Regional drivers of diversification in the late Quaternary in a widely distributed generalist species, the common pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Abstract

Aim Pleistocene climate and associated environmental changes have influenced phylogeographic patterns of many species. These not only depend on a species’ life history but also vary regionally. Consequently, populations of widespread species that occur in several biomes might display different evolutionary trajectories. We aimed to identify regional drivers of diversification in the common pheasant, a widely distributed ecological generalist. Location Asia. Taxon Common pheasant Phasianus colchicus. Methods Using a comprehensive geographical sampling of 204 individuals from the species’ entire range genotyped at seven nuclear and two mitochondrial loci, we reconstructed spatio‐temporal diversification and demographic history of the common pheasant. We applied Bayesian phylogenetic inference to describe phylogeographic structure, generated a species tree and inferred demographic history within and migration between lineages. Moreover, to establish a taxonomic framework, we conducted a species delimitation analysis. Results The common pheasant diversified during the Late Pleistocene into eight distinct lineages. It originated at the edge of the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau and spread to East and Central Asia. Only the widely distributed lowland lineage of East Asia displayed recent range expansion. Greater phylogeographic structure was identified elsewhere, with lineages showing no sign of recent demographic changes. One lineage in south‐central China is the result of long‐term isolation within a climatically stable but topographically complex region. In lineages from arid Central Asia and China, range expansions were impeded by repeated population fragmentation during dry glacial periods and by recent aridification. Main conclusions Spatio‐temporal phylogeographic frameworks of widespread taxa such as the common pheasant provide valuable opportunities to identify divergent drivers of regional diversification. Our results suggest that diversification and population histories in the eight distinct evolutionary lineages were shaped by regionally variable effects of past climate and associated environmental changes. The evolutionary history of the common pheasant is best reflected by its being split into three species.

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

“…Given the postulated timings of the introductions of the common pheasant in Europe 29 and the time scale of the mtDNA mutation rate, this expansion signal likely reflects an older process that took place in the native range, but it is possible that some of the less frequent haplotypes differing by a single mutation from H1 are derived from mutations that occurred after introduction. Our result supporting the hypothesis of historical demographic expansion in the colchicus group is in line with results in Kayvanfar et al 31 and Liu et al 45 . Also, we find evidence for the hypothesis of historical demographic expansion for clade B.…”

“…Also, we find evidence for the hypothesis of historical demographic expansion for clade B. This hypothesis is suggested for the torquatus group by several previous studies 30 , 31 , 42 , 45 .…”

“…Although several studies have investigated the genetic diversity, population structure and demographic history of the common pheasant across its native range in Asia 30 , 31 , 43 – 45 , there is a great lack of this kind of information on the populations introduced into Europe. This study provides the first detailed genetic assessment of common pheasants in their introduced European range, particularly in the contact zone of Central and Southeast Europe (Hungary and Serbia), and the results are essential information for the development of effective conservation and management strategies.…”

“…Despite the long history of the common pheasant as one of the most important game birds in Europe, nothing is known about the genetic variation and structure of the European populations. From a genetic point of view, the species has been studied essentially in terms of phylogeography and subspecies taxonomy throughout its distribution across Asia 30 , 31 , 42 – 44 , with the most recent data supporting eight major clades in this extant native range 45 . Evaluating genetic variation and structure in common pheasant populations, and identifying those with low and high levels of genetic diversity, is crucial for effective conservation and management of the species, for example to inform translocation efforts.…”

Evidence for introgressive hybridization of wild black‐necked pheasant with the exotic ring‐necked pheasant during the past 50 years in the Hyrcanian zone, an integrative molecular and morphological approach

“…(Qu et al, 2009). Having a wide distribution, the common pheasant inhabits such a wide range of climatic and ecological conditions that its lineage diversification and intraspecific divergence can be affected (Liu et al, 2019).…”