Subspecies in Przewalski's gazelle Procapra przewalskii and its conservation implication  

作　　者：MARDAN Turghan JIANG ZhiGang GROVES Colin P YANG Ji FANG HongXia 

机构地区：[1]Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences [2]Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences [3]Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences [4]Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University

出　　处：《Chinese Science Bulletin》2013年第16期1897-1905,共9页

基　　金：supported by the Key Program of Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-EW-Z-4);Sir Peter Scott Fund of SSC/IUCN and National Natural Science Foundation of China (30670267, 30430120)

摘　　要：Przewalski’s gazelle Procapra przewalskii is an endangered species endemic to China. A question remains about subspecific variation in this species. Skulls of Przewalski’s gazelle collected from its current remnant ranges around the Qinghai Lake in combination with those collected prior to the 20th century were measured and analyzed using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis in order to clarify the question. Unexpectedly, P. p. diversicornis, extirpated from its historic range, has spread to the Qinghai Lake region where it has replaced nominotypical P. p. przewalskii and is now restricted to a few small isolated populations around the lake. We discuss the causes of this unexpected replacement. In this study, we discuss the possibility of a new form, possibly a new subspecies, in the Guide Basin, adjacent to Qinghai Lake; it is unclear whether the new form has long existed and was only discovered in recent years, or whether it evolved in recent times due to the geographical isolation and anthropogenic landscape features. The study sheds light on the processes of microevolution and subspeciation in Procapra przewalskii, and based on the findings, we propose measures for conservation strategies for Przewalski’s gazelle.Przewalski＇s gazelle Procapra przewalskii is an endangered species endemic to China. A question remains about subspecific var iation in this species. Skulls of Przewalski＇s gazelle collected from its current remnant ranges around the Qinghai Lake in combi nation with those collected prior to the 20th century were measured and analyzed using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis in order to clarify the question. Unexpectedly, P. p. diversicornis, extirpated from its historic range, has spread to the Qinghai Lake region where it has replaced nominotypical P. p. przewalskii and is now restricted to a few small isolated populations around the lake. We discuss the causes of this unexpected replacement. In this study, we discuss the possibility of a new form, possibly a new subspecies, in the Guide Basin, adjacent to Qinghai Lake; it is unclear whether the new form has long existed and was only dis covered in recent years, or whether it evolved in recent times due to the geographical isolation and anthropogenic landscape fea tures. The study sheds light on the processes of microevolution and subspeciation in Procapra przewalskii, and based on the find ings, we propose measures for conservation strategies for Przewalski＇s gazelle.

关 键 词：普氏原羚 亚种 保护 青海湖地区 濒危物种 聚类分析 普氏野马 贵德盆地 

分 类 号：S863[农业科学—野生动物驯养]