A. J. Helmstetter

An angiosperm-wide perspective on reproductive strategiesand floral traits

The paper analyzes floral and reproductive traits across 361 flowering plant species to show that dioecy is linked to floral traits, while correlations with lifespan and dispersal are spurious.

Towards a phylogenomic classification of Magnoliidae

This study presents a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of Magnoliidae, updating its classification by resolving previously ambiguous relationships and recognizing 21 families.

Trait-dependent diversification in angiosperms: patterns, models and data

This study synthesizes data from 152 studies on angiosperm diversification using SSE models, finding that trait effects vary across clades and dataset properties influence results.

Pulled Diversification Rates, Lineages-Through-Time Plots and Modern Macroevolutionary Modelling

The paper evaluates diversification rate estimation methods using simulations, introduces 'pulled rates', and discusses the reliability of macroevolutionary models.

Phylogenomic relationships and historical biogeography in the South American vegetable ivory palms (Phytelepheae)

This study investigates the phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of South American vegetable ivory palms using genomic data and fossil calibration, finding that P. seemannii and P. schottii are not closely related to P. macrocarpa.

Rapid Parallel Adaptation to Anthropogenic Heavy Metal Pollution

This study shows that Silene uniflora rapidly adapted to zinc-contaminated soils without gene flow, revealing complex genetic responses to anthropogenic pollution.

The Demographic History of Micro-endemics: Have Rare Species Always Been Rare?

This study uses genetic data to show that many rare Madagascan plant species have experienced recent population declines, suggesting extinction risk can be predicted from demographic patterns, even with limited data.

Unravelling the phylogenomic relationships of the most diverse African palm genus Raphia (Calamoideae, Arecaceae)

This study uses phylogenomic analysis to clarify the relationships within the African palm genus Raphia, finding five clades and supporting morphological classification while highlighting unresolved species boundaries.

Phylogenomic approaches reveal how a climatic inversion and glacial refugia shape patterns of diversity in an African rain forest tree species

The paper uses phylogeographic analysis of 351 nuclear markers to show that a North-South genetic divide in Annickia affinis is due to a single colonization event across a climatic inversion.

Determinants of growth and body size in Austrolebias South-American annual killifish

The study shows hatchling size variation is a main determinant of adult size variation in annual killifish, supporting the time constraint hypothesis.

Introgression across evolutionary scales suggests reticulation contributes to Amazonian tree diversity

This study shows hybridization is common in Amazonian trees, with evidence of introgression across multiple lineages and time scales, challenging the view that hybridization is rare in the region.

Genetic diversity and domestication of hazelnut (Corylus avellana) in Turkey

The paper assesses genetic diversity and domestication history of Turkish hazelnuts using ddRAD sequencing, finding limited diversity reduction and multiple admixture events between wild and domesticated populations.

Phylogenomics of the major tropical plant family Annonaceae using targeted enrichment of nuclear genes

This study uses targeted nuclear gene sequencing to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships in Annonaceae, confirming previous chloroplast studies and identifying new relationships and a new tribe.

Trait evolution and historical biogeography shape assemblages of annual killifish

The paper investigates how trait evolution and historical biogeography influence species assemblages in annual killifish, finding that size variation originated in one area and spread to others with varying ecological impacts.