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© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Simple Summary

The sika deer (Cervus nippon) was introduced in South Korea from Japan and Taiwan for commercial farming. They have become invasive to mainland South Korea and Jeju Island due to escape from confinement and illegal release. Native species and ecosystems may be threatened by the presence of non-native species. To deal with ecological risk and evolutionary processes, information on the phylogeny of these non-native sika deer is necessary. Genetic studies using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome B (CytB) gene sequences were conducted to determine the subspecies of Jeju sika deer and their phylogenetic relationship. On Jeju Island, we confirmed the presence of two distinct groups of CytB haplotypes: Cervus nippon yakushimae, native sika to Japan, and Cervus nippon taiouanus, native to Taiwan.

Abstract

Non-native species threaten native ecosystems and species, particularly on islands where rates of endemism and vulnerability to threats are high. Understanding species invasion will aid in providing insights into ecological and evolutionary processes. To identify the non-native sika deer (Cervus nippon) population in Jeju, South Korea, and their phylogenetic affinities, we collected tissue samples from roadkill and the World Natural Heritage Headquarters in Jeju. Mitochondrial DNA cytochrome B (CytB) gene sequences were analyzed to determine two distinct CytB haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood tree revealed two haplotypes of CytB clustered into two different groups representing two subspecies: C. n. yakushimae, native to Japan, and C. n. taiouanus, native to Taiwan. The tentative divergence time between the two subspecies was estimated at 1.81 million years. Our study confirmed that the two subspecies of sika deer are sympatric in the natural ecosystem of Jeju Island. This study provides valuable information to help government and conservation agencies understand alien species and determine control policies for conserving native biodiversity in South Korea.

Details

Title
Molecular Evidence Reveals the Sympatric Distribution of Cervus nippon yakushimae and Cervus nippon taiouanus on Jeju Island, South Korea
Author
Banjade, Maniram 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Seon-Mi Park 1 ; Adhikari, Pradeep 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Sang-Hyun, Han 3 ; Young-Hun, Jeong 4 ; Jun-Won, Lee 5 ; Sung-Hwan Choi 4 ; Hong An Nguyen 4 ; Hong-Shik Oh 6 

 Practical Translational Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju-si 63243, Korea; [email protected] (M.B.); [email protected] (S.-M.P.) 
 Institute of Humanities and Ecological Consensus Laboratory, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Korea; [email protected] 
 Species Restoration Technology Institute, Korea National Park Service, Yeongju 36015, Korea; [email protected] 
 Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Advanced Convergence Technology and Science, Jeju National University, Jeju-si 63243, Korea; [email protected] (Y.-H.J.); [email protected] (S.-H.C.); [email protected] (H.A.N.) 
 Faculty of Science Education, Jeju National University, Jeju-si 63243, Korea; [email protected] 
 Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Advanced Convergence Technology and Science, Jeju National University, Jeju-si 63243, Korea; [email protected] (Y.-H.J.); [email protected] (S.-H.C.); [email protected] (H.A.N.); Faculty of Science Education, Jeju National University, Jeju-si 63243, Korea; [email protected] 
First page
998
Publication year
2022
Publication date
2022
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20762615
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2652948634
Copyright
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.