Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2020, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (10): 2403-2412.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2020.10.008

• ANIMAL GENETICS AND BREEDING • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Classification and Genetic Diversity of Three Hare Species in Xinjiang Based on Mitochondrial DNA

SHAN Wenjuan*, DAI Huiying, ZHANG Yucong   

  1. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
  • Received:2020-03-14 Online:2020-10-25 Published:2020-10-26

Abstract: The study aimed to explore the phylogeny and genetic diversity of 3 hare species in Xinjiang by molecular genetics methods, define the relationship and taxonomy status, assess diversity level of Lepus in Xinjiang, and provide the basic data for conservation genetics of hares in Xinjiang and even in China. Three mitochondrial DNA genes, COI, ND4 and 16S rRNA, were used as molecular markers, and the sequences of 3 genes of 57 samples collected from 8 different regions (4 geographic groups) in Xinjiang were determined by PCR amplification and sequencing technology. After the sequences of COI, ND4 and 16S rRNA of each sample were revised and pooled together, data were analyzed with softwares such as MEGA 7, DNAsp 6, Arlequin 3.1 and MrBayes 3.2. A total of 43 haplotypes were detected from the combined sequences of 3 genes of 57 hare samples. Five distinct clades (A-E) and 3 clusters were clearly showed in phylogenetic tree and median-joining network (MJN). Furthermore, the genetic distance between 3 clusters reached the level of species (4.21%-9.09%). However, the genetic distance between hares from northern Xinjiang (Clade E) and those from central Xinjiang (Clade D) were not up to the level of species (≤2.26%) in the third cluster. The haplotype diversity (h) of Lepus yarkandensis, Lepus tibetanus pamirensis and Lepus tolai lehmanni were higher(0.979±0.014, 0.972±0.064 and 0.972±0.064, respectively), while the nucleotide diversity (π) of the L. t. lehmanni and L. t. centrasiaticus were higher (0.033±0.018 and 0.023±0.015, respectively). Based on comprehensive analysis of 3 genes of mitochondrion and reference with published research, it is suggested that hares from southwestern Pamir Plateau of Xinjiang should belong to L. t. pamirensis. Meanwhile,hares distributed in northern and central Xinjiang might be considered as L. t. lehmanni and L. t. centrasiaticus. Moreover, there is abundant genetic diversity in the 3 hare species in Xinjiang, and the obvious phylogeographic pattern is showed.

Key words: Lepus in Xinjiang, classification, genetic diversity, phylogeny, mtDNA

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