The taxonomic status and the geographical relationships of the Macaronesian endemic moss Fissidens luisieri (Fissidentaceae) based on DNA sequence data

Copyright © 2009 by The American Bryological and Lichenological Society, Inc.The taxonomic identity and the geographical relationships of the Macaronesian endemic moss Fissidens luisieri have been studied using the chloroplast trnGUCC intron, the spacer between trnM and trnV, together with the trnV intron and ITS1 and ITS2 sequences. A comparison of F. luisieri with the most closely related species, F. serrulatus, from the same geographical areas reveals that the distribution pattern of F. serrulatus and F. luisieri, rather than their morphological differences, explains the observed differences. Therefore, we conclude that both names correspond to the same species. One of the primers for the chloroplast trnGUCC intron and both primers for the trnM–trnV region were designed for this study; they can all be widely used within bryophytes because they provide similar degrees of variability as other regions of the chloroplast genome such as the atpB–rbcL intergenic spacer

Distribution patterns of Leucodon species in Macaronesia, with special reference to the Canary Islands

Copyright © 2009 Adac. Tous droits réservés.The genus Leucodon is represented in Macaronesia by three species, L. sciuroides, L. canariensis and L. treleasei, the latter two being endemic to this region. An analysis of distribution, frequency and habitats for all three species in this region shows singular patterns for each species, mainly related to habitat conservation and type of habitat. Leucodon canariensis is the most restricted species as regards habitat conditions, with a confirmed presence only on Madeira and the Canary Islands, although more abundant in the latter. Leucodon treleasei exhibits the widest habitat amplitude, especially on Madeira, and it is present in all three northern archipelagos. Leucodon sciuroides is the most tolerant species to aridity and is mainly found on Madeira and the Canary Islands, although its occurrence was confirmed in all the Macaronesian archipelagos

Approximate Bayesian Computation Reveals the Crucial Role of Oceanic Islands for the Assembly of Continental Biodiversity

The perceived low levels of genetic diversity, poor interspecific competitive and defensive ability, and loss of dispersal capacities of insular lineages have driven the view that oceanic islands are evolutionary dead ends. Focusing on the Atlantic bryophyte flora distributed across the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Western Europe, and northwestern Africa, we used an integrative approach with species distribution modeling and population genetic analyses based on approximate Bayesian computation to determine whether this view applies to organisms with inherent high dispersal capacities. Genetic diversity was found to be higher in island than in continental populations, contributing to mounting evidence that, contrary to theoretical expectations, island populations are not necessarily genetically depauperate. Patterns of genetic variation among island and continental populations consistently fitted those simulated under a scenario of de novo foundation of continental populations from insular ancestors better than those expected if islands would represent a sink or a refugium of continental biodiversity. We, suggest that the northeastern Atlantic archipelagos have played a key role as a stepping stone for transoceanic migrants. Our results challenge the traditional notion that oceanic islands are the end of the colonization road and illustrate the significant role of oceanic islands as reservoirs of novel biodiversity for the assembly of continental flora

The long journey of Orthotrichum shevockii (Orthotrichaceae, Bryopsida): From California to Macaronesia

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Biogeography, systematics and taxonomy are complementary scientific disciplines. To understand a species' origin, migration routes, distribution and evolutionary history, it is first necessary to establish its taxonomic boundaries. Here, we use an integrative approach that takes advantage of complementary disciplines to resolve an intriguing scientific question. Populations of an unknown moss found in the Canary Islands (Tenerife Island) resembled two different Californian endemic species: Orthotrichum shevockii and O. kellmanii. To determine whether this moss belongs to either of these species and, if so, to explain its presence on this distant oceanic island, we combined the evaluation of morphological qualitative characters, statistical morphometric analyses of quantitative traits, and molecular phylogenetic inferences. Our results suggest that the two Californian mosses are conspecific, and that the Canarian populations belong to this putative species, with only one taxon thus involved. Orthotrichum shevockii (the priority name) is therefore recognized as a morphologically variable species that exhibits a transcontinental disjunction between western North America and the Canary Islands. Within its distribution range, the area of occupancy is limited, a notable feature among bryophytes at the intraspecific level. To explain this disjunction, divergence time and ancestral area estimation analyses are carried out and further support the hypothesis of a long-distance dispersal event from California to Tenerife IslandThis research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (CGL2007- 61389/BOS) to F.L., the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CGL2011-28857/BOS) to V.M., the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CGL2013-43246-P) to R.G., and the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (CGL2016-80772-P) to I.D. and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grants IJCI-2014-19691 and RYC-2016-20506) to J.P. J.P. also received the H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions grant 747238. J.M.G-M and A.L-L. are grateful for funding from Parque Nacional del Teide. B.V. benefited from the support of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through grant BES2012-051976 of the Formación de Personal Investigador (FPI) programme. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscrip

Appendix A. A map showing the location of the 56 sites studied on La Gomera Island, Canary Islands, Spain.

A map showing the location of the 56 sites studied on La Gomera Island, Canary Islands, Spain

Appendix C. Spearman's correlation coefficients among habitat properties in the 56 freshwater sites analyzed.

Spearman's correlation coefficients among habitat properties in the 56 freshwater sites analyzed

Los aprovechamientos forestales del monteverde en La Palma

Los aprovechamientos forestales en Canarias han disminuido de forma notable desde los años 80, siendo La Palma la isla en la que está más extendida esta actividad. Análisis de los sistemas de corta en el monteverde, evolución estad´ística del aprovechamiento y productos forestales que se obtienen

Appendix B. Species list including information on their phylogenetic group, red-list category, affinity to the freshwater habitat and the bioclimatic belt, and their indicator-species values.

