关键词: 塔里木兔, 线粒体DNA, 控制区, 种群遗传结构

Abstract: The Yarkand hare (Lepus yarkandensis) is one of the endemic species of Lepus from China. The genetic structure of its population remains unknown. We sequenced a 529-bp fragment of the mitochondrial control region (D-loop) from 25 samples of three populations in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (NW China). Among the sequences, 76 sites were polymorphic. 19 haplotypes were defined; haplotype diversity was 0.964 ±0.00596 in population Aksu (AKS), 0.972 ±0.00409 in population Qarkilik (RQ) and 0.643 ±0.0339 in population Shule (SL). These data indicate a high level of genetic diversity in the Yarkand hare. However, significant genetic subdivision and low gene flow were found among the three populations. From mismatch and Fu's Fs test of neutrality, we found that AKS, RQ, and SL populations are relatively stable.

Key words: Yarkand hare (Lepus yarkandensis), MtDNA, Control region, Population genetic structure