Comparative Study On The Coexistence Mechanism And Genetic Diversity Between Parus Varius And Parus Major

Parus varius is very narrow range in the mainland of China, mainly in thesoutheast mountainous of Liaoning province and southwest mountainous of Jilinprovince, belong to the narrow field distribution species; Parus major is widelydistributed in most area of China, belong to the widespread species. Both of Parusvarius and Parus major lives in the eastern mountainous of Liaoning province.This article comprehensive analysis through with the macro and micro angle on thepopulation situation of Parus varius and Parus major: By comparing the differencesof breeding time, breeding parameters and nest site selection between those twospecies, we analyzed the breeding habitat selection and reproduction strategy, in orderto reveal the mechanism of coexistence between them; By comparing the geneticdiversity of mitochondria DNA control region between Parus varius and Parus major,in order to reveal potential impact to narrow distribution, predict the futuredevelopment of Parus varius population, the results showed that:1) As both of them are small forest hole birds in southeast mountainous ofLiaoning province, that niche separation was the foundation for the long-termcoexistence of those two species, and Parus varius also has its unique ecologicalcharacteristics.Both of those two species immediately started to breed when breeding seasonarrival, and showed two breeding peak during the whole breeding season. Whenenvironmental quality was degraded, they chose brood reduction strategy in order toimprove reproductive success. The analysis of reproduction parameters showed that,the breeding strategies for those two species belonged to k-choice, but the strategy ofParus major was slightly close to r. In detail, Parus major had high egg number butlow reproductive success, Parus varius had low nest egg number and highreproductive success. Comparing the nest site selection activities of those two species,they both like their nest boxes in old forest and have some angle and vegetationaround growth lush. Parus major often paid more attention to the safety performanceof their nest sites as indicated by the fact that their nest sites were usually apart fromthe ground. In contrast, Parus varius like their nest sites in mixed wood may be this is closely related to its food structure of Parus varius.2) In mitochondrial DNA control region: Parus varius has low genetic diversity,529bp in length were sequenced of88individuals, including13singleton variablesites and3parsimony informative sites. Genetic diversity was low based on mt DNAcontrol region of Parus varius, with0.00168for nucleotide diversity (π) and0.533for haplotype diversity (h); Parus major has high genetic diversity, and537bp inlength were sequenced of75individuals, including14singleton variable sites and7parsimony informative sites. Genetic diversity was low based on mt DNA controlregion of P.v.varius, with0.01011for nucleotide diversity (π) and0.652for haplotypediversity (h). As indicated by the results from neutrality test and mismatchdistribution, there were population expansion events in Parus major, but not in Parusvarius.