黄河上游青海沙蜥种组的系统地理学研究

沙蜥属（Phrynocephalus）的卵胎生类群主要分布在我国青藏高原，包括南疆沙蜥（P. forsythii）、西藏沙蜥（P. theobaldi）、红尾沙蜥（P. erythrurus）、贵德沙蜥（P. putjatia）和青海沙蜥（P. vlangalii）。其卵胎生生殖方式适应了高寒生境，与青藏高原隆升有关。纵观前人的研究，上述几种卵胎生沙蜥的分类、系统发育关系以及生物地理都还存在疑问。本文研究了分布在若尔盖湿地的青海沙蜥红原亚种（P. v hongyuanensis）以及分布在黄河上游其它地区青海沙蜥种组的地理分布格局，并探讨了其形成机制。 青海沙蜥在黄河上游主要分布于若尔盖湿地以及青海湖周边地区。若尔盖湿地青海沙蜥红原亚种的生境由于沼泽的形成被切割成不连续的斑块，通过遗传分析可以推测这种特殊生境对它们遗传结构的影响。其次，贵德沙蜥、青海沙蜥的青海湖周边各居群以及若尔盖湿地居群之间的系统地理格局还未见报道。因此本文以居群为单位，将它们作为一个复合体，通过系统地理研究，可以了解其种群遗传结构，据此分析相关的地质历史事件对其分布的影响。主要结果如下： 1. 若尔盖湿地青海沙蜥红原亚种的种群遗传结构： 共研究了三个地理单元（红原（HY）、辖曼（XM）、玛曲（MQ））的7个采集点的72个个体。所有ND4-tRNALeu序列比对得到785 bp的片断，定义了9种单倍型。结果显示总的核苷酸多样性较低，单倍型多样性较高。分子变异分析（AMOVA）显示3个单元间差异显著（P<0.01），遗传变异主要存在于地理单元间，占62.61%。除MQ单元，XM各居群与HY居群混杂在一起，单倍型网络图没有显示出单倍型和地理位置的对应关系。XM单元单倍型的不配对分布（Mismatch distribution）为明显左移的单峰，且Fu’s Fs test为负值，表明XM单元可能经历了近期种群扩张，有足够的时间积累单倍型的多态性，还不足以大幅提高核苷酸多样性，这是其单倍型多样性较高和核苷酸多样性较低的原因。MQ单元遗传多样性低而与其他单元显著分化，推测这与3万年前黄河在若尔盖玛曲之间贯通有关。近期沼泽的形成对XMb居群的隔离时间短，使得其遗传多样性低但还不足以形成大的遗传差异。无论黄河的贯通还是沼泽的形成其隔离形成的时间都不长，其作用改变了单倍型出现的频率，也出现了一些特有单倍型，但共享单倍型还广泛存在，还不足以使得不同居群之间形成较大的遗传距离。 2. 黄河上游青海沙蜥种组的分布格局与地史过程的关系： 黄河上游青海沙蜥种组包括贵德沙蜥、青海沙蜥指名亚种的青海湖周边各居群、青海沙蜥红原亚种若尔盖湿地居群、以及青海湖以西的部分居群（序列由Genbank下载获得），总计22个居群189个样品。所有ND4-tRNALeu序列比对得到703个位点，定义了39种单倍型。以南疆沙蜥为外群构建的贝叶斯树以及MP法构建的无根树，都分为A、B两大组。其中A包括若尔盖湿地居群以及玛多居群（A1）、青海湖以西的居群和兴海居群（A2）、西藏沙蜥；B包括青海湖以南的居群和天祝居群（B1）、青海湖以东北的居群（B2）。单倍型网络图分别对应了系统发育树上的各支。按照系统发育结果分组进行分子变异分析，得到组间变异占88.63％，各组间差异显著（P=0.000）。种群遗传结构分析得到，A1和B2可能经历了近期的种群扩张，前者扩张时间约为0.105－0.189 Ma B.P.（million years before present），后者为0.057－0.102 Ma B.P.，可能与末次间冰期的气候变暖有关。A2和B1对应的两个地理单元都具有较强的种群遗传结构，较为稳定。 青海沙蜥种组A、B两大支之间遗传距离大，分化明显，分化大约发生在4.29－2.38 Ma B.P.，推测青藏运动的A幕运动后复杂的地形变化可能是它们产生分化的原因。B1和B2分化大约发生在1.73－0.96 Ma B.P.，这与湟水流域构造运动发生的时间相符。在早、中更新世时期，B1支内部各居群可能有交流，中更新世末共和盆地出现的抬升以及河流溯源改道等事件可能是引起这支内部多个单倍型丢失的原因。A1、A2支的分化可能与倒数第三次冰期降临之后气候变冷、阿尼玛卿山的大冰帽有关。 The viviparous group of genus Phrynocephalus is mainly distributed in the Qinghai –Tibetan Plateau, including P. forsythii、P. theobaldi、P. erythrurus、P. putjatia and P. vlangalii. These species are adapted well to the cold clime there, and the origin of this group was the result of a vicariance event associated with the uplifting of the Qinghai -Tibetan Plateau. Although many works have been done, there are still several questions about classification、phylogenetic relationships and the biogeography of this group. The phylogeographic pattern of the P. vlangalii complex on the upper reaches of the Yellow River and the P. v. hongyuanensis in Zoige Wetland were studied in this thesis. On the upper reaches of the Yellow River, P. vlangalii complex are distributed in Zoige Wetland and the southeast and northeast region of Kuku-noor Lake. Because of the forming of the wetland in Zoige, the habitats for sand lizards are divided into many discontinuous ones, and it is necessary to analyze genetic structure in these unique habitats. The phylogeographic patter among P. putjatia、populations of P. vlangalii in the southeast region of Kuku-noor Lake and populations of P. vlangalii in Zoige Wetland hasn’t been studied yet, and the complicated geological events of the Plateau may play an important role in the populations’ diversity and species forming there. So these populations were gathered as a complex, and phylogeographic analysis were used to clarify these doubts. According to the two topics above, this thesis has two parts of results as follows: 1. Three geographic units of P. vlangalii hongyuanensis in Zoige Wetland were defined, and they were Xiaman （XM）、Hongyuan （HY） and Maqu （MQ）. 