Molecular and other biological evidence supports the recognition of at least three species of brown kiwi

摘要: The presence of morphologically crypticlineages within the threatened brown kiwi ofNew Zealand has confounded their taxonomy. Recent genetic studies (Herbert and Daugherty1994; Baker et al. 1995) revealed that atleast two phylogenetic species exist thebrown kiwi, suggested further researchshould resolve taxonomic problems. In thispaper we extend analyses to includesequences from 58 representing fivephylogenetic lineages for four mitochondrialloci (control region, cytochrome b,ATPase 6 ATPase 8). Major ofbrown are shown be reciprocallymonophyletic, align with other biologicaldifferences in ecology, behavior,morphology parasites kiwi. BecausemtDNA sequences major arenot evolving a clocklike manner, used anew penalized likelihood method withrate-smoothing date divergence NorthIsland geographicallyisolated Okarito population (rowi) at about 6.2Mya. These diverged 8.2 Myafrom Fiordland Haast inthe southern part South Island, arethus older than spotted kiwi(5.8 Mya). Given distinctness, long-termgeographical isolation, lack hybridizationin introduced populations, accumulation ofnew biological characters theselineages, hypothesize reproductiveincompatibilities have probably arisen as well. We therefore recommend these divergentlineages formally recognized fullspecies; Apteryx mantelli should bere-instated North Island kiwi,A. australis restricted thetokoeka, new A. rowiishould erected describe rowi atOkarito. Tokoeka split into leastthree conservation management units (Haast,Fiordland Stewart [Rakiura]), butfurther research is required determine theexact relationships status theselineages. Further investigation alsorequired structuring theNorth confirm conservationmanagement on Island.