Species list including information on their phylogenetic group, red-list category, affinity to the freshwater habitat and the bioclimatic belt, and their indicator-species values

Origin and fate of the single island endemic moss Orthotrichum handiense

J.P. and A.V. gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS; grants 1.5036.11 and 2.4557.11) and the University of Lie`ge (Grant C 11/32). R.M.R. and F.L. acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the FEDER program from the EU (Grants CGL2008-00275/BOS and CGL2012-22936/BOS to R.M.R. and CGL2010–15693 and CGL2011–28857/BOS to F.L.), and J.M.G.M. from the Canarian Government (P1042004-028).Aim. Our aims were: to determine the evolutionary origin of the single-island endemic moss Orthotrichum handiense; to assess whether its endemicity results from a recent origin or founder event, a loss of dispersal ability, specific habitat requirements, or contraction of a formerly wider range; and to make predictions about its ability to face ongoing climate change. Location. Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. Methods. The evolutionary origin of O. handiense was determined by phylogenetic analysis and molecular dating. The spatial genetic structure and demographic history of 48 individuals of O. handiense were analysed with inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers through analyses of molecular variance, Mantel tests, mismatch distributions and bottleneck analyses. The macroclimatic envelope of the species was modelled using an ensemble approach of eight species distribution models, and its suitable areas predicted for extant, past (21 ka) and future (2050, 2080) conditions. Results. Orthotrichum handiense was resolved as sister to the Californian O. underwoodii and their most recent common ancestor was dated to early Miocene–Pliocene. ISSR analyses revealed extremely low levels of genetic diversity and provided evidence for a recent bottleneck and for isolation-by-distance at the local scale. The different models investigated all pointed to the mismatch between the limited extant distribution and the extent of macroclimatically suitable areas. All models predicted climatic unsuitability on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote at 21 ka, but were conflicting in other areas. A dramatic reduction and loss of suitable areas were predicted for 2050 and 2080, respectively. Main conclusions The phylogenetic position of O. handiense points to a long-distance dispersal event from a western North American ancestor and emphasizes the differences in the origin of Macaronesian endemic bryophytes and angiosperms. The predicted absence of suitable macroclimatic conditions in Fuerteventura at 21 ka supports the hypothesis of a palaeoendemic origin and a recent founder event in Fuerteventura, consistent with the low levels of genetic diversity and with evidence for a recent bottleneck. While the biogeographical history of the species hence involves major dispersal events over periods of tens of thousands of years, its ability to respond quickly to predicted climate change during the next few decades is questioned.Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Short-term effects of clear-cutting on the biomass and richness of epiphytic bryophytes in managed subtropical cloud forests

• Managed laurel forests in the Canary Islands have undergone clear-cutting with rotation periods of less than 30 y. Forest owners have recently requested a drastic reduction in the cutting interval. The effects of this new harvesting cycle on organisms like epiphytic bryophytes are not well known. • This study investigates how time since last clear-cut, host species and characteristics of tree zones influence the biomass, cover and richness of epiphyte bryophytes in managed laurel forests in La Palma, Canary Islands. Four forest ages (8, 15, 25 and 60 y) and three host tree species (Erica arborea, Laurus novocanariensis and Myrica faya) were studied. • Biomass, cover and richness of bryophytes increased through the chronosequence, both at the level of each plot and overall for L. novocanariensis. Most of the biomass (53%) and richness (81%) was concentrated in one of the tree species (L. novocanariensis), in plots for which 60 y had elapsed since the last clear-cutting. Trunks supported greater bryophyte biomass and richness than canopies, even in the oldest plots. • Our results suggest that the current rotation periods used to manage laurel forests are insufficiently long to allow for complete reestablishment of epiphytic bryophyte assemblages.Effets à court terme de la coupe à blanc sur la biomasse et la richesse des bryophytes épiphytes dans des forêts gérées subtropicales. •  Les forêts de lauriers gérées dans les îles Canaries ont subi la coupe à blanc avec des périodes de rotation de moins de 30 ans. Les propriétaires des forêts ont récemment demandé une réduction drastique de l'intervalle de coupe. Les effets de ce nouveau cycle de récolte sur des organismes épiphytes comme les bryophytes ne sont pas bien connus. •  Cette étude examine la façon dont le temps depuis la dernière coupe, les espèces hôtes et les caractéristiques des espèces d'arbres influencent la biomasse, la couverture et la richesse des bryophytes épiphytes dans les forêts gérées de lauriers à La Palma, îles Canaries. Quatre forêts âgées de 8, 15, 25 et 60 ans et trois espèces d'arbres hôtes (Erica arborea, Laurus novocanariensis et Myrica faya) ont été étudiées. •  La biomasse, la couverture et la richesse des bryophytes ont augmenté à travers la chronoséquence, au niveau de chaque parcelle et de l'ensemble de L. novocanariensis. La plus grande partie de la biomasse (53 %) et de la richesse (81 %) est concentrée sur l'une des espèces d'arbres (L. novocanariensis), dans les parcelles pour lesquelles 60 ans se sont écoulés depuis la dernière coupe à blanc. Les troncs supportent une plus grande biomasse de bryophytes et une plus grande richesse que les canopées, même dans les parcelles les plus anciennes. •  Nos résultats suggèrent que les périodes courantes de rotation utilisées pour gérer les forêts de lauriers ne sont pas suffisamment longues pour permettre le rétablissement complet des assemblages des bryophytes épiphytes