Systematics, ecology and evolution of Heliotropium sect. Cochranea (Heliotropiaceae) and the biogeography of the Atacama Desert [Elektronische Ressource] / by Federico Luebert

Systematics, ecology and evolution ofHeliotropium sect. Cochranea(Heliotropiaceae) and the biogeography ofthe Atacama DesertInaugural-Dissertationto obtain the academic degreeDoctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.)submitted to the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacyof Freie Universit at BerlinbyFederico Luebertfrom Santiago de ChileBerlin2010Gedruckt mit Unterstutzung des Deutschen Akademischen AustauschdienstesThis work was carried out between 2007 and 2010 under the supervision of Prof. Dr.Hartmut H. Hilger, Institut fur Biologie of the Freie Universit at Berlin.1st Reviewer: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hartmut H. Hilger2nd Reviewer: PD Dr. Maximilian WeigendDate of defence: 23 November 20103ContentsAcknowledgments 131 General Introduction 151.1 Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151.2 The Atacama Desert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161.2.1 Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161.2.2 Biogeographical Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181.2.3 Origin of Aridity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201.3 Heliotropium sect. Cochranea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201.3.1 Systematic Placement and Taxonomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201.3.2 Distribution, Ecology and Evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241.4 Hypotheses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .