Phylogeography of Chinese bamboo partridge, Bambusicola thoracica thoracica (Aves: Galliformes) in south China: Inference from mitochondrial DNA control-region sequences

Chinese bamboo partridge ( Bambusicola thoracica thoracica), an endemic subspecies of south China, distributes in mountainous areas that were affected by climate changes throughout the Pleistocene. We investigated the potential impact of cyclical Pleistocene climate changes on phylogeographic patterns using 1140 nucleotides of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control-region from 180 individuals sampled from 13 populations of the partridge. We found 50 haplotypes defined by 39 polymorphic positions. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two robustly supported clades. There was a significant genetic differentiation among the populations with little gene flow. Refugia were identified in the southwestern mountains and Luoxiao Mountains in China, implying that topographic complexity played a substantial role in providing suitable habitats for the partridge during cold periods. Results from the mismatch distribution and neutrality test analysis suggested a range expansion of the two clades. The mtDNA marker suggested the existence of a geographical structure among Chinese bamboo partridge populations, resulting from the synergistic affect of Pleistocene climatic variations.