Phylogenetic structure of European forest vegetation

Aims (a) To determine the contribution of current macro-environmental factors in explaining phylogenetic structure European forest vegetation, (b) to map and describe spatial patterns their (c) examine which lineages are most important contributors clustering whether varies across types regions. Location Europe. Taxon Angiosperms. Methods We analysed 61,816 georeferenced vegetation plots Europe considering alternative metrics either sensitive basal (ancient evolutionary dynamics) or terminal (recent branching phylogeny. used boosted regression trees model as a function factors. also identified clades encompassing significantly more taxa than under random expectation phylogenetically clustered plots. Results Phylogenetic was driven by climatic stress instability strong areas glaciated during Pleistocene, likely reflecting limited postglacial migration, lower extent northern-central summer-dry Mediterranean overdispersion frequent hemiboreal zone Russia, some around Basin, along Atlantic seaboard Iberian Peninsula. The families Ericaceae, Poaceae Fagaceae were overrepresented different regions Main conclusions provide first maps analyses on at plot level. Our results highlight role environmental filtering, dispersal limitation transitions between major biomes determining distribution plant