Low genetic variation between South American and Antarctic populations of the bank-forming moss Chorisodontium aciphyllum (Dicranaceae)

Biersma, Elisabeth M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9877-2177; Jackson, Jennifer A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4158-1924; Bracegirdle, Thomas J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8868-4739; Griffiths, Howard; Linse, Katrin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3477-3047; Convey, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8497-9903. 2018 Low genetic variation between South American and Antarctic populations of the bank-forming moss Chorisodontium aciphyllum (Dicranaceae). Polar Biology, 41 (4). 599-610. 10.1007/s00300-017-2221-1

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Text This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Polar Biology. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-017-2221-1 POBI-D-17-00046_R1_final_revision_change_first_page.pdf - Accepted Version Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

The Antarctic–South American bank-forming moss Chorisodontium aciphyllum is known for having the oldest sub-fossils of any extant plant in Antarctica as well as extreme survival abilities, making it a candidate species for possible long-term survival in Antarctica. Applying phylogeographic and population genetic methods using the plastid markers trnL-F and rps4 and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer, we investigated the genetic diversity within C. aciphyllum throughout its range. Low genetic variation was found in all loci, both between and within Antarctic and southern South American populations, suggesting a relatively recent (likely within the last million years) colonization of this moss to the Antarctic, as well as a likely severe bottleneck during Pleistocene glaciations in southern South America. We also performed a simple atmospheric transfer modeling approach to study potential colonization rates of small (microscopic/microbial) or spore-dispersed organisms (such as many mosses and lichens). These suggested that the northern Antarctic Peninsula shows potentially regular connectivity from southern South America, with air masses transferring, particularly southbound, between the two regions. We found elevated genetic variation of C. aciphyllum in Elephant Island, also the location of the oldest known moss banks (> 5500 years), suggesting this location to be a genetic hotspot for this species in the Antarctic.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1007/s00300-017-2221-1
ISSN:	0722-4060
Additional Keywords:	Bryophyte, LGM, last glacial maximum, peat moss, sub-Antarctic, wind
NORA Subject Terms:	Botany
Date made live:	13 Feb 2018 12:05 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514666

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