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Molecular data of the Sphagnum cuspidatum complex relative to taxonomy

Robinson, Sean C.1; Nieto-Lugilde, Marta2; Duffy, Aaron M.2; Martinez Munoz, Katherine2; Aguero, Blanka2; Merced, Amelia3; Hassel, Kristian4; Flatberg, Kjell Ivar4; Shaw, A. Jonathan2

Published Aug 18, 2023 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.crjdfn39t

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Abstract

The use of species as a concept is an important metric for assessing biological diversity and ecosystem function. However, delimiting species based on morphological characters can be difficult, especially in aquatic plants that exhibit high levels of variation and overlap. The Sphagnum cuspidatum complex, which includes plants that dominate peatland hollows close to or at the water table, provides an example of challenges in species delimitation. Microscopic characters that have been used to define taxa and the possibility that these characters may simply be phenoplastic responses to variation in water availability make species delimitation in this group especially difficult. In particular, the use of leaf shape and serration, which have been used to separate species in the complex, have resulted in divergent taxonomic treatments. Using a combination of high-resolution population genomic data (RADseq) and a robust morphological assessment of plants representing the focal species, we provide evidence to evaluate putative species in this complex. Our results are broadly relevant to other aquatic groups where leaf shape and marginal teeth are used to distinguish species.