Seed traits and phylogeny explain plants' geographic distribution

Abstract. Understanding the mechanisms that shape geographic distribution of plant species is a central theme biogeography. Although seed mass, dispersal mode and phylogeny have long been suspected to affect distribution, link between sources variation in these attributes their effects on plants are poorly documented. This study aims quantify joint key traits distribution. We collected mass from 1426 representing 501 genera 122 families used 4 138 851 specimens model distributional range size. Phylogenetic generalized least-squares regression partitioning were performed estimate found size was significantly constrained by phylogeny. Seed its intraspecific also important limiting but different among with modes. Variation revealed variability, together explained 46.82 % variance not typically distributions plants, our provides direct evidence showing explaining finding underscores necessity include phylogenetic history climate-based niche models for predicting response climate change.