Karyotypic diversity and cryptic speciation: Have we vastly underestimated moss species diversity?

Karyotypic diversity is critical to catalyzing change in the evolution of all plants. By resulting meiotic incompatibility among sets homologous chromosomes, polyploidy and aneuploidy may facilitate reproductive isolation potential for speciation. Across plants, karyotypic variants form allopolyploids receive greater taxonomic attention relative autopolyploids aneuploids. In particular, prevalence significance autopolyploidy bryophytes little understood. Using Fritsch’s 1991 compendium bryophyte karyotypes with augmentation from karyological studies published since, we have quantified ~1500 extant morphological species mosses. We assessed phylogenetic distribution data, frequency aneuploidy, methodological correlates diversity. At least two ploidy levels were recorded 17% potentially increasing current mosses over 15,000 species. find that a given species, number unique correlated populations sampled. The evidence suggests cytological likely underlies yet undescribed mosses, intensive sampling needed tool its discovery.