were in opposite directions, with the
latter apparently reflecting alternative life-history strategies. These
findings demonstrate that trait diversity within two plant lineages may
reflect both parallel and idiosyncratic responses to the environment,
rather than all taxa conforming to a global-scale pattern. Such insights
are essential for understanding how trait-environment associations arise
and how they influence species diversification.