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Postglacial population expansion of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) inferred from mitochondrial DNA phylogeography

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Abstract

We investigated the diversity and phylogeography of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), an endemic species in Japan that has the northernmost distribution of any non-human primate species. DNA samples from 135 localities representing the entire range of this species were compared. A total of 53 unique haplotypes were observed for the 412-bp partial mtDNA control region sequence, with length variation distinguishing the two subspecies. Clustering analyses suggested two putative major haplogroups, of which one was geographically distributed in eastern Japan and the other in western Japan. The populations in the east showed lower mtDNA diversity than those in the west. Phylogeographical relationships of haplotypes depicted with minimum spanning network suggested differences in population structure. Population expansion was significant for the eastern but not the western population, suggesting establishment of the ancestral population was relatively long ago in the west and recent in the east. Based on fossil evidence and past climate and vegetation changes, we inferred that the postulated population expansion may have taken place after the last glacial period (after 15,000 years ago). Mitochondrial DNA showed contrasting results in both variability and phylogenetic status of local populations to those of previous studies using protein variations, particularly for populations in the periphery of the range, with special inference on habitat change during the glacial period in response to cold adaptation.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to the field biologists working on Japanese macaques listed in the Appendix for collection of samples. We also thank the prefectural authorities for permits to research and capture macaques. This study was financed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (Grants-in-Aid for General Scientific Research Nos. 09640835 and 11440249) and Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Japan. We conducted part of the field investigations for this study through cooperative research programs of the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University. We