Population structure of the endangered Hume's pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae) inferred from a partial sequence of the mitochondrial DNA control region

Genetic diversity plays a vital role in biological conservation, especially for those species under the threat of habitat loss and fragmentation. In this study, 73 samples of Hume's pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae), collected from 6 localities in Guangxi and Guizhou provinces of China, were used to examine the influences of habitat fragmentation on genetic diversity and structure based on 1143 bp sequence of mitochondrial DNA (D-Loop). The results showed that all populations expressed high genetic diversity while lacking genetic differentiation. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that the haplotypes identified from the four putative populations (TXL, LX, PJ and LD) did not cluster into separate geographic branches. Despite habitat fragmentation, we failed to find evidence of genetic depletion or impediment of gene flow within the 6 localities. Therefore, the four geographical populations should be regarded as an identical management unit (MU). Based on our results, we suggest that habitat restoration and hunting prohibition for protection should be highlighted for the increased conservation of the Hume's pheasant.