Evolution of phenotypic disparity in the plant kingdom

The plant kingdom exhibits diverse bodyplans, from single-celled algae to complex multicellular land plants, but it is unclear how this phenotypic disparity was achieved. Here we show that the living divisions comprise discrete clusters within morphospace, separated largely by reproductive innovations, the extinction of evolutionary intermediates and lineage-specific evolution. Phenotypic complexity correlates not with disparity but with ploidy history, reflecting the role of genome duplication in plant macroevolution. Overall, the plant kingdom exhibits a pattern of episodically increasing disparity throughout its evolutionary history that mirrors the evolutionary floras and reflects ecological expansion facilitated by reproductive innovations. This pattern also parallels that seen in the animal and fungal kingdoms, suggesting a general pattern for the evolution of multicellular bodyplans. Clark and colleagues show that plant anatomical diversity evolved episodically over geologic time, reflecting ecological expansion facilitated by reproductive innovations. This is paralleled in animals and fungi, suggesting a general evolutionary mode for multicellular bodyplans.

Automated summary

The diverse bodyplans in the plant kingdom were achieved through reproductive innovations, extinction of evolutionary intermediates, and lineage-specific evolution. The complexity of plant phenotypes is correlated with ploidy history, indicating the role of genome duplication in plant macroevolution. The pattern of increasing disparity in the plant kingdom mirrors the evolutionary floras and reflects ecological expansion facilitated by reproductive innovations. This pattern is also observed in animals and fungi, suggesting a general pattern for the evolution of multicellular bodyplans.