Browsing by Author "Lavandero, Nicolas"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    A New Distinctive Species of Schizanthus (Solanaceae) and the Reinstatement of Schizanthus fallax
    (2021) Lavandero, Nicolas; Chinga, Javiera; Pinto, Raquel; Fernanda Perez, Maria
    A new Schizanthus species from northern Chile is described and illustrated. Schizanthus nutantiflorus was discovered based on recent collections made during unusual rain events in the Atacama Desert in 2015. The new species is distinguished morphologically from other Schizanthus species from northern Chile by its short corolla tube, with a distinct upper lip arrangement and colour, having the longest lower lip, and downward-facing flowers. Additionally, the reinstatement of Schizanthus fallax is proposed. By using both nDNA and cpDNA, phylogenetic relationships among all species of Schizanthus were investigated. Molecular and field observations, as well as an exhaustive morphological revision of fresh material and herbarium specimens, supports the segregation of Schizanthus with short corolla tubes from northern Chile into three species. We propose that, in order to fully understand both the taxonomy and evolution of Schizanthus, an integrative framework encompassing molecular, ecological, and morphological data should be carried out. Information on distribution, habitat, informal conservation status, as well as taxonomic notes and illustrations are provided. In addition, an updated key for the species of Schizanthus from northern Chile is given.
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    A New Endemic Species of Loasa ser. Macrospermae (Loasaceae) from Northern Chile
    (2022) Santilli, Ludovica; Lavandero, Nicolas; De Schrevel, Claire; Dandois, Philippe; Acuna-Castillo, Rafael
    A new species of Loasa, endemic to the northern Andes of Chile, is described and informally evaluated, under the IUCN criteria for conservation, as Critically Endangered. Molecular analyses based on plastid markers place the new species within the Loasa ser. Macrospermae, with high support, and specifically as sister to Loasa acerifolia. A key to and comparative plates including all the 13 known species of Loasa ser. Macrospermae are provided.
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    Calceolaria flavida (Calceolariaceae) a new endemic species to central Chile
    (2021) Lavandero, Nicolas; Santilli, Ludovica; Perez, Fernanda
    A new species of Calceolaria sect. Cheiloncos endemic to central Chile is described. A comparison with the morphologically similar species Calceolaria asperula and Calceolaria petioalaris is made, and a key as well as detailed images to differentiate them is provided. The species is only known from the Natural Sanctu-ary Cerro El Roble, which is part of the coastal mountain range of central Chile and can be considered as Critically Endangered (CR) under the IUCN categories and criteria.
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    Leucheria peteroana (Nassauvieae, Asteraceae), a new species of Leucheria endemic to the Andes of Central Chile, and insights into the systematics of Nassauviae
    (2024) Lavandero, Nicolas; Perez, Fernanda; Pinilla, Nicolas
    A new species, Leucheria peteroana sp. nov., endemic to a restricted area of the Andes of Central Chile, is here described. Using newly sequenced nDNA and cpDNA data, the phylogenetic affinities of Leucheria and closely related taxa within Nassauvieae are revisited. This new species shows a unique set of characters that clearly distinguish it from other species of Leucheria. Phylogenetic analyses place this perennial species close to annual species found in the pre-Andean environments of Central Chile. A detailed description, distribution map, insights about its habitat, conservation status, and photographs are provided.
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    Rayenia malalcurensis (Escalloniaceae), a new genus and species endemic to Central Chile
    (2021) Villarroel, Alejandro E.; Menegoz, Kora; Lavandero, Nicolas
    Rayenia, a new monotypic genus assigned here to the Escalloniaceae, is provided with a description of the type species Rayenia malalcurensis, endemic to San Fabian de Alico, Nuble Region, Central Chile. Molecular phylogenetics and morphological data support its placement in a new genus, separated from its sister taxon Tribeles australis. A detailed description, distribution map, insights about its ecology, conservation status and a key to the genera of Escalloniaceae in South America are given.
