Phylogeography, systematics, and conservation status of pocket mice (Chaetodipus) of the Sonoran-Sinaloan thorn forest

Three species of pocket mice (Chaetodipus artus, C. goldmani, and C. pernix) characterize the Sinaloan subregion of the Sonoran regional desert. They occur primarily in Sinaloan thornscrub and monsoon (dry deciduous) forest biotic communities, both of which have suffered from agricultural conversion. Sinaloan thornscrub occurs along the coastal plains of southern Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico, and grades into monsoon forest in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental. We describe the geographical and ecological distributions of the 3 species of Chaetodipus, evaluate evolutionary relationships within each species based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data, and compare these to previously described phenetic, allozymic, and chromosomal variation. We elevate the subspecies of C. pernix to full species, delineate evolutionary units within C. goldmani and C. artus that we formally recognize as subspecies, and evaluate the conservation status of all 3 species of Chaetodipus. Geographic structure and conservation status of the Sinaloan thorn forest is revealed by analysis of the evolutionary structure and changing distribution of pocket mice (Chaetodipus) closely tied to this unique biotic community. Agricultural conversion is impacting newly recognized subspecies and species of the Sinaloan thorn forest. Tres especies de ratones de abazones (Chaetodipus artus, C. goldmani, y C. pernix) se caracterizan de la subregion Sinaloense perteneciente al desierto de Sonora. Se encuentran principalmente en matorrales espinosos y selvas bajas de Sinaloa, los que han tenido de la reconversion agraria. El matorral espinoso de Sinaloa se encuentra a lo largo de las llanuras costeras del sur de Sonora y Sinaloa, Mexico, transformandose en selva baja caducifolia en las faldas de la Sierra Madre Occidental. Caracterizamos las distribuciones geograficas y ecologicas de las tres especies de Chaetodipus, evaluamos las relaciones evolutivas dentro de cada especie con base en secuencias de ADN mitocondrial y las comparamos con la variacion fenetica, allozimica, y cromosomica descrita en estudios previos. Elevamos las subespecies de C. pernix a especies completas, delineamos unidades evolutivas dentro de C. goldmani y C. artus que reconocemos formalmente como subespecies, y evaluamos el estado de conservacion de las tres especies de Chaetodipus