Abstract Detail

Colloquia: Moss: from deep phylogeny and model organisms.

McDaniel, Stuart F. [1], Atwood, John J. [2], Burleigh, J Gordon [3].

Mating system influences diversification patterns in mosses.

Mating system has long been known to play a key role in structuring genetic variation within populations. The effect of mating system variation on macroevolutionary patterns, however, is less certain. Within the bryophytes, 40% of the species are hermaphroditic (autoicous) and 60% of the species have separate sexes (dioicous). We know from previous classical genetic and molecular population genetic analyses that the autoicous model system Physcomitrella patens maintains little genetic variation within populations and relatively recently evolved reproductive isolation from its sister species, Physcomitrium sphaericum. In contrast, the dioicous model system Ceratodon purpureus maintains more genetic variation within populations and remains partially fertile with genetically and ecologically distinct congeners. Here we reconstruct the history of sexuality in the bryophyte lineage using a 478-genus phylogeny sampled across all of the mosses. Although the ancestral state in bryophytes was uncertain, a strong phylogenetic signal was evident in sexuality. Consistent with the previous experimental data, autoicous genera had higher diversification rates that dioicous genera, but also higher extinction rates. We discuss the continued contribution bryophyte model systems can make to evolutionary genetic problems in plants and other eukaryotes.

Broader Impacts:

1 - University of Florida, Biology, Box 118525, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
2 - Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO, 63166
3 - University of Florida, Department of Biology, 220 Bartram Hall, 118526, Gainsville, FL, 32611, USA

Keywords:
Ceratodon purpureus
Physcomitrella patens
mating system
diversification.

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: C1
Location: Ballroom D/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 9:15 AM
Number: C1003
Abstract ID:776