785bp fragments of the mtDNA ND4-tRNAleu were determined from 72 samples and nine haplotypes were identified. As a whole, the nucleotide diversity was low，but the haplotype diversity was high. Analysis of molecular variance （AMOVA） showed that the three units were distinctly different（P<0.01），and 62.61% of the total genetic diversity was attributable to variation among units. There were 3 haplotypes shared among XM and HY，and no geographic clustering was observed except MQ from the TCS network. The results from the mismatch distribution analysis and Fu’s Fs test implied that there might be a recent population expansion in the XM unit, and this may be the reason why XM had a high haplotype diversity but a low nucleotide diversity. We estimate that the MQ and XMb have lower diversities because of some very recent geographic events, such as the formation of the Yellow river’s upriver and the Zoige Wetland. Although they are distinctly different, not enough time has passed for them to have diverged a great genetic distance. 2. 189 samples in 22 populations of P. vlangalii complex were collected, including P. putjatia、populations of P. vlangalii in the southeast and northeast region of Kuku-noor Lake、 populations of P. vlangalii in Zoige Wetland and the data from Genbank. 703bp ND4-tRNALeu sequences identified 39 haplotypes. P. forsythii was selected as outgroup, and both the Bayesian tree and the MP unrooted tree were divided into two groups（A、B）. A included populations in Zoige Wetland and Xinghai（A1）、populations in the west of Kuku-noor Lake（A2）、P. theobaldi, and B included populations in the southeast of Kuku-noor Lake and Tianzhu（B1）、populations in the northeast of Kuku-noor Lake（B2）. The haplotype network agreed with these groups. AMOVA showed that these five groups were distinctly different（P<0.01）, and 88.63% of the total genetic diversity was attributable to variation among groups. There might be recent population expansion in A1 and A2, which corresponded to the dry climate of the last interglacial period. The expansion times were 0.189-0.105 Ma B.P. and 0.102-0.057 Ma B.P., respectively. A2 and B1 had strong genetic structure. The large genetic distance between A and B showed that they had been separated from each other for a long time（about 4.29-2.38 Ma B.P.）, and it corresponded to the A phase of Qingzang Movement. The diversity between B1 and B2 at 1.73-0.96 Ma B.P. may be caused by the geological event in Huangshui valley. In early Pleistocene, populations in B1 may have gene flow because of geographic linkage, and later the uplift of the Plateau and the change of river route there made a few haplotypes lost. A1 and A2 were divided into two parts by A’nyemaqen Mountains at 0.66-0.37 Ma B.P., which maybe corresponded to glaciations at about 0.7 Ma B.P.

