DNA barcoding, ecology and geography of the cryptic species of Aneura pinguis and their relationships with Aneura maxima and Aneura mirabilis (Metzgeriales, Marchantiophyta)

Abstract

Aneura pinguis is a thalloid liverwort species with broad geographical distribution. It is composed of cryptic species, however, the number of cryptic species within A. pinguis is not known. Five cpDNA regions (matK, rbcL, rpoC1, trnH-psbA and trnL-trnF) and the entire nuclear ITS region were studied in 130 samples of A. pinguis from different geographical regions. The relationships between the cryptic species of A. pinguis, A. maxima and A. mirabilis were analyzed. All of the examined samples were clustered into 10 clades corresponding to 10 cryptic species of A. pinguis (marked A to J). Aneura mirabilis and A. maxima were nested among different cryptic species of A. pinguis, which indicates that A. pinguis is a paraphyletic taxon. Subgroups were found in cryptic species A, B, C and E. As single barcodes, all tested DNA regions had 100% discriminant power and fulfilled DNA barcode criteria for species identification; however, the only combination detected in all subgroups was trnL-trnF with trnH-psbA or ITS2. The distances between cryptic species were 11- to 35-fold higher than intraspecific distances. In all analyzed DNA regions, the distances between most pairs of cryptic A. pinguis species were higher than between A. maxima and A. mirabilis. All cryptic species of A. pinguis clearly differed in their habitat preferences, which suggests that habitat adaptation could be the main driving force behind cryptic speciation within this taxon.

DNA barcoding and molecular phylogeny of Dumasia (Fabaceae: Phaseoleae) reveals a cryptic lineage

“…DNA barcoding is not only for species identification, but also for evolutionary, ecological, and conservation research ( Hebert et al., 2003 ; Valentini et al., 2009 ; Li et al., 2011a ; Liu et al., 2018 ; Leese et al., 2018 ). In addition, the use of DNA barcodes has also led to the discovery of many new and/or cryptic species (e. g., Hebert et al., 2004 ; Bączkiewicz et al., 2017 ; Tyagi et al., 2019 ). Accordingly, DNA barcoding has become an effective tool for uncovering hidden diversity and has enhanced our understanding of biodiversity ( Gregory, 2005 ; Kress et al., 2005 ; Li et al., 2011b ).…”

Chloroplast Genome of the Folk Medicine and Vegetable Plant Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn.: Gene Organization, Comparative and Phylogenetic Analysis

“…Chloroplast genome encodes many key proteins that are involved in photosynthesis and other important metabolic processes for plant interactions with their environment, such as drought, salt and light [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. The availability of over 2400 sequenced chloroplast genomes ( ) gave us insights to understand the plant biology diversity, evolution, climatic adaptation, DNA barcoding and expression high-value agricultural or biomedical products by genetic engineering [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Molecular barcodes based on the chloroplast genome have shown great potential for species discrimination, especially between closely related taxa, but to date, chloroplast genome sequences of only two genus of the Portulacaceae have been analyzed, which are Carnegiea gigantean and Portulaca oleracea [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. At both the species and population levels, the complete chloroplast genome sequence might enhance our ability to explore reliable barcoding for accurate plant identification [ 6 , 7 , 25 ].…”

Does Calypogeia azurea (Calypogeiaceae, Marchantiophyta) occur outside Europe? Molecular and morphological evidence

“…conjugata [ 35 ], Ptilidium pulcherrimum and P . ciliare [ 36 ], Porella platyphylla [ 30 ], Cololejeunea lanciloba [ 37 ] and Aneura pinguis [ 38 – 39 ]. Genetic diversity was also found in Calypogeia species, including C .…”