Interrogating the ecological and geographic factors that influence population divergence dynamics can reveal why some groups of organisms diversify more prolifically than others. One such group is the heathers ( Erica , Ericaceae), the largest plant genus in the Cape Floristic Region. We study Erica abietina , a highly variable species complex with four subspecies differing in geographic range, habitat and pollination syndrome...

While the tempo of diversification in biodiversity hotspots has received much attention, the spatial scale of diversification has often been overlooked. Addressing this deficiency requires understanding the drivers of population divergence and the spatial scales at which they operate in species‐rich clades and ecosystems. South Africa's Succulent Karoo (SK) hotspot provides an excellent system for such research, being both com...