Kong Lingming, Wang Wenquan, Cong Haiyan, Son Nguyen Truong, Yang Qisen, Wu Yi, Li Yuchun
a Marine College, Shandong University , Weihai , China .
b Institute of Tropical Biosciences and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences , Haikou , China .
Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal. 2016;27(1):265-9. doi: 10.3109/19401736.2014.888550. Epub 2014 Feb 18.
Accurate species delimitation in Lepus was often hindered by highly conserved morphology and frequent introgression. In this study, we used rigorous molecular species delimitation methods to evaluate the taxonomic status of Hainan hare (Lepus hainanus) which has been traditionally identified as a distinct species, or a subspecies of Burmese hare (L. peguensis). The genetic distance and phylogenetic network support L. hainanus and L. peguensis are conspecific. However, the phylogenetic species concept and Bayesian species delimitation analysis based on combined mtDNA supported they are different species. The discordance between different methods can be explained by different species criterion. By taking into account our conflict results, we hold the opinion that adoption of the phylogenetic species concept and Bayesian species delimitation analysis would increase the risk of taxonomic inflation of island biota or otherwise spatially isolated population. Conservatively, we suggest that L. hainanus and L. peguensis are conspecific based on the results of our genetic divergence and phylogenetic network exclusively.
兔属物种的准确界定常常受到高度保守的形态特征和频繁的基因渗入的阻碍。在本研究中，我们运用严格的分子物种界定方法，来评估海南兔（Lepus hainanus）的分类地位，海南兔传统上被认定为一个独立物种，或是缅甸兔（L. peguensis）的一个亚种。遗传距离和系统发育网络支持海南兔和缅甸兔是同种的。然而，基于线粒体DNA联合分析的系统发育物种概念和贝叶斯物种界定分析支持它们是不同的物种。不同方法之间的不一致可以用不同的物种标准来解释。考虑到我们相互矛盾的结果，我们认为采用系统发育物种概念和贝叶斯物种界定分析会增加岛屿生物群或其他空间隔离种群分类膨胀的风险。保守地说，仅基于我们的遗传分化和系统发育网络结果，我们建议海南兔和缅甸兔是同种的。
