The diversification of eastern South American open vegetation biomes: Historical biogeography and perspectives

The eastern-central South American open vegetation biomes occur across an extensive range of environmental conditions and are organized diagonally including three complexly interacting tropical/sub-tropical biomes. Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs), Cerrado, and Chaco biomes are seasonally stressed by drought, characterized by significant plant and animal endemism, high levels of diversity, and highly endangered. However, these open biomes have been overlooked in biogeographic studies and conservation projects in South America, especially regarding fauna studies. Here I compile and evaluate the biogeographic hypotheses previously proposed for the diversification of these three major open biomes, specifically their distributions located eastern and southern of Andes. My goal is to generate predictions and provide a background for testable hypotheses. I begin by investigating both continental (inter-biome) and regional (within-biome) levels, and I then provide a biogeographical summary for these regions. I also suggest how novel molecular-based historical biogeographic/phylogeographic approaches could contribute to the resolution of long-standing questions, identify potential target fauna groups for development of these lines of study, and describe fertile future research agendas.

► I reviewed the biogeographic patterns for three open biomes (Cerrado, Chaco, and Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests).
► I report a general deficiency in integrated appraisals, especially phylogeographic approaches.
► Chaco is marked by a lack of zoogeography studies.
► More studies and hypotheses reported for within-biomes than between-biomes level, and general scenarios are still controversial.
► I identify potential target fauna groups for development of future research.