2011Byrneetaljbiog.Pdf
Journal of Biogeography (J. Biogeogr.) (2011) 38, 1635–1656 SYNTHESIS Decline of a biome: evolution, contraction, fragmentation, extinction and invasion of the Australian mesic zone biota Margaret Byrne1*, Dorothy A. Steane2, Leo Joseph3, David K. Yeates4, Greg J. Jordan2, Darren Crayn5, Ken Aplin3, David J. Cantrill6, Lyn G. Cook7, Michael D. Crisp8, J. Scott Keogh8, Jane Melville9, Craig Moritz10, Nicholas Porch11, J. M. Kale Sniderman12, Paul Sunnucks13 and Peter H. Weston14 1Science Division, Department of Environment ABSTRACT and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Aim The mesic biome, encompassing both rain forest and open sclerophyllous Delivery Centre, Perth, WA 6983, Australia, 2School of Plant Sciences and CRC Forestry, forests, is central to understanding the evolution of Australia’s terrestrial biota University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, and has long been considered the ancestral biome of the continent. Our aims are Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia, 3Australian to review and refine key hypotheses derived from palaeoclimatic data and the National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO Ecosystem fossil record that are critical to understanding the evolution of the Australian Sciences, GPO Box 284, Canberra, ACT 2601, mesic biota. We examine predictions arising from these hypotheses using Australia, 4Australian National Insect available molecular phylogenetic and phylogeographical data. In doing so, we Collection, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, PO Box increase understanding of the mesic biota and highlight data deficiencies and 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia, fruitful areas for future research. 5Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook Location The mesic biome of Australia, along the eastern coast of Australia, and University Cairns Campus, PO Box 4811, in the south-east and south-west, including its rain forest and sclerophyllous, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia, 6National often eucalypt-dominated, habitats.
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