Geography and climate drive the distribution and diversification of the cosmopolitan cyanobacterium <i>Microcoleus</i> (Oscillatoriales, Cyanobacteria)

Despite the extensive diversity of bacteria and their importance to fundamental functioning terrestrial ecosystems, distribution patterns are still not fully known. To fill gap further understand biogeographic in bacteria, we investigated phylogeographic structure underlying drivers diversification among populations cyanobacterium Microcoleus spp. The phylogenetic history was reconstructed using 16S rRNA genes 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 495 isolates. Ancestral area state reconstruction employed investigate distributional ecological within Microcoleus. Both isolation by distance environment were tested with matrices analysis. signal tests conducted order assess influence climatic preferences on driven both environment, leading at least 13 distinct lineages that could represent novel cyanobacterial species. exhibited a respective lineages. ancestral revealed most likely arose Europe habitats. showed phylogeny significantly affects strains. Geographic contemporary conditions play significant roles shaping observed may shift future due impact climate change.Highlights lineages.Geographic environmental heterogeneity affect diversification.Genetically coexist same site.