Revisiting the bipolarity of Roaldia revoluta (Mitt.) P.E.A.S. Câmara & Carv.-Silva (Bryophyta, Pylaisiaceae)

Abstract

The occurrence of species in both polar regions (bipolarity) is a common phenomenon in the Antarctic flora. Considering the high morphological variation in polar regions due to extreme conditions, the use of molecular tools is indispensable for testing whether Arctic and Antarctic populations indeed belong to the same species. However, few phylogeographic studies of bipolar bryophytes have been conducted so far, especially when comparing molecular and morphological variation. Here, we assess the bipolarity and intraspecific variation of Roaldia revoluta, a strictly bipolar species of pleurocarpous mosses. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS sequences clearly resolve R. revoluta as monophyletic and confirm its bipolar distribution pattern. Low intraspecific molecular variation in the markers ITS/26S and rpl16 was observed, and most specimens from both polar regions belong to a single haplotype, making it difficult to infer the origin and dispersal routes between both polar regions of R. revoluta. Morphometric analysis furthermore suggests that there are no significant morphological differences among populations from both polar regions and that morphological variation is mainly influenced by local environmental conditions. Our data do not unequivocally support the recent separation of the former intraspecific taxon Hypnum revolutum var. dolomiticum at the species level as Roaldia dolomitica.