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Phylogenetic biogeography and taxonomy of disjunctly distributed bryophytes
Author(s) -
HEINRICHS Jochen,
HENTSCHEL Jörn,
FELDBERG Kathrin,
BOMBOSCH Andrea,
SCHNEIDER Harald
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of systematics and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.249
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1759-6831
pISSN - 1674-4918
DOI - 10.1111/j.1759-6831.2009.00028.x
Subject(s) - vicariance , bryophyte , biological dispersal , biogeography , disjunct , disjunct distribution , biology , phylogenetic tree , ecology , taxonomy (biology) , evolutionary biology , phylogenetics , phylogeography , gene , population , biochemistry , demography , sociology
More than 200 research papers on the molecular phylogeny and phylogenetic biogeography of bryophytes have been published since the beginning of this millenium. These papers corroborated assumptions of a complex genetic structure of morphologically circumscribed bryophytes, and raised reservations against many morphologically justified species concepts, especially within the mosses. However, many molecular studies allowed for corrections and modifications of morphological classification schemes. Several studies reported that the phylogenetic structure of disjunctly distributed bryophyte species reflects their geographical ranges rather than morphological disparities. Molecular data led to new appraisals of distribution ranges and allowed for the reconstruction of refugia and migration routes. Intercontinental ranges of bryophytes are often caused by dispersal rather than geographical vicariance. Many distribution patterns of disjunct bryophytes are likely formed by processes such as short distance dispersal, rare long distance dispersal events, extinction, recolonization and diversification.