A mitochondrial DNA control region phylogeny of the Cervinae: speciation in Cervus and implications for conservation

摘要: Sequences from complete mitochondrial control regions (mtDNA CR) were used to infer phylogenetic relationships in 25 Cervinae taxa. Cervus splits into clades that are partially discordant with current species delimitations. Nominate elaphus includes two divergent clades must be referred as species (European elaphoid deer) and canadensis (Eurasian North American wapitoid deer). Cervus nippon into Japanese continental plus Taiwan sika. Pere David's deer is nested within Cervus, suggesting Elaphurus should merged Cervus. European Persian fallow genetically distinct species. Sequence length varied due a CR-I insertion, tandemly repeated twice rusa sambar deer, sika and wapiti, up six times clade of Variable copy numbers this repeat also fixed different subspecies, could used diagnostic marker for subspecies. Sequence variability at the mtDNA CR informative defining subspecies boundaries, locating geographical origin of captive-reared stocks. Natural farmed populations some have been deeply affected by human management conservation would aided appropriate identification evolutionary taxonomic units.