Understanding how East Asian subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs) have evolved over time is not only vital for biodiversity conservation but also facilitates predictive modeling of ecosystem services under global change scenarios. During recent decades, numerous studies have been devoted to investigating the evolution of EBLFs. However, there are often contradictory interpretations of the different taxa associated with different geological events and environmental backgrounds. Here, we synthesize several key aspects of the spatiotemporal evolution of EBLFs. First, the EBLFs emerged concomitantly with the development of Asian monsoon systems, occurring no earlier than the Eocene. While the southernmost region was inhabited by tropical elements, EBLFs are not the direct relic of boreotropical flora because of the presence of a broad arid belt at that time. Rather, they represent a unique assemblage including boreotropical relics, tropical floras and deciduous broad-leaved forests. Second, the evolution of EBLFs should not be contextualized within an enclave, the adjacent vegetation systems to elucidate the potential connections between EBLFs and other biomes should be considered to avoid an isolated phenomenon. Third, the adaptive response of EBLFs to environmental changes caused by anthropogenic disturbance in subtropical regions remains understudied. Such a knowledge gap must be addressed to develop effective conservation strategies to sustain the ecosystem amid the dual pressure of climate change and human activity in the future. Finally, current research has predominantly focused on the dominant tree species in EBLFs, whereas comprehensive understanding requires expanding the investigation of associated flora, including understory trees and herbaceous plants. This review not only consolidates contemporary perspectives on the evolution of EBLFs but also proposes a framework to navigate the Anthropocene challenges. By bridging historical patterns with future projections, we aim to catalyze transformative research on EBLFs’ resilience and sustainable management, fostering further research and development regarding the resurgence.

Recent phylogenomic studies have confirmed that Scirtidae is one of the earliest-diverging groups of polyphagan beetles. Cretaceous fossils and genome-scale data have shown promise in elucidating the evolutionary history of Scirtidae. However, knowledge about the Mesozoic diversity of scirtids remains limited, and a recent phylogenomic study of Australasian Scirtinae failed to consider among-site compositional heterogeneity. In this study, we present a refined phylogeny of Scirtinae by analyzing ultraconserved element data under the better-fitting site-heterogeneous CAT-GTR+G4 model. A new scirtine fossil, Serracyphon philipsi gen. et sp. nov., is reported from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. This fossil is characterized by serrate antennae, uncarinated antennomere 1, absence of subocular carinae, and absence of a buttonhole on subgenal ridges. The placement of Serracyphon is evaluated within our updated phylogenomic framework for scirtine evolution. Additionally, we critically reevaluate the taxonomy of the “Scirtes” fossils previously described from the Eocene of the Isle of Wight.

Neotropical catfishes of the genus Rhamdia are divided into cis- and trans-Andean/Middle American reciprocally monophyletic components, the latter notable for its considerable cave-dwelling diversity. Despite previous research, uncertainties regarding the systematics and historical biogeography of the Middle American clade remain. To test previous phylogenetic hypotheses and improve our understanding of the evolutionary history of this group of Middle American freshwater fishes, we generated and analyzed comparative mitogenome-wide data from most valid species and known cave-dwelling forms. Our results corroborate this clade as divided into two reciprocally monophyletic groups (split dated at ~9 Ma): a clade representing the species Rhamdia guatemalensis (crown group dated at ~2.8 Ma) and a clade consisting of the remaining Middle American species (i.e., the Rhamdia laticauda species group; crown group dated at ~4 Ma). Our results also confirm the notion that R. laticauda is deeply paraphyletic and that phylogenetically scattered geographic lineages of this taxon could represent different species. Our divergence time estimates, coupled with present-day distribution patterns, support the biogeographic scenario in which northward dispersal and colonization of Central America and southern North America by Rhamdia was catalyzed by the emergence of the Panamanian Isthmus land bridge and stream captures across Lower Central America. Cave colonization in Middle American Rhamdia is widespread, convergent, relatively recent (dating from the Pleistocene), and most likely opportunistic, with established cave-dwelling populations possibly representing “evolutionary dead ends.”

We present a phylogenetic analysis of benthic ctenophores of the order Platyctenida, sampling all but one genus. Using complete mitochondrial genomes and nuclear ribosomal data and a reassessment of anatomy, our integrated analysis uncovers an unexpectedly close relationship between two unusual members of the Coeloplanidae: Coeloplana (Benthoplana) meteoris and Vallicula multiformis. These two species form a well-supported clade, deriving at or near the base of the tree of Platyctenida, distantly related to other Coeloplana, rendering Coeloplana and Coeloplanidae non-monophyletic. A unique mitochondrial gene order and a tentacle bulb with four extensions are newly identified synapomorphies of this lineage. We elevate the subgenus Benthoplana to the generic level, erect the new family Benthoplanidae for Benthoplana and Vallicula, and provide diagnoses for these taxa and their accepted species. We also show that planktonic Ctenoplana (Diploctena) neritica is the early life stage of Benthoplana meteoris, and suggest that the remaining Ctenoplanidae likely represent early life history stages of Coeloplanidae and perhaps other platyctenes. While both the nuclear ribosomal (18S and 28S) and mitochondrial protein-coding genes suggest a deep phylogenetic divergence between Benthoplanidae and Coeloplanidae, we detect conflicting phylogenetic signal between these markers, suggesting nuclear-mitochondrial discordance, leaving the placement of Tjalfiellidae and Lyroctenidae uncertain.

Fossil Ericales pollen from late Oligocene to Early Miocene sediments of the Ban Pa Kha Subbasin, Li Basin, northern Thailand, were examined using the single-grain method. A total of 24 different ericalean pollen types belonging to Ebenaceae (Diospyros), Ericaceae (Cassiope, Vaccinium, and Rhododendron), Pentaphylacaceae (Adinandra), Sapotaceae, Styracaceae (Rehderodendron and Styrax), and Symplocaceae (Symplocos) were identified. All the fossil pollen, except that of Sapotaceae, represent families/genera that are described for the first time from the Cenozoic of Thailand. By considering present terrestrial biome occupancy, Köppen–Geiger climate profiles, and vertical distributions of potential modern analogs of the parent plants producing the fossil pollen, the phytosociological and paleoecological preferences of the fossil taxa were assessed. Our results demonstrate that modern analogs of most of the ericalean taxa have wide ecological and climatic amplitudes with a broad zone of convergence in warm and cold temperate humid or seasonally dry climates. Exceptions are Sapotaceae, which rarely occur outside lowland tropical forests, and Cassiope, which at present occurs at high elevations and, besides Rehderodendron, is one of two modern analogs absent from the modern flora of Thailand. Along with a review of phytosociological studies in montane forests of northern Thailand and neighboring regions, this suggests that the assemblage of dispersed ericalean pollen of the Ban Pa Kha Subbasin likely derives from more than one vegetation type and possibly from different vertical zones.

Accurate species delimitation is crucial for biodiversity research, as it significantly impacts taxonomy, ecology, and conservation. Recent advances in molecular phylogenetics and integrative taxonomy have improved classifications and resolved long-standing taxonomic uncertainties. Here, we use Hyb-Seq (489 nuclear loci) and phylogenomic approaches to investigate Afrocarduus, a genus endemic to tropical Afromontane and Afroalpine regions. Our analyses reveal 16 evolutionary lineages within this relatively young genus (crown age 2.3 Mya), with new morphological data strongly supporting the recognition of each lineage as a distinct species. We demonstrate that the stemless habit evolved independently in species from the Ethiopian Highlands and the East African Rift System (EARS). Notably, we show that the concept of the stemless Afrocarduus schimperi adopted by the Flora of Tropical East Africa, in fact, comprises seven clearly recognizable species, which we formally reinstate. Unexpectedly, the stemmed Afrocarduus nyassanus was recovered as paraphyletic with Afrocarduus ruwenzoriensis nested within it, probably due to incomplete lineage sorting or hybridization. Additionally, the stemmed Afrocarduus keniensis may represent a complex of cryptic species, and we describe a new stemmed species from southern Ethiopia, Afrocarduus kazmi sp. nov. We expand the number of accepted species in Afrocarduus from eight, as recognized in the Flora of Tropical East Africa, to 18 (including two species for which we were not able to obtain molecular data). Our study thus highlights a substantial prior underestimation of the diversity of Afrocarduus in Afromontane and Afroalpine habitats.

While conducting a population genetic study aiming at refining previous conclusions about cladogenesis in the Oxera genus (Lamiaceae) in New Caledonia, we uncovered an unexpected result for the well-known Oxera palmatinervia Dubard species. To better understand the preliminary molecular results that revealed two distinct sister species, we performed extensive field studies in order to sample, measure, hand-pollinate, and observe the flower and fruit visitors on different populations of O. palmatinervia and other species of the “robusta” clade. We found flower morphology differences to be congruent with the molecular results, so that we propose to describe a new species as O. sympatrica Gâteblé & Karnadi sp. nov. The differences in flower morphology between the two species, which can grow in true sympatry and flower at the same time of the year, are striking so that flower visitors and pollination syndromes were investigated as far as possible. We find that two species of honeyeaters Glycifohia undulata and Philemon diemenensis are likely the preferred pollinators, respectively, of O. palmatinervia and O. sympatrica sp. nov. because of their respective sizes, bill and tongue lengths, and behavior. Even though, to date, it cannot be proven that initial speciation of both Oxera occurred in sympatry, today's sympatry is observed along with a remarkable supposed coevolution pollination syndrome. The new species is fully described, mapped, evaluated against Red List criteria, and illustrated. Pollination syndromes are discussed and illustrated.