Deep mitochondrial phylogeographical pattern: cryptic population structure within an ecological niche in the near-threatened Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis)

Abstract

The Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) has higher environmental specificity than other species in the same genus, and its population has declined due to diclofenac exposure and shortage of carcasses as a food source. Previous analysis of mitochondrial (mt) DNA cytochrome b (Cyt b) sequences reported no distinct geographical population structure in the Himalayan vulture. Contradictory results were obtained in the present study, which investigated the population structure of 14 Himalayan vultures that migrated to Thailand during winter. Using samples obtained between 2010 and 2021, as well as limited GenBank samples, the study found that the Cyt b locus was incapable of distinguishing population structure. This dataset contrasted with the mtDNA control region (CR) and Cyt b + CR dataset, which divided them into two groups, as explained by the Middle–Late Pleistocene climate change scenario. The species split into populations from the central, western, and northern regions of its distribution range within the highland vulture ecological niche. This study reviews the different methods used as compared with previous proposals for defining guidelines for the conservation of this near-threatened scavenging species.