Abstract
The Rubiaceae is among the most diversified and largest of the families in the African rain forest and consequently presents a suitable sample to test the theory of glacial forest refuges. Most forest Rubiaceae are ecologically selective and present a sufficiently low long distance dispersal potential to qualify. Generic diversity centres, patterns of endemism and disjunctions in lowland forest Rubiaceae generally corroborate the theory. It is also found that the refuges are characterized by generic endemism, a fact perhaps indicating that the ice ages had a catastrophic influence on the flora of tropical Africa. The data assembled (i) point towards modifications of the delimitation of accepted refuge areas, and (ii) indicate the existence of a few more refuge areas, e.g. in the Zaire Basin and in the Indian Ocean coastal belt.
Résumé
La famille des Rubiaceae est l’une des plus importantes de la forêt ombrophile africaine et constitue donc un exemple valable pour vérifier la théorie des refuges forestiers glaciaires. La plupart des Rubiaceae forestières ont une écologie suffisamment exigeante et une potentialité de dispersion à longue distance assez faible pour servir de témoin. Les centres de diversité générique, les modes d’endémisme et les disjonctions d’aires observées chez les Rubiaceae des forêts planitiaires corroborent cette théorie. Il s’avère également que les refuges sont caractérisés par un endémisme générique, ce qui pourrait indiquer que l’ère glaciaire a une influence catastrophique sur la flore de l’Afrique tropicale. Les données réunies (i) montrent des modifications dans la délimitation des aires de refuge acceptées et (ii) indiquent l’existence de quelques autres aires de refuge, notamment dans le bassin du Zaïre et dans la bande côtière de l’Océan Indien.
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Robbrecht, E. (1996). Geography of African Rubiaceae with reference to glacial rain forest refuges. In: van der Maesen, L.J.G., van der Burgt, X.M., van Medenbach de Rooy, J.M. (eds) The Biodiversity of African Plants. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0285-5_71
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0285-5_71
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