Genetic structure and phylogeography of the takin (Budorcas taxicolor) as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences

Abstract

To investigate the genetic structure within the takin (Budorcas taxicolor), a little-studied and threatened species, portions of the mitochondrial DNA control region and cytochrome b gene were sequenced from 40 takins from three subspecies and 10 separate geographical locations in China. Overall variation among individuals was low. Both neighbor-joining and parsimony analyses did separate animals into three distinct clades reflecting the subspecific definitions, with only one locality grouping with a clade distinct from its purported subspecies. Animals within each clade were genetically similar to each other, which we hypothesize is due to the mobility of the animals leading to significant gene flow within each region until recent habitat alteration limited movements. We also suggest that genetic bottlenecks survived by the species since the end of the Pleistocene may have contributed to overall low levels of variability within the species.