Molecular phylogenetic systematics of twelve species of acipenseriformes based on mtDNA ND4L-ND4 gene sequence analysis

Acipenseriformes is an endangered primitive fish group, which occupies a special place in the history of ideas concerning fish evolution, even in vertebrate evolution. However, the classification and evolution of the fishes have been debated. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) ND4L and partial ND4 genes were first sequenced in twelve species of the order Acipenseriformes, including endemic Chinese species. The following points were drawn from DNA sequences analysis: (i) the two species of Huso can be ascribed to Acipenser; (ii) A. dabryanus is the mostly closely related to A. sinensis, and most likely the landlocked form of A. sinensis; (iii) genus Acipenser in trans-Pacific region might have a common origin; (iv) mtDNA ND4L and ND4 genes are the ideal genetic markers for phylogenetic analysis of the order Acipenseriformes.

Mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence diversity in the Korean hare, Lepus coreanus Thomas (Mammalia, Lagomorpha)

Partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of the Korean hare (Lepus coreanus) were analyzed to determine the degree of genetic diversity. Nine haPlotyes were observed, and the maximum Tamura-Nei nucleotide distance among them was 2.8%, indicating that genetic diversity of L. coreanus is moderate. In order to clarify the Korean hare's taxonomic status and relationship with the Manchurian hare (L. mandshuricus) and the Chinese hare (L. sinensis), these nine haplotypes of the Korean hare were compared with 13 haplotypes from five other species of eastern Asian Lepus including L. mandshwicus and L. sinensis. The Korean hare was distinct in its cytochrome b gene, and it is confirmed that L. coreanus is a valid species, as noted by Jones and Johnson (1965, Univ. Kansas Publ. (Mus. Nat. Hist.) 16:357). Further analyses of mtDNA cytochrome b gene with additional specimens of L. coreanus from North Korea and other species of Lepus from eastern Asia are needed to clarify the taxonomic status of the divergent mtDNA clades of L. mandshuricus and L. sinensis.

Origin of Gymnocypris przewalskii and phylogenetic history of Gymnocypris eckloni (Teleostei : Cyprinidae)

The origins and phylogenetic patterns were assessed for G. przewalskii and G. eckloni by analyzing the complete mtDNA cytochrome b gene sequence (1140bp). Phylogenetic analyses further supported that there were three mtDNA lineages (A-C) identified in G. przewalskii and G. eckloni, demonstrating that outer rakers of the first gill have little significance in the phylogeny of the Gymnocypris fishes. The network established showed that G. eckloni of the Yellow River specific haplotype A1 was a founder and it radiated all haplotypes of G. przewalskii which suggested G. przewalskii might only originate from one of two maternals of G. eckloni from the Yellow River. Fs test and mismatch analysis showed at least two expansion events in the population of G. przewalskii about 0.2734 Ma and 0.0658 Ma, while G. eckloni from Qaidam Basin could have experienced severe bottleneck effect about 0.0693 Ma. The population expansion was detected in subclades A1 and A21 with the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) about 0.2308 +/- 0.01 Ma and 0.1319 +/- 0.015 Ma, respectively, which were within the geological age range of "Gonghe Movement" event that caused the separation of Lake Qinghai from the upper Yellow River. These results suggested the effect of the fish diversification by rapid uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in the Late Pleistocene.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the helmet catfish Cranoglanis bouderius (Silurifonnes : Cranoglanididae) and the phylogeny of otophysan fishes

The complete sequence of the 16,539 nucleotide mitochondrial genome from the single species of the catfish family Cranoglanididae, the helmet catfish Cranoglanis bouderius, was determined using the long and accurate polymerase chain reaction (LA PCR) method. The nucleotide sequences of C. bouderius mitochondrial DNA have been compared with those of three other catfish species in the same order. The contents of the C. bouderius mitochondrial genome are 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA and 22 transfer RNA genes, and a non-coding control region, the gene order of which is identical to that observed in most other vertebrates. Phylogenetic analyses for 13 otophysan fishes were performed using Bayesian method based on the concatenated mtDNA protein-coding gene sequence and the individual protein-coding gene sequence data set. The competing otophysan topologies were then tested by using the approximately unbiased test, the Kishino-Hasegawa test, and the Shimodaira-Hasegawa test. The results show that the grouping ((((Characifonnes, Gymnotiformes), Siluriformes), Cyprinifionnes), outgroup) is the most likely but there is no significant difference between this one and the other alternative hypotheses. In addition, the phylogenetic placement of the family Cranoglanididae among siluriform families was also discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Population genetic structure of an endemic cyprinid fish, Ancherythroculter nigrocauda, in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and its implication for conservation