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    Nicotiana rupicola sp. nov. and Nicotiana knightiana (sect. Paniculatae, Solanaceae), a new endemic and a new record for the flora of Chile
    (2022) Santilli, Ludovica; Perez, Fernanda; De Schrevel, Claire; Dandois, Philippe; Mondaca, Hector; Lavandero, Nicolas
    Nicotiana knightiana is recorded for the first time for the flora of Chile. A new species of Nicotiana, endemic to the coast of the Coquimbo region is described and illustrated. Molecular analysis placed the new species within the N. sect. Paniculatae, as sister to N. cordifolia, an endemic to Juan Fernandez islands. The new species can be considered critically endangered (CR) according to the IUCN categories due to its restricted and fragmented distribution, small population number, and the threat that urbanization and mining activities represent for the conservation of the biodiversity of the area.
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    Phylogeny of Berberidopsidales based on nuclear and chloroplast loci, with the description of a new species of Berberidopsis endemic to Central Chile
    (2024) Menegoz, Kora; Villarroel, Alejandro E.; Lavandero, Nicolas
    Berberidopsidales comprises two families: monotypic Aextoxicaceae (Aextoxicon punctatum in Chile and Argentina) and Berberidopsidaceae. The latter includes Australian monotypic Streptothamnus (S. moorei) and Berberidopsis (B. beckleri in Australia and B. corallina in Chile). A new Berberidopsis species from the Central Chilean Andes is here described. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear and chloroplast data clarified the relationships within Berberidopsidales. The new species, Berberidopsis granitica, is sister to the Chilean endemic B. corallina, and this clade is sister to the Australian B. beckleri. The dated molecular phylogeny places the split between the South American B. corallina and B. granitica into the late Miocene/early Pleistocene and the split between South American and Australian Berberidopsis to the late Miocene and Pliocene, suggesting transoceanic dispersal rather than vicariance. Climatic niche analyses show two distinct and non-overlapping climatic niches for the Australian and southern South American species. Berberidopsis granitica and B. corallina also differ clearly in their habitat and morphology, in addition to their climatic niche. Berberidopsis granitica has a very restricted distribution area and grows in the Andes under montane climatic conditions, unique within Berberidopsidales.
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    Speciation and evolution of growth form in Adesmia D. C. (Dalbergieae, Fabaceae): the relevance of Andean uplift and aridification
    (2024) Perez, Fernanda; Lavandero, Nicolas; Hinojosa, Luis Felipe; Cisternas, Mauricio; Araneda, Daniela; Pinilla, Nicolas; Moraga, Valeska
    The Andean uplift and the concomitant aridification drove the rapid diversification of several plant lineages that were able to colonize warmer and drier habitats at low elevations and wetter and colder habitats at high elevations. These transitions may be facilitated by shifts in plant strategies to cope with drought and cold, which in turn can trigger episodes of accelerated species diversification. Here, we used four nuclear DNA markers to infer phylogenetic relationships of 80 Adesmia species of annuals, perennial herbs, shrubs and small shrubs that occur in Chile and Argentina. We reconstructed ancestral states for area, climatic niche and growth form to explore how Andean uplift and aridification promoted Adesmia diversification. We also performed logistic and linear regression analyses between different components of growth form (life span, woodiness and plant height) and climate. Finally, we estimated speciation rates across the phylogeny. Our results suggest that the ancestor of Chilean Adesmia was a perennial herb that probably originated in the high Andes of northern and central Chile. The low elevations of Central Chile were colonized in the late Miocene, whereas the high latitudes of Patagonia and the hyperarid coastal Atacama Desert were colonized repeatedly since Pliocene by lineages with different growth forms. Multiple and bidirectional transitions between annual and perennial habits and between herbaceous and woody habits were detected. These shifts were not correlated with climate, suggesting that the different growth forms are alternative and successful strategies to survive unfavorable seasons of both desert and high Andes. Net diversification analysis indicated a constant rate of diversification, suggesting that the high species diversity of Adesmia that occur in Chile is due to a uniform speciation process rather than to accelerated episodes of speciation.