Phylogeography of North American populations of the moss species Hylocomium sylendens based on the nucleotide sequence of internal transcribed spacer2 of nuclear ribosomal DNA

Sequence variation of the internal transcribed sequence 2 (ITS2) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) was investigated in 10 North American populat ions of Hylocomium splendens. Cladistic analyses supported the monophyly of this moss species, rooted at Hylocomiastrum and Neodolichomitra. Three geo graphically based groups (Great Lakes Forest, Appalachian Mountains, and Pa cific Northwest) were identified by a minimum spanning network. Significant genetic differentiation was detected (F-ST = 0.197 - 0.390) among three ge ographical regions in North America. Although high genetic divergence exist s within H. splendens, these results do not suggest sufficient divergence f or designating sibling species.