SYSTEMATIC AND CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS OF GEOGRAPHIC-VARIATION IN PIPITS (ANTHUS, MOTACILLIDAE) IN NEW-ZEALAND AND SOME OFFSHORE ISLANDS

The New Zealand Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae occurs as a single specie s in Europe (as Richard's Pipit), Asia, Africa, New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. In the New Zealand region, subspecific status has bee n accorded to allopatric populations on the mainland (A. n. novaeseela ndiae), on the Auckland and Campbell Islands (A. n. aucklandicus), on the Antipodes Islands (A. n. steindachneri) and on the Chatham Islands (A. n. chathamensis). Analyses of 23 allozyme loci and morphometric v ariation of populations on mainland New Zealand and on the Auckland, C ampbell, Antipodes and Chatham Islands showed an appreciable and signi ficant divergence between mainland and island populations. The magnitu de of the allozyme difference is sufficient to suggest full species de signation for the island birds, a conclusion supported by morphometric analyses and in sharp contrast to current taxonomy. However, formal t axonomic change will not be undertaken until the two New Zealand group s have been compared with more distant populations of this wide-rangin g genus. The cryptic variation found in this species has conservation management implications for the small offshore populations.