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The takin and muskox: A molecular and ecological evaluation of relationship Item Type Thesis Authors Groves, Pamela Download date 01/10/2021 15:20:15 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/9423 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. Hie quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margin^ and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE TAKIN AND MUSKOX: A MOLECULAR AND ECOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF RELATIONSHIP A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By Pamela Groves, B.A. Fairbanks, Alaska May 1995 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 9605713 OMI Microform 9605713 Copyright 1995, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE TAKIN AND MUSKOX: A MOLECULAR AND ECOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF RELATIONSHIP By Pamela Groves RECOMMENDED: 'Utp # r- -w- AdvisSry Committee Chair Department Head APPROVED: Dean, College of Natural Sciences f t > ^0 ean of the Graduate School Apr'S) 3 Date ?, / Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE TAKIN and MUSKOX 7 RELATIONSHIP MUSK NOT BE TAKIN FOR GRANTED Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT This research clarifies the classification of and relationship between the takin (Budorcas taxicoloi) and muskox (Ovibos moschatus). Although both are social ungulates of similar body size, takins live in dense mountainous habitats at temperate latitudes in Asia, and muskoxen live in open arctic habitats in Alaska, Canada and Greenland. Morphological, paleontological and chromosome comparisons have supported a close relationship between these species and their classification within the tribe Ovibovini in the subfamily Caprinae. Previous studies, however, have not defined the genetic relationship of the takin and muskox. This project used ecological and molecular comparisons to evaluate these proposed relationships. Ecological studies in Shaanxi, China showed takins are generalists in their use of habitat and forage, but live in dense habitat in groups, ostensibly to avoid predation. Likewise, muskoxen live in groups and are generalists, but inhabit open landscapes. Some ecological and behavioral similarities appear to support the hypothesis of close relationship. In contrast, molecular studies using cytochrome b sequences from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) clearly separate the takin and muskox into distinct clades. Takins are more closely related to sheep ( Ovis spp.) and muskoxen to the Asian goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus). Similarities between the takin and muskox appear due to convergent evolution as an adaptation to large body size. A broader comparison of cytochrome b sequences from 11 species of Caprinae supported the separation of takins and muskoxen. Unequal rates of evolution among the species precluded complete resolution of Caprinae relationships. To define differences between muskox subspecies and populations, sequences of the highly variable control region of mtDNA from 37 muskoxen were compared. Delineation of muskox subspecies is a critical issue due to the potential for interbreeding of indigenous Canadian (0.m. moschatus) and introduced Alaskan (0. m. wardi) populations of muskoxen as range expansion occurs. Variability between these populations was so low differences could not be detected with this comparison. I suggest a history of genetic bottlenecks has reduced genetic variability of muskoxen to low levels and neither populations nor subspecies can be defined from control region sequences. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT...........................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................iv LIST OF FIGURES.............................................................................. vli LIST OF TABLES................................................................................vili ACKNOWLEDGMENTS........................................................................ix LIST OF MANUSCRIPTS..................................................................... xi INTRODUCTION....................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS..............................................5 MUSKOX {OVIBOS MOSCHATUS)..................................................................... 5 Subspecies........................................................................................................... 7 Barren-ground Muskox.......................................................................................8 White-faced Muskox...........................................................................................8 Translocated Populations .......................................................................................9 Synonyms........................................................................................................... 11 Status .................................................................................................................. 11 TAKIN {BUDORCAS TAXICOLOR)................................................................... 14 Subspecies......................................................................................................... 15 Golden Takin....................................................................................................15 Mishmi Takin ....................................................................................................16 Sichuan Takin ..................................................................................................17 Bhutan Takin ................................................................................................... 18 Synonyms........................................................................................................... 19 Status .................................................................................................................. 19 CHAPTER 2 A SOCIAL UNGULATE IN DENSE HABITAT 21 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................. 21 STUDY AREA...................................................................................................... 23 Human Activity.................................................................................................... 23 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. 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V Other Mammal Species ....................................................................................... 24 Weather ..............................................................................................................24 METHODS............................................................................................................24 RESULTS..............................................................................................................27 Group Size..........................................................................................................27 Habitat Use-1988 ..............................................................................................28 Feeding Use Survey -1990.................................................................................32 Plant Species ......................................................................................................32 DISCUSSION......................................................................................................