Systematics and Evolution of the Moss Family Mniaceae

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Studies of the systematics and evolution of polyploid mosses (those with duplicated sets of chromosomes) will be continued by researchers at the University of Georgia, making use of protein electrophoresis and other molecular techniques. Earlier work by the group has discovered at least four cases of allopolyploidy in the moss family Mniaceae (chromosome doubling following hybridization between genetically different populations). This important mode of speciation in other land plants had not been documented previously in any bryophyte. Work will focus on five complementary projects: 1. New studies of haploid-polyploid species pairs in the moss genera Cinclidium, Plagiomnium section Plagiomnium, Plagiomnium section Rostrata, and Mnium section Laevinervia; 2. Detailed studies of the taxonomic distribution of isozyme (gene) duplications to assess phylogenetic relationships within the family; 3. Comparisons of genetic variation in selected species that show intercontinentally disjunct distributions; 4. Analyses using DNA markers to clarify further the progenitors of certain allopolyploids; and 5. Cladistic analyses of species-level phylogenies based on morphological and isozyme data. The research will provide new insights into phylogenetic relationships in the moss family Mniaceae, and will also provide taxonomic updating for work toward the moss component of the Flora of North America enterprise.