Powelliphanta is a genus of large carnivorous land snails endemic to New Zealand which display phenotypic variation within comparatively small geographic distances. The diversity within these snails has become a matter of high interest to conservation, as many lineages occupy small (or highly fragmented) ranges that render them vulnerable to ongoing habitat loss and predation by exotic pests. Combining Powelliphanta mitochondrial sequence data and genotypes of microsatellite loci we document the genetic structure within a species complex dubbed ‘Kawatiri’. All populations (with one exception) within the Kawatiri lineage are restricted to subalpine habitat (at elevations over 600 m above sea level). The ranges of some Kawatiri complex populations are adjacent to the congeneric lowland species Powelliphanta lignaria. Improved understanding of the distribution of this complex and the level and structure of genetic diversity provided a picture of a naturally fragmented lineage, restricted to a particular ecological zone. We identified six genetic clusters associated with population connectivity orientated north–south along mountain ranges, with east–west divisions between ranges. Future management should aim to retain the evolutionary potential within this young radiation by actively conserving the variation encompassed by each of the six clusters identified here.

Powelliphanta是新西兰特有的大型食肉蜗牛的属，在相对较小的地理距离内表现出表型变异。这些蜗牛内部的多样性已成为保护的高度关注问题，因为许多世系占据的范围很小（或高度分散），使它们容易受到不断生境的破坏和外来害虫的捕食。结合Powelliphanta线粒体序列数据和微卫星基因座的基因型，我们记录了被称为“ Kawatiri”的物种复合体内的遗传结构。Kawatiri世系中的所有种群（除了一个例外）都被限制在亚高山栖息地（海拔600 m以上）。一些Kawatiri复杂种群的范围与同类低地物种相邻番石榴。对这种复合物的分布以及遗传多样性的水平和结构的进一步了解，提供了一个局限在特定生态区的自然支系的图片。我们确定了六个与人口连通性相关的遗传簇，这些遗传簇以山脉为南北向，山脉之间为东西向划分。未来的管理应旨在通过积极保护此处确定的六个星团所包含的变异，在年轻辐射中保留进化潜力。