Kvist Laura, Martens Jochen, Higuchi Hiroyoshi, Nazarenko Alexander A, Valchuk Olga P, Orell Markku
Department of Biology, University of Oulu, Post Office Box 3000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland.
Proc Biol Sci. 2003 Jul 22;270(1523):1447-54. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2321.
The great tit complex is divided into four groups, each containing several subspecies. Even though the groups are known to differ markedly on morphological, vocal and behavioural characters, some hybridization occurs in the regions where they meet. The great tit has often been referred to as an example of a ring species, although this has later been questioned. Here, we have studied the genetic structure and phylogenetic relationships of the subspecies groups to clarify the evolutionary history of the complex using control region sequences of the mitochondrial DNA. The subspecies groups were found to be monophyletic and clearly distinct in mitochondrial haplotypes, and therefore must have had long-independent evolutionary histories. This conflicts with the ring species assignment and supports the formation of secondary contact zones of previously temporarily isolated groups. According to the phylogenetic species concept, all the subspecies groups could be considered as separate species, but if the definition of the biological species concept is followed, none of the subspecies groups is a true species because hybridization still occurs.
大山雀复合体分为四个组，每组包含几个亚种。尽管已知这些组在形态、鸣声和行为特征上有显著差异，但在它们相遇的区域仍会发生一些杂交现象。大山雀常被作为环物种的一个例子，不过后来这一观点受到了质疑。在此，我们利用线粒体DNA的控制区序列研究了亚种组的遗传结构和系统发育关系，以阐明该复合体的进化历史。结果发现，亚种组是单系的，并且在线粒体单倍型上明显不同，因此它们必定有着长期独立的进化历史。这与环物种的归类相冲突，并支持了先前暂时隔离的组形成次生接触区的观点。根据系统发育物种概念，所有亚种组都可被视为独立的物种，但如果遵循生物物种概念的定义，那么没有一个亚种组是真正的物种，因为杂交现象仍然存在。
