Phylogeographical pattern correlates with Pliocene mountain building in the alpine scree weta (Orthoptera, Anostostomatidae)

Most research on the biological effects of Pleistocene glaciation and refug ia has been undertaken in the northern hemisphere and focuses on lowland ta xa. Using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and seque ncing of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I, we explored the intraspecific phylogeography of a flightless orthopteran (the alpine scree weta, Deinacri da connectens) that is adapted to the alpine zone of South Island, New Zeal and. We found that several mountain ranges and regions had their own recipr ocally monophyletic, deeply differentiated lineages. Corrected genetic dist ance among lineages was 8.4% (Kimura 2-parameter [K2P]) / 13% (GTR + I + Ga mma), whereas within-lineage distances were only 2.8% (K2P) / 3.2% (GTR + I + Gamma). We propose a model to explain this phylogeographical structure, which links the radiation of D. connectens to Pliocene mountain building, a nd maintenance of this structure through the combined effects of mountain-t op isolation during Pleistocene interglacials and ice barriers to dispersal during glacials.