Abstract
The Mexican howler monkey (Alouatta palliata mexicana) is a critically endangered primate, which is paleoendemic to Mexico. However, despite the potential significance of genetic data for its management and conservation, there have been no population genetic studies of this subspecies. To examine genetic diversity in the key remaining forest refuge for A. p. mexicana, the Selva Zoque, we amplified full-length mitochondrial control region sequences (1,100 bp) from 45 individuals and found 7 very similar haplotypes. Haplotype diversity (h = 0.486) and nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0007) were extremely low compared to other Neotropical primates. Neutrality tests, used to evaluate demographic effects (Tajima’s D = −1.48, p = 0.05; Fu’s F s = −3.33, p = 0.02), and mismatch distribution (sum of squares deviation = 0.006, p = 0.38; raggedness index = 0.12, p = 0.33) were consistent with a recent and mild population expansion and genetic diversity appears to be historically low in this taxon. Future studies should use a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear markers to fully evaluate genetic diversity and to better understand demographic history in A. p. mexicana. These studies should be undertaken throughout its geographic range in order to evaluate population structure and identify management units for conservation. Due to the limited distribution and population size of A. p. mexicana, future conservation strategies may need to consider genetic management. However, a more detailed knowledge of the population genetics of the subspecies is urgently recommended to maximise the conservation impact of these strategies.
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Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) in Mexico and the Veracruz State Government for providing financial support to the project (Grant Number 108990). JD was supported by grants from the Isaac Newton Trust and the Cambridge Humanities Research Grant Scheme. LCO is supported by an NSF grant (# BCS-0962807). We thank the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources in Mexico and the Department for Food and Rural Affairs in the UK for providing transport permits for the faecal samples.
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Dunn, J.C., Shedden-González, A., Cristóbal-Azkarate, J. et al. Limited genetic diversity in the critically endangered Mexican howler monkey (Alouatta palliata mexicana) in the Selva Zoque, Mexico. Primates 55, 155–160 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-013-0399-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-013-0399-6