Co-evolution assists geographic dispersal: the case of Madagascar

Abstract Interspecific associations may limit the dispersal of individual species, but also facilitate it when entire co-evolved systems expand their geographic ranges. We tested recent proposal that episodic land bridges linked Africa and Madagascar at three stages during Cenozoic by comparing divergence estimates Madagascar’s angiosperm taxa with mechanisms. Plants rely on gravity for seed indicate least two episodes connection between Madagascar, in Early Palaeocene Oligocene. Seed strepsirrhine primates possibly evolved Palaeocene, one endemic Malagasy genus, Burasaia (Menispermaceae). This genus have facilitated lemur colonization Madagascar. Frugivory, nectarivory gummivory probably generalized Oligocene, co-evolution modern lemurs 10 new families. In Late Miocene, more angiosperms were brought from birds via a discontinuous connection, radiated diffuse association (asities) dwarf nocturnal (cheirogaleids). During same connective episode, was colonized hippopotamuses, which both followed re-seeded variety plants, forming grassy Uapaca ‘tapia’ forest ericoid ‘savoka’ thicket.