Abstract
Based on nuclear ribosomal ITS sequence analysis, biogeographic affinities of Campylopus in Macaronesia are inferred with a focus on the Madeira and Azores archipelagos. Molecular phylogenetic reconstructions reveal a complex pattern of biogeographic connections with regions on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Old World affinities predominate in C. pilifer, with only one out of the 30 sequenced Macaronesian samples belonging to the New World C. pilifer clade. New World affinities predominate in C. fragilis. For C. flexuosus connections with Europe, Asia and/or the Neotropics are indicated. Specimens of C. subulatus from Madeira are part of a clade of Neo- and Paleotropical species. Campylopus cygneus and C. shawii are resolved as closely related, but inference of their putative Caribbean origin will need further sampling. In C. introflexus the geographic origin of the Macaronesian populations cannot be inferred due to the low intraspecific sequence divergence. Campylopus pilifer var. brevirameus is reported for the first time for the Azores, C. cygneus for the first time for Madeira. An updated distribution of Campylopus in Macaronesia is presented, which includes 11 species.