A. Leslie

Publications49
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Citations943
Highly Influential Citations54
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Hemisphere-scale differences in conifer evolutionary dynamics
TLDR
The abundance of recent divergences in northern clades may reflect complex patterns of migration and range shifts during climatic cycles over the later Neogene leading to elevated rates of speciation and extinction, whereas the scattered persistence of mild, wetter habitats in the Southern Hemisphere may have favored the survival of older lineages. Expand
Leaf wax composition and carbon isotopes vary among major conifer groups
TLDR
An analysis of en-alkane indicates a strong phylogenetic signal in which the smallest biosynthetic fractionation occurs in Pinaceae and the largest in Taxaceae, which may be related to differences in carbon metabolism among conifer clades. Expand
An overview of extant conifer evolution from the perspective of the fossil record.
TLDR
A new time-calibrated molecular tree that samples ~90% of extant species diversity and phylogenetic relationships and estimated divergence ages in this new phylogeny with the paleobotanical record are presented, focusing on clades that are species-rich and well known from fossils. Expand
Whole-Plant Reconstruction and Phylogenetic Relationships of Elatides zhoui sp. nov. (Cupressaceae) from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia
TLDR
Elatides zhoui provides further evidence for the diversity of Cupressaceae sensu lato during the Cretaceous and supports the hypothesis that cunninghamioid conifers in particular were diverse and widespread during the early evolution of the Cupressidae. Expand
Fossils matter: improved estimates of divergence times in Pinus reveal older diversification
TLDR
This study is the first to estimate the divergence dates of pines based on a large number of fossils evenly distributed across all major clades, in combination with applying both node and tip dating methods. Expand
Shifting functional roles and the evolution of conifer pollen-producing and seed-producing cones
TLDR
Results suggest that increases in the strength and complexity of biotic interactions in the Jurassic and Cretaceous were a primary driver of conifer reproductive evolution, and that patterns of character evolution relate to the increasing importance of cone tissue in seed protection and seed dispersal through time. Expand
Explaining the distribution of breeding and dispersal syndromes in conifers
TLDR
This study uses a well-sampled molecular phylogeny of conifers to show that although dioecy and fleshiness strongly co-occur at the species level, this relationship has not resulted from numerous separate origins of this trait combination or from differential rates of diversification. Expand
Cupressaceae Conifers from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia
TLDR
Together with previously described fossils, Pentakonos and Stutzeliastrobus provide additional evidence that both Cunninghamia-like and Taiwania-like plants were important elements in the early diversification of the Cupressaceae s.l. Expand
Predation and protection in the macroevolutionary history of conifer cones
  • A. Leslie
  • Biology, Medicine
  • Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological…
  • 7 October 2011
TLDR
Measurements of individual conifer pollen-producing and seed-producing cones from the Pennsylvanian to the Recent show that the relative amount of tissue invested in pollen cones has remained constant through time, while seed cones show a sharp increase in proportional tissue investment in the Jurassic that has continued to intensify to the present day. Expand
Ovule Function and the Evolution of Angiosperm Reproductive Innovations
TLDR
By decoupling ovules from pollination, the carpel fundamentally altered the way in which pollination occurs in angiosperms relative to other seed plants, and may have expanded the types of reproductive structures angiosPerms could develop and the specificity with which these structures could interact with pollinators. Expand
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