Ancherythroculter nigrocauda is a cyprinid fish endemic to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, which has been reported to have 2 or 3 chambers to its air bladder. Morphological studies showed no differences between individuals with different types of air bladder, but did demonstrate geographical differences from different sources. After the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, it was expected that the population of this species would decrease, but artificial breeding and stocking is under consideration to protect this species from extinction. In the present study, mtDNA cytochrome b gene sequences were determined and analyzed for A. nigrocauda samples of different morphotypes and sources to identify their genetic differentiations, and thereby guide plans for the artificial propagation and conservation of this species. Haplotype diversity index values (h) and nucleotide diversity values (pi) for all the populations were found to be high indicating their high level genetic diversity. An analysis of molecular variance identified no differentiation among the studied populations. Therefore, we suggested that the individuals of different morphological types and geographical sources belong to the same species. To maintain its high level genetic diversity, it mill he necessary to use large and diverse sources of parental fish for artificial reproduction.

Population genetic structure of the Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis): Implications for management and conservation

Understanding the population genetic structure is a prerequisite for conservation of a species. The degree of genetic variability characteristic of the mitochondrial DNA control region has been widely exploited in studies of population genetic structure and can be useful in identifying meaningful population subdivisions. To estimate the genetic profile of the Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), an endangered freshwater population endemic to China, the complete mtDNA control region was examined in 39 individuals belonging to seven different stocks inhabiting the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Very low genetic diversity was found (nucleotide diversity 0.0011 +/- 0.0002 and haplotypic diversity 0.65 +/- 0.05). The mtDNA genetic pattern of the Yangtze population appears to indicate a founder event in its evolutionary history and to support the marine origin for this population. Analyses by F-st and Phi(st) yielded statistically significant population genetic structure (F-st = 0.44, P < 0.05; phi(st) = 0.36, P < 0.05). These results may have significant implications for the management and conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise in the future.

铃蟾属(Bombina)的分子系统学研究

本研究采用直接测序的方法，研究了铃蟾属（两栖纲：无尾目：铃蟾科）的 分子系统发育关系及系统学问题。我们测定了我国铃蟾属5 个种共22 个样本的 线粒体DNA 部分片段的序列，包括12S rRNA， 16S rRNA， ND4-tRNALEU 以 及细胞色素b 共四个基因片段，欧洲铃蟾、花铃蟾以及B. pachypus 的相应序列 通过GenBank 获得。利用MrBayes 3.0b4 和 PAUP* 4.0b10 软件对系统发育关系 进行了重建（贝叶斯推断法，最大简约法，最大似然法和邻近法），分析结果表 明，铃蟾属可分为两大支系，一支包括利川铃蟾及中国西南部铃蟾（微蹼铃蟾、 强婚刺铃蟾、大蹼铃蟾）；另一支包括东方铃蟾，花铃蟾、欧洲铃蟾以及Bombina pachypus，从分子水平上支持了铃蟾属内不同亚属的划分。我们的结果拒绝东方 铃蟾起源于大蹼铃蟾的假设，同时表明：相对于东方铃蟾，欧洲铃蟾与花铃蟾间 的关系更近。利川铃蟾的有效地位得到支持，中国西南部3 种铃蟾 (微蹼铃蟾、 强婚刺铃蟾、大蹼铃蟾)在所有系统树中形成一个单系，利川铃蟾与之形成姐妹 群。根据我国西南部3 种铃蟾间的很小的遗传差异，以及以往的形态学研究和核 型研究的证据，我们认为将微蹼铃蟾、强婚刺铃蟾归入大蹼铃蟾可能更为合适。 分化时间估计表明，铃蟾属两个亚属的分化发生在3.08–9.16 MYA，我们推测秦 岭的抬升以及同时期青藏高原的上升是铃蟾属内产生亚属分化的主要原因。

Mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of two morphologically enigmatic fishes in the subfamily Schizothoracinae (Teleostei : Cyprinidae) in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) was sequenced in Herzenstein macrocephalus and Gymnocypris namensis and in 13 other species and sub-species (n = 22), representing four closely related genera in the subfamily Schizothoracinae. Conflicting taxonomies of H. macrocephalus and G. namensis have been proposed because of the character instability among individuals. Parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods produced phylogenetic trees with the same topology and resolved several distinctive clades. Previous taxonomic treatments, which variously placed these two species of separate genera or as sub-species, are inconsistent with the mtDNA phylogeny. Both H. macrocephalus and G. namensis appear in a well-supported clade, which also includes nine species of Schizopygopsis, and hence should be transferred to the genus Schizopygopsis. Morphological changes are further illustrated, and their adaptive evolution in response to the local habitat shifts during the speciation process appears to be responsible for conflicting views on the systematics of these two species and hence the contrasting taxonomic treatments. These species are endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a region with a history of geological activity and a rich diversity of habitats that may have result in the parallel and reversal evolution of some morphological characters used in their taxonomies. Our results further suggest that speciation and morphological evolution of fishes in this region may be more complex than those previously expected. (c) 2007 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2007 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Molecular phylogenetic systematics of twelve species of acipenseriformes based on mtDNA ND4L-ND4 gene sequence analysis

Acipenseriformes is an endangered primitive fish group, which occupies a special place in the history of ideas concerning fish evolution, even in vertebrate evolution. However, the classification and evolution of the fishes have been debated. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) ND4L and partial ND4 genes were first sequenced in twelve species of the order Acipenseriformes, including endemic Chinese species. The following points were drawn from DNA sequences analysis: (i) the two species of Huso can be ascribed to Acipenser; (ii) A. dabryanus is the mostly closely related to A. sinensis, and most likely the landlocked form of A. sinensis; (iii) genus Acipenser in trans-Pacific region might have a common origin; (iv) mtDNA ND4L and ND4 genes are the ideal genetic markers for phylogenetic analysis of the order Acipenseriformes.

Phylogeny and evolution of the Drosophila nasuta subgroup based on mitochondrial ND4 and ND4L gene sequences

The sequences of the mitochondrial ND4 gene (1339 bp) and the ND4L gene (290 bp) were determined for all the 14 extant taxa of the Drosophila nasuta subgroup The average A + T content of ND4 genes is 76.5% and that of ND4L genes is 83.5%. A total of 114 variable sites were scored. The ND4 gene sequence divergence ranged from 0 to 5.4% within the subgroup. The substitution rate of the ND4 gene is about 1.25% per million years. The base substitution of the genesis strongly transition biased. Neighbor-joining and parsimony were used to construct a phylogeny based on the resultant sequence data set. According to these trees, five, distinct mtDNA clades can be identified. D. niveifrons represents the most diverged lineage. D, sulfurigaster bilimbata and D. kepulauana form two independent lineages. The other two clades are the kohkoa complex and the albomicans complex. The Kohkoa complex consists of D. sulfurigaster sulfurigaster, D. pulaua, D. kohkoa, and Taxon-F. The albomicans complex can be divided into two groups: D. nasuta, D. sulfurigaster neonasuta, D. sulfurigaster albostrigata, and D.. albomicans from Chiangmai form one group; and D. pallidifrons, Taxon-I, Taxon-J, and D. albomicans from China form the other group. High genetic differentiation was found among D. albomicans populations. Based on our phylogenetic results, we hypothesize that D. niveifrons diverged first from the D, nasuta subgroup in Papua New Guinea about 3.5 Mya. The ancestral population spread to the north and when it reached Borneo, it diversified sequentially into the kohkoa complex, D. s. bilimbata, and D. kepulauana. About 1 Mya, another radiation occurred when the ancestral populations reached the Indo-China Peninsula, forming the albomicans complex. Discrepancy between morphological groupings and phylogenetic results suggests that the male morphological traits may not be orthologous. (C) 1999 Academic Press.

The mitochondrial genome organization of the rice frog, Fejervarya limnocharis (Amphibia : Anura): a new gene order in the vertebrate mtDNA

