Genetic structure and population dynamics of the silver pheasant (Lophuranycthemera) in southern China

Abstract

High gene flow and population expansion can promote genetic diversity (Song and Lei, 2014; Ruan et al., 2018; Xu et al., 2019). However, low genetic diversity can lead to a population bottlenecks (Excoffier et al., 2009). Sexbiased dispersal can improve breeding opportunities for birds, thereby increasing gene flow, genetic diversity, and inclusive fitness (Clinton et al., 2007; Hamilton and May, 1977; Taylor, 1988; Pernetta et al., 2011), which are significantly beneficial to the evolutionary process of a population (Paris et al., 2016). The silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera) is a common species that is widely distributed in southern China and Southeast Asia, which prefers to inhabit shrub patches (Zhang et al., 2003). Based on mitochondrial markers, previous researchers studied the divergence time and evolutionary history of Lophura (Alain et al., 1998; Huang et al., 2010; Jiang et al., 2014). However, there are no previous studies of the sex-biased dispersal patterns or population structures of the silver pheasant in southern China. Considering previous results, we adopted mitochondrial and microsatellite approaches to explore

Assessing the origin, genetic structure and demographic history of the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in the introduced European range

“…This may be due to gene flow resulting from the mobility of the species, since birds, due to their dispersal abilities, often show less population genetic structure than other vertebrates 57 – 60 . A similar pattern of low genetic structure was observed among populations of common pheasant in China 55 and of silver pheasant in southern China 61 . Given that the European range of P. colchicus is larger than the contact zone, it may be worth noting at some point that studying the species at the European range scale may provide deeper insights into the population structure of the species.…”