Flightless brown kiwis of New Zealand possess extremely subdivided population structure and cryptic species like small mammals.

Using allozymes and mtDNA sequences from the cytochrome b gene, we report that the brown kiwi has the highest levels of genetic structuring observed in birds. Moreover, the mtDNA sequences are, with two minor exceptions, diagnostic genetic markers for each population investigated, even though they are among the more slowly evolving coding regions in this genome. A major unexpected finding was the concordant split in molecular phylogenies between brown kiwis in the southern South Island and elsewhere in New Zealand. This basic phylogeographic boundary halfway down the South Island coincides with a fixed allele difference in the Hb nuclear locus and strongly suggests that two morphologically cryptic species are currently merged under one polytypic species. This is another striking example of how molecular genetic assays can detect phylogenetic discontinuities that are not reflected in traditional morphologically based taxonomies. However, reanalysis of the morphological characters by using phylogenetic methods revealed that the reason for this discordance is that most are primitive and thus are phylogenetically uninformative. Shared-derived morphological characters support the same relationships evident in the molecular phylogenies and, in concert with the molecular data, suggest that as brown kiwis colonized northward from the southern South Island, they retained many primitive characters that confounded earlier systematists. Strong subdivided population structure and cryptic species in brown kiwis seem to have evolved relatively recently as a consequence of Pleistocene range disjunctions, low dispersal power, and genetic drift in small populations.

Real Property, Dunedin, New Zealand, 1896 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: The Survey Districts of North Harbour & Blueskin, Lower Harbour West, North East Valley, Upper Harbour West, Tomahawk, Sawyers Bay, Andersons Bay, Portobello Bay, Otago Peninsula & Upper Harbour East, drawn by G.P. Wilson, April 1896. It was published by N.Z. Lands and Survey in 1896. Covers the Dunedin region, New Zealand. Scale [ca. 1:63,360]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM Zone 59S, meters, WGS 1984) projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as property lot and block numbers, boundaries of survey districts and blocks, boroughs, townships and estates, drainage, selected roads, railroads and stations, selected buildings and industry locations, cemeteries, shoreline features, docks and wharves, and more. Relief shown by spot heights.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Chatham Islands, New Zealand, 1883 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Map of the Chatham Islands, from surveys by S.P. Smith & John Robertson, 1868 & 1883. It was published by General Survey Office in 1887. Scale [ca. 1:126,720].The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the World Miller Cylindrical projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, roads, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown by hachures. Includes inset: Waitangi; Plan of Rangiauria or Pitt Id. (part of Chatham Islands); Key map shewing the position of the Chatham Islands relative to New Zealand; Rangitutahi or Sister (part of Chatham Islands group).This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.