Identity of an endangered grasshopper (Acrididae: Brachaspis): Taxonomy, molecules and conservation

摘要: Brachaspis robustus is an endangeredgrasshopper endemic to South Island, NewZealand. It both rare and localised;occupying low altitude floodplain terraces andbraided riverbeds of the Mackenzie Basin. Thisis in stark contrast two other speciesin this genus (B. nivalis B.collinus) which occupy montane habitats.Mitochondrial nuclear sequence data wereemployed explore genetic diversity andphylogenetic relationships populations ofBrachaspis with a view establishingthe status B. robustus. Molecularevidence indicates that Brachaspisprobably radiated during Pliocene thatdivisions within relate more tospatial distribution developed thePleistocene than ecology. The mitochondrial(Cytochrome oxidase I) (ITS)sequence indicate Brachaspisnivalis divided into northern southernpopulations. clade furthersubdivided geographically. southern cladecomprises alpine B.nivalis includes lowland B.robustus. Additionally, it observed thatsome morphological features previously thoughtto be specific also occurin members nivalisclade. suggested taxon B.robustus should include all southernBrachaspis populations. But arguedthat absence evidencedistinguishing endangered population doesnot preclude from conservation effort. Acombination habitatpeculiarities survival ofB. (sensu lato) isimportant maintenance diversity.