Genetic differentiation within sibling species of Conocephalum conicum (Marchantiales: Hepaticae) in East Asia

Abstract

Genetic variation at 8 loci was examined for seven natural populations of Conocephalum conicum from Japan, Taiwan and continental China. Genetic diversity within both species and populations was very high with values of Hes=0.142 and a mean of Hep=0.117, respectively. Genetic variation found between the populations was low (Gst=0.121). Two types of genetic difference was found in all populations. One type consisted of three populations; each from China, Taiwan and Japan. Another type consisted of four Japanese populations; three from the Tsushima Islands and one from Honshu. Genetic distance among the three populations of the former type was less than that among the four populations of the latter type.