Open AccessHow many species of I sothecium ( L embophyllaceae, B ryophyta) are there in M acaronesia? A survey using integrative taxonomy
Author(s) -
Draper Isabel,
Hedenäs Lars,
Stech Michael,
Patiño Jairo,
Werner Olaf,
GonzálezMancebo Juana María,
SimSim Manuela,
Lopes Tina,
Ros Rosa María
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
botanical journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.872
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1095-8339
pISSN - 0024-4074
DOI - 10.1111/boj.12250
Subject(s) - biology , taxonomy (biology) , endemism , moss , evolutionary biology , plant taxonomy , internal transcribed spacer , biodiversity hotspot , lineage (genetic) , biodiversity , ecology , zoology , systematics , phylogenetic tree , biochemistry , gene
Species boundaries are sometimes difficult to assess, especially when molecular data do not neatly match morphologically defined units. This study investigates the moss genus I sothecium , with special emphasis on M acaronesian populations. Morphological studies are combined with the analysis of three rapidly evolving markers: nuclear internal transcribed spacer and plastid trn G and trn L ‐ trn F . The results of the morphological studies suggest that I sothecium is represented by five species in M acaronesia, including a new endemic species from M adeira, Isothecium montanum sp. nov. , which is described here. The molecular results are less conclusive than the morphology results in delimiting species of this genus, even when indels are included as informative. Once possible methodological shortcomings have been discarded, the results can be interpreted as having been caused by incomplete lineage sorting, probably as a consequence of recent speciation. The molecular results also suggest that the origin of the M acaronesian endemics may be explained by at least two independent colonization events. Finally, the delimitation of a new endemic species of I sothecium in M acaronesia indicates that current knowledge on the taxonomy of spore‐producing plants may be far from complete in this hotspot of biodiversity. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2015, 00 , 000–000.