The mitochondrial DNA of the rice frog, Fejervarya limnocharis (Amphibia, Anura), was obtained using long-and-accurate polymerase chain reaction (LA-PCR) combining with subcloning method. The complete nucleotide sequence (17,717 bp) of mitochondrial genome was determined subsequently. This mitochondrial genome is characterized by four distinctive features: the translocation of ND5 gene, a cluster of rearranged tRNA genes (tRNA(Thr), tRNA(Pro), tRNA(Leu) ((CUN))) a tandem duplication of tRNA(Mer) gene, and eight large 89-bp tandem repeats in the control region, as well as three short noncoding regions containing two repeated motifs existing in the gene cluster of ND5/tRNA(Thr)/tRNA(Pro)/tRNA(Leu)/tRNA(Phe). The tandem duplication of gene regions followed by deletions of supernumerary genes can be invoked to explain the shuffling of tRNAM(Met) and a cluster of tRNA and ND5 genes, as observed in this study. Both ND5 gene translocation and tandem duplication of tRNA(Met) were first observed in the vertebrate mitochondrial genomes. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gene admixture in the Silk Road region of China: Evidence from mtDNA and melanocortin 1 receptor polymorphism

Mitochondrial DNA control region segment I sequences and melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene polymorphism were examined in ethnic populations in the silk road region of China. Both the frequencies of the MC1R variants and the results of mtDNA data in this region presented intermediate values between those of Europe and East and Southeast Asia, which suggested extensive gene admixture in this area and was in general agreement with previous studies. Phylogenetic analysis of the ethnic populations in the Silk Road region that based on mtDNA data didn't show expected cluster pattern according to their ethnogenesis. We suspect that a high migration rate in female among these closely related populations and other three demographic events might account for it.

A phylogeny of Chinese leaf monkeys using mitochondrial ND3-ND4 gene sequences

The phylogeny of Chinese leaf monkeys, especially the snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus), has not been thoroughly investigated using molecular sequence data, perhaps due to their rarity in the wild and their poor representation in institutional collections. Despite several proposed classifications, systematic relationships of these species remain poorly defined and this has hindered their conservation. To clarify the phylogenetic relationships of the leaf monkey clade in China, we sequenced the mitochondrial ND3, ND4L, ND4, tRNA(Arg), tRNA(His), tRNA(Ser), and tRNA(Leu) genes for Rhinopithecus bieti, R. roxellana, Trachypithecus francoisi, T. f. leucocephalus, and T. phayrei as well as Pygathrix nemaeus and Colobus guereza. We included a rotal of 2252 characters for each individual, excluding gaps in primary sequences. Our interpretation of the results from character- and distance-based phylogenetic analyses suggest that (1) Pygathrix nemaeus is sister to Rhinopithecus rather than to Trachypithecus though it is quite divergent from the former; (2) the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus bieti, represents a valid species; (3) the white-headed leaf monkey is not a distinct species, but instead is a subspecies of Trachypithecus francoisi (T. f. leucocephalus), though it should still be considered a separate evolutionarily significant unit (ESU); and (4) because two individuals of the Phayrei's leaf monkey, T. phayrei, are genetically distinct from one another, a more extensive revision of the taxonomy of this putative species in China is needed. These results, plus ongoing work on the molecular systematics of the entire Asian leaf monkey radiation, can provide a sound basis for identifying the appropriate units of conservation for this endangered group of primates.

Speciation and Phylogeography of Opsariichthys bidens (Pisces: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in China: Analysis of the Cytochrome b Gene of mtDNA from Diverse Populations

Gao-Yan Li, Xu-Zhen Wang, Ya-Hui Zhao, Jie Zhang, Chun-Guang Zhang, and Shun-Ping He (2009) Speciation and phylogeography of Opsariichthys bidens (Pisces: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in China: analysis of the cytochrome b gene of mtDNA from diverse populations. Zoological Studies 48(4): 569-583. The cyprinid fish Opsariichthys bidens Gunther is distributed in all major river systems of continental East Asia, and represents an attractive model for phylogeographic studies among cyprinid species or within a given species. In this study, we investigated the phylogeographic and demographic history of this species, using partial sequences of the cytochrome (cyt) b gene in mitochondrial (mt)DNA. Fish samples were collected from almost all major river systems where O. bidens is distributed in China. Sequence analysis showed remarkably high polymorphism, with 125 haplotypes in the 234 specimens examined, and with 89.8% of haplotypes occurring in only 1 specimen. A neutrality test indicated that some groups were not at mutation-drift equilibrium, suggesting a past population expansion. These results were supported by a mismatch distribution analysis. Based on our analysis, O. bidens consists of 4 groups belonging to 2 clades. The divergence time of the 2 clades was estimated to be 11.06-8.04 my. This value corresponds to the time of the 2nd uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the emergence of the East Asian monsoon, and the Epoch-6 Event. A two species scheme is proposed. http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/48.4/569.pdf