Genetic analysis of the rare forest bryophyte Dicranum viride in the boreo‐nemoral zone near the northern distribution range limit

Bryophytes are important forest ecosystem elements, being an integral part of biodiversity. Genetic studies contribute to bryophyte population ecology by helping to understand species historical distribution patterns and genetic diversity at different scales. Dicranum viride is rare bryophyte species in Europe and it is important to increase the knowledge about the population ecology of this species. Our study aimed to explore D. viride genetic diversity and structure among different localities in Latvia. We tested a novel for this species genotyping‐by‐sequencing method (ddRAD), and analyzed 51 D. viride genetic samples from 12 sites in Latvia. No genetic differentiation was identified between populations from the studied localities. The lack of genetic differentiation of Dicranum viride genetic similarities among the studied localities could be related to asexual reproduction in Latvia in contrast to other European countries. We recommend selection of other bryophyte species with sexual reproduction in future studies to better understand gene flow and reproductive barriers in this region. However, our results show that D. viride populations could be translocated for species conservation purposes in the future.