ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 4490
Session = 20.7.3


RARITY IN BRYOPHYTES: THE PHYLOGENETIC PERSPECTIVE


Royce E. Longton* & Terry A. Hedderson, *The University of Reading, U.K., University of Cape Town, South Africa


Advances in molecular techniques over the past decade have greatly increased our ability to reconstruct phylogenies. This applies to all levels in the biological hierarchy, from visualising the tree of life to recovering relationships among alleles within and among individual organisms. The resulting phylogenetic hypotheses can provide information of considerable value in understanding the causes and consequences of rarity, and inform conservation strategies for rare species. We use the numerous phylogenetic hypotheses that have recently become available for mosses to examine the phylogenetic distribution of rarity in several regional moss floras representing a diversity of floristic regions. Phylogenetic trees are also used to test hypotheses regarding some possible biological and ecological correlates of rarity in these floras. Finally we show how phylogenetic approaches can provide more rigorous definitions of conservation units, provide objective criteria for prioritisation, and yield information on population-level historical processes.


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