Link to bioRxiv paper:

http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.07.28.224790v1?rss=1

Authors: Perez-Lamarque, B., Opik, M., Maliet, O., Afonso Silva, A. C., Selosse, M.-A., Martos, F., Morlon, H.

Abstract:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread microfungi that provide mineral nutrients to most land plants and form one of the oldest terrestrial symbioses. They have often been referred to as an "evolutionary cul-de-sac" for their limited ecological and species diversity. Here we use a global database of AMF to analyze their diversification dynamics in the past 500 million years (Myr). We find that AMF have low diversification rates. After a diversification peak around 150 Myr ago, they experienced an important diversification slowdown in the last 100 Myr, likely related to a shrinking of their suitable ecological niches. Our results clarify patterns and drivers of diversification in a group of obligate symbionts of major ecological and evolutionary importance. They also highlight a striking example of a diversification slowdown that, instead of reflecting an adaptive radiation as typically assumed, results from a limited ability to colonize new niches in an evolutionary cul-de-sac.

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