Abstract
Leiopelma hochstetteri belongs to a singular anuran lineage endemic to New Zealand that diverged from other frogs about 200 million years ago. The species now is reduced to a series of isolated populations in the northern half of the North Island and Great Barrier Island. We have used mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data to examine the genetic affinities of extant populations of L. hochstetteri. Phylogenetic reconstructions reveal that populations are highly structured. Each of the geographically isolated populations harbours independent mtDNA lineages as well as different degrees of nuDNA differentiation. Moreover, molecular dating reveals that this structure originated in the early Pleistocene. This pattern of genetic structure likely results from unfavourable climatic conditions during the Pleistocene combined with the low dispersal ability of the species. Isolated populations in forested refugia existed even in the southern part of the distribution of the species during glacial cycles. Previously published variation in chromosome numbers and isozyme data are consistent with the new evidence. We identified 13 evolutionary significant units (ESUs) that should serve as the focus for future management and conservation of this species.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Karen Eggers, Andrew Glaser, David King, and John Heaphy for assistance with samples and sample collection. We also thank Sharyn Goldstein for laboratory assistance and help with data analysis. We are in debt of Amanda Haigh who provided useful comments on an early version of this manuscript and Ben Bell who help with essential information about the species as well as three anonymous reviewers and the editor for their comments on the manuscript. All work was undertaken under permits issued by the New Zealand Department of Conservation, and with the approval of the University of Canterbury Animal Ethics Committee. This work was funded from a subcontract to NJG from the Landcare Research OBI “Sustaining and Restoring Biodiversity” (FRST C09X0503).
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Fouquet, A., Green, D.M., Waldman, B. et al. Phylogeography of Leiopelma hochstetteri reveals strong genetic structure and suggests new conservation priorities. Conserv Genet 11, 907–919 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-009-9935-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-009-9935-8