Abstract
An effective genetic marker panel that can be used with noninvasive samples is useful for population genetics and the conservation management of endangered species. We aimed to develop a microsatellite marker panel for Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana), with good levels of polymorphism, stability, and repeatability and suitable for use with noninvasive samples. We designed 83 primer pairs to screen for polymorphic loci based on a tetranucleotide microsatellite dataset. We tested the loci using 16 tissue samples from Sichuan, Guangxi, and Anhui Province in China, and then 106 fecal samples from three wild populations (Huangshan: Anhui Province, Labahe Natural Reserve: Sichuan Province, Fanjingshan Natural Reserve: Guizhou Province). We used the resulting marker panel to identify individuals and estimate genetic diversity in the three populations. We found that 37 novel loci were polymorphic when we genotyped tissue samples. Fifteen of these loci were high polymorphic, sensitive and stable, they were suitable for fecal samples, and we could identify individuals effectively using a subset of six loci. Using these 6 loci, we identified 89 individuals from the 106 fecal samples. The three wild populations had relatively high genetic diversity, with polymorphism information content ranging from 0.530 to 0.678. The Huangshan population had the highest genetic diversity and the largest number of alleles, whereas genetic diversity was the lowest in the Fanjingshan population. The marker panel will facilitate future population genetic research on Tibetan macaques.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Administrative Bureau of Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve in Guizhou Province, Administration Bureau of Huangshan National Nature Reserve in Anhui Province, and Administration Bureau of Labahe National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province for their supports, and Dr. Megan Price for modifying the manuscript. They also thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their feedback on the manuscript.
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This work was supported by the State Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 31530068) and partly by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 31770415).
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LH, LJ and CYS conceived and designed the experiments. LH, HW and LJX performed the experiments. LH and PX collected experimental samples. LH and LJX analysed the data. LH and LJX wrote the manuscript; other authors provided editorial advice.
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Liu, H., Luo, J., Hou, W. et al. An Effective Microsatellite Marker Panel for Noninvasive Samples in Tibetan Macaques (Macaca thibetana). Int J Primatol 44, 399–415 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-022-00348-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-022-00348-1