DOI: 10.5061/dryad.wdbrv15mg
title: A targeted phylogenetic approach helps explain New World functional diversity patterns of two eudicot lineages

description: Aim: Large-scale functional diversity studies typically examine
 isolated traits, often without phylogenetic context. Here, we integrate
 data from five life-history traits with phylogeny and occurrence records
 to assess: (1) correlated latitudinal gradients of trait
 combinations; (2) which traits show phylogenetic conservatism; (3)
 quantitative, clade-specific differences in trait syndromes, illustrating
 the phylogenetic scale of observable variation in ecological strategies.
 Location: The Americas Taxon: Ericales (Asterids) and
 Fabales (Rosids) Methods: We used publicly-available trait data
 sets on height, seed mass, wood density, leaf mass per area
 (LMA), and growth form, an open-source phylogeny, and georeferenced
 occurrence records to investigate functional diversity patterns. We
 employed phylogenetic generalized least squares and phylogenetic principal
 components analyses (pPCA) to assess correlated trait evolution and
 quantify the trait syndrome, respectively. We employed the InfoMap
 Ecoregions web app to cluster species by bioregions. We used standard
 statistical tests and randomization simulations to assess the statistical
 significance of results. Results: Ericales and Fabales exhibited a
 biogeographically-consistent, phylogenetically-conserved trait syndrome.
 Moving poleward, species exhibited progressively smaller trait values and
 more herbaceous and shrubby growth forms (except for LMA, which showed no
 consistent pattern). We quantified latitudinal variation in this trait
 syndrome using pPCA, and provide evidence for correlated trait evolution.
 Main conclusions: We demonstrate a functional trait syndrome involving
 height, seed mass, wood density, and growth form, but not LMA. Functional
 trait values showed consistent latitudinal patterns and evidence of
 correlated evolution, suggesting an underlying ecological strategy.
 Further, the two clades showed quantitative differences in the
 manifestation of this trait syndrome. Variation in the syndrome was best
 observed among species from con-ordinal families. We interpret this trait
 syndrome as a strategy of resource acquisition in which habitats with
 relatively greater soil nutrient content and a shorter growing season
 favor shorter stature, lower seed mass and wood density, and shrubby or
 herbaceous growth form.
description: Trait data was obtained from TRY by quering all traits for
 selected taxa related to growth form, plant height, seed mass, wood
 density, and leaf mass per area (or specific leaf area).
 Georeferenced point occurrences were obtained from the Global
 Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and cleaned as described in the
 main text. Phylogenetic relationships were obtained
 from the publicly-available seed plant phylogeny of: Smith, S. A., and J.
 W. Brown. 2018. Constructing a broadly inclusive seed plant
 phylogeny. <em>American Journal of Botany</em> 105(3):
 302–314.
description: Please refer to "shared_data_description.txt" file for
 full details and usage of this dataset.