Abstract
Introduction The genus Moerckia Gottsche belongs to the order Pallaviciniales, the phylogeny of which has been insufficiently studied. We re-evaluate the phylogenetic position of M. blyttii and the importance of certain morphological features, and re-emphasise the differences in morphology, ecology and distribution of M. hibernica and M. flotoviana.Methods DNA data from three nucleotide markers, namely ITS1 to ITS2 nrDNA, trnL–F and trnG intron cpDNA, were obtained from specimens of Moerckia species, including the generitype M. hibernica, which had not been sequenced before. Relationships were explored using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses.Key results In the results of molecular analyses, specimens of Moerckia hibernica from Ireland and Scotland formed a sister clade to that of M. flotoviana, and M. blyttii retained its distinct position basal to both Moerckiaceae and Pallaviciniaceae. This clarifies the phylogenetic position of M. hibernica as well as that of the Pallaviciniales as a whole. The most significant morphological characters to distinguish M. flotoviana from M. hibernica are placement of antheridial scales, width-to-length ratio of thallus segments, and width of midrib; conducting strands are a less important differentiating feature, being present in both species and often weakly developed. The results showed the variability and overlap of some morphological characters.Conclusion The new family Pseudomoerckiaceae and a new monotypic genus, Pseudomoerckia, created to accommodate Moerckia blyttii, are described. Cordaeaceae Mamontov et al. is synonymised with Moerckiaceae K.I.Goebel ex Stotler & Crand.-Stotl. The species status and restricted distribution of M. hibernica are confirmed.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Moerckia hibernica formed a sister clade to M. flotoviana.
- Taxon
- Moerckia hibernicaMoerckia hibernicae0
- Outcome
- formed a sister cladee0
- Comparator
- M. flotovianae0
- Setting
- Ireland and Scotlande0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“specimens of Moerckia hibernica from Ireland and Scotland formed a sister clade to that of M. flotoviana”
Claim · model-written summary
M. blyttii was basal to Moerckiaceae and Pallaviciniaceae.
- Taxon
- M. blyttii
_0724.JPG?width=60)
Pseudomoerckia blyttiie0 - Outcome
- distinct position basal to both Moerckiaceae and Pallaviciniaceaee0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_0724.JPG?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“M. blyttii retained its distinct position basal to both Moerckiaceae and Pallaviciniaceae.”
Claim · model-written summary
Antheridial scale placement distinguished M. flotoviana and M. hibernica.
- Taxon
- M. flotoviana
Moerckia flotovianae0 - Outcome
- placement of antheridial scalese0
- Comparator
- M. hibernicae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The most significant morphological characters to distinguish M. flotoviana from M. hibernica are placement of antheridial scales, width-to-length ratio of thallus segments, and width of midrib”
Claim · model-written summary
Thallus segment width to length ratio distinguished M. flotoviana and M. hibernica.
- Taxon
- M. flotovianaMoerckia flotovianae0
- Outcome
- width-to-length ratio of thallus segmentse0
- Comparator
- M. hibernicae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The most significant morphological characters to distinguish M. flotoviana from M. hibernica are placement of antheridial scales, width-to-length ratio of thallus segments, and width of midrib”
Claim · model-written summary
Midrib width distinguished M. flotoviana and M. hibernica.
- Taxon
- M. flotovianaMoerckia flotovianae0
- Outcome
- width of midribe0
- Comparator
- M. hibernicae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The most significant morphological characters to distinguish M. flotoviana from M. hibernica are placement of antheridial scales, width-to-length ratio of thallus segments, and width of midrib”
Claim · model-written summary
Conducting strands were a less useful distinction because both species had them and they were often weak.
- Outcome
- conducting strands are a less important differentiating featuree0
- Qualifier
- present in both species and often weakly developede0
_0726.JPG?width=60){kind=small}
MoerckiaOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_0726.JPG?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“conducting strands are a less important differentiating feature, being present in both species and often weakly developed.”
t0“study ofMoerckia(Marchantiopsida: Moerckiaceae)”
Claim · model-written summary
Some morphological characters varied and overlapped.
- Outcome
- variability and overlap of some morphological characterse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The results showed the variability and overlap of some morphological characters.”
t0“study ofMoerckia(Marchantiopsida: Moerckiaceae)”
Claim · model-written summary
Pseudomoerckiaceae and Pseudomoerckia were described to accommodate Moerckia blyttii.
- Taxon
- Moerckia blyttiiPseudomoerckia blyttiie0
- Outcome
- new family Pseudomoerckiaceae and a new monotypic genus, Pseudomoerckiae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The new family Pseudomoerckiaceae and a new monotypic genus, Pseudomoerckia, created to accommodate Moerckia blyttii, are described.”
Claim · model-written summary
Cordaeaceae was synonymised with Moerckiaceae.
- Taxon
- MoerckiaceaeMoerckiaceaee0
- Outcome
- Cordaeaceae Mamontov et al. is synonymised with Moerckiaceae K.I.Goebel ex Stotler & Crand.-Stotl.e0
Verbatim
e0“Cordaeaceae Mamontov et al. is synonymised with Moerckiaceae K.I.Goebel ex Stotler & Crand.-Stotl.”
Claim · model-written summary
M. hibernica species status was confirmed.
- Taxon
- M. hibernicaMoerckia hibernicae0
- Outcome
- species statuse0
Verbatim
e0“The species status and restricted distribution of M. hibernica are confirmed.”
Claim · model-written summary
M. hibernica restricted distribution was confirmed.
- Taxon
- M. hibernicaMoerckia hibernicae0
- Outcome
- restricted distributione0
Verbatim
e0“The species status and restricted distribution of M. hibernica are confirmed.”