Reproductive phenological shifts and other phylogenetic trait changes in the Arbutoideae (Ericaceae) in the context of drought, seed predation, and fire

Phenology is an ecologically critical attribute that commonly coordinated with other plant traits. Phenological shifts may be the result of evolutionary adjustments to persistently new conditions, or they transitory, varying annual fluxes in abiotic conditions. In summer-dry, fire-prone Mediterranean-type climates, for example, many lineages have historically migrated from forests more arid shrublands resulting adaptive trait changes. These habitat conditions and biotic interactions influence morphology flowers fruits interact phenological timing. The Arbutoideae (Ericaceae) one lineage illustrates such modifications, fruit characters evolving among genera fleshy dry fruit, thin stony endocarps, bird rodent dispersal, We scored herbarium collections used ancestral analyses determine five Arbutoid found semi-arid climates. Our objective was if phenology phylogenetic transition different reproductive characters. results indicate began some traits, like development a endocarp fruits, but not all significant conclude early correlating traits were permissive later character