Phylogeography and origin of European Sanionia uncinata (Amblystegiaceae, Bryophyta)

Abstract

Based on information from ITS (112 specimens) and the chloroplast markers trnL-trnF and rpl16 (116), this study reconstructs the phylogeography of the moss Sanionia uncinata, with a focus on Europe. In a global context, especially ITS data, suggest a scenario with a major split, between one southern hemisphere and one eastern Asiatic lineage. Descendants of the first dispersed back to the northern hemisphere where they are presently widespread, and those of the second lineage likewise spread over much of the north. Within the latter, a separate group evolved which is the only one present in central Europe and has not reached arctic Europe. Members of this group also colonized tropical Africa. In addition, members of the two main lineages most likely survived the last glaciation in the north or north-east, whereas representatives of the last evolved group could have survived the glacial period in southern Europe. The results underline potential problems with too small data sets in phylogeographic studies. European ITS data suggest two cryptic species, but the global sampling includes representatives of several of the haplotypes that are ‘missing’ in Europe, and the chloroplast data suggest partly different groups than ITS.