Conservation of evolutionary diversity in Pottiaceae (Musci)

Abstract

TWENTY-TWO GENERA OF THE LARGE FAMILY POTTIACEAE THAT ARE QUITE RARE AND CONSIST OF ONLY ONE TO THREE SPECIES ARE ASCHISMA, BRYACEUTHOSPORA, CALYMPERASTRUM, CALYPTOPOGON, ERYTHROPHYLLOPSIS, ERYTHROPHYLLASTRUM, GANGULEEA, CERTRUDIELLA, HILPERTIA, HYMENOSTYLIELLA, LEPTODONTIELLA, PACHYNEUROPSIS, PHASCOPSIS, QUAESTICULA, SARCONEURUM, STONEA, STREPTOTRICHUM, TENIOLOPHORA, TETRACOSCINDON, TRACHYODONTIUM, WEISSIODICRANUM Y WILLIA. OF THESE 22, SIX ARE RESTRICTED TO THE ANDES MOUNTAINS, FIVE ARE AUSTRALASIAN IN DISTRIBUTION, AND THREE ARE RESTRICTED TO THE WEST INDIES. IN ADDITION TO RARITY, CERTAIN OF THESE TAXA COMPRISE ISOLATED BRANCHES AT THE BASE OF THE FAMILY CLADOGRAM OR AT THE BASE OF THE BASE OF THE POTTOIDEAE OR MERCEYOIDEAE SUBCLADES, OR HAVE RELATIVELY MANY AUTAPOMORPHIES, OR ARE MEMBERS OF LINEAGES DISTINGUISHED BY RELATIVELY GREAT PATRISTIC DISTANCE. AT THE GENUS LEVEL, MAJOR EVOLUTIONARY DIFFERENCES IN THE FAMILY WOULD BE BEST CONSERVED BY PROTECTING THE HABITATS OF THESE 22 TAXA.