Phylogeography of the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in China

The ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) are widely distributed in China. We used mitochondrial DNA control-region data to investigate the origin and past demographic changes in 139 ring-necked pheasants (P. colchicus) sampled from the species’ distribution range. A total of 1078 nucleotides from the control region of mitochondrial DNA were sequenced, and 88 polymorphic positions defined 102 haplotypes. High level of genetic diversity was detected in all populations studied which could be associated with the wide ecological distributions and niche variation. Phylogenetic analyses of all haplotypes identified five major clades. The haplotypes of Gray-rumped Pheasants existed in the three clades: A (western clade), B (eastern clade) and C (Sichuan Basin clade). Two haplotypes of Kirghiz Pheasants were in the clade B, and the rest haplotype of Kirghiz Pheasants formed the clade D. Only one haplotype from White-winged Pheasants made up clade E. The results of AMOVA showed a low gene flow (Nm = 0.44) and significant genetic differentiation (Fst = 0.31, P < 0.001) among all populations. Based on the divergence time, we speculate that the divergence of the ring-necked pheasant occurring in the late Pleistocene may have resulted from three events: (1) the uplift of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, (2) the existence of Qinling Mountains and Liupan Mountains, (3) the isolation of Sichuan Basin. Demographic population expansion was strongly confirmed by the non-significant mismatch distribution analysis. The described subspecies of the ring-necked pheasant could not be supported by the phylogeographical structuring.