Galápagos giant daisies, known as *Scalesia*, have repeatedly evolved similar heat-tolerant leaf shapes using different genetic mechanisms. This finding comes from an international research team including scientists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The study analyzed the complete genomes of all known *Scalesia* species.
The research indicates that deeply lobed leaves, which help plants survive hot and dry conditions, evolved independently multiple times. Each instance involved different genes, even though they were part of the same biological system controlling leaf development. This demonstrates parallel evolution, where similar solutions arise from varied genetic pathways.
*Scalesia* is a young plant genus, with all existing species emerging within the last one million years. Despite this short evolutionary history, these plants have adapted to diverse habitats across the Galápagos Islands. Their appearance varies significantly, from small shrubs to tall trees, with leaf shapes ranging from large and entire to small and deeply lobed.
Researchers also found significant genetic differences among isolated *Scalesia* populations. This suggests that new species may currently be forming. These populations could represent distinct evolutionary lineages not yet formally recognized by scientists.
Professor Michael D. Martin of NTNU's University Museum noted that the Galápagos Islands continue to reveal new biological insights, more than 150 years after Charles Darwin's work there. The study provides a detailed view of adaptive radiation, the process where one ancestral species rapidly diversifies into many forms suited to different environments.
The genetic evidence suggests that the evolutionary story of *Scalesia* is ongoing. Conservation efforts may need to consider each isolated population as an individual unit. This approach could help protect the unique plants and ecosystems of the Galápagos.
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