Is Photosynthetic Capacity Associated With Diversification of C 3 Plants?

Ecology Letters 2026 Open access

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Authors: Christopher D. Muir
DOI: 10.1111/ele.70331
Cited by: 0
References: 22

Abstract

ABSTRACT Schweiger and Schweiger (2024) recently proposed that the evolution of greater photosynthetic capacity in C 3 plant species may be linked to increased species diversification. This conclusion is premature because their methods cannot reliably estimate diversification rates or ancestral trait values. Reanalyzing the data set using model‐based phylogenetic comparative methods reveals no evidence that photosynthetic capacity is associated with diversification rates among C 3 plant genera.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Plant Diversity and Evolution Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics Evolution and Paleontology Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
Ecology Letters
Volume
29
Issue
2
Pages
e70331–e70331
Publication date
1 February 2026
Language
EN