title: Multi-locus analysis supports the taxonomic validity of Arborophila gingica guangxiensis Fang Zhou & Aiwu Jiang, 2008.
abstract: The taxonomic status of subspecies has long been debated, especially in conservation biology. Some proposed subspecies must be evolutionarily distinct to be considered conservation units. White-necklaced Partridge (Arborophila gingica) comprises two subspecies, Arborophila gingica gingica and Arborophila gingica guangxiensis. Arborophila gingica guangxiensis, restricted to three isolated small areas in Guangxi, China, with limited population sizes, is a newly discovered subspecies based on recently identified geographic and phenotypic differences between Arborophila gingica gingica; however, evidence is lacking that can effectively identify whether the subspecies is evolutionarily distinct. Here, three mitochondrial DNA segments and four nuclear introns were used to test whether the two subspecies are reciprocally monophyletic, which has been proposed as an objective method to evaluate evolutionary distinctiveness. The results indicate that the two subspecies are genetically divergent and form reciprocal monophyletic groups. Therefore, this study further supports the taxonomic validity and distinctiveness of Arborophila gingica guangxiensis and suggests that this subspecies be considered as a conservation unit.
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: De
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Aiwu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Yanyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Zhengwang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Conservation unit; evolutionary distinctiveness; hill partridge; mitochondrial DNA; monophyletic groups; nuclear introns