Genomic and niche divergence in an Amazonian palm species complex

Abstract Environmental heterogeneity across the landscape can cause lineage divergence and speciation. The Geonoma macrostachys (Arecaceae) species complex has been proposed as a candidate case of ecological speciation in Amazonia due to evidence habitat partitioning pre-zygotic reproductive barriers between co-occurring morphotypes at local scale. In this study, we provide continent-wide perspective patterns G. by integrating data from morphological traits, target sequence capture, climate, soil biology. A morphometric analysis revealed four morphogroups, defined traits related leaf shape. coalescence-based phylogenetic did not recover morphogroups monophyletic, indicating independent evolution shape geographical space. We demonstrate scale-dependent differentiation for two which segregation driven mostly climate was complete regional scale but incomplete continental Contrary previous isolation form different pollinators flowering times sympatric forms Peru Ecuador, these were found Colombia, suggesting have evolved multiple its range. Taken together, our findings suggest that adaptation is driving diversification macrostachys, hyperdiverse regions such are probable arenas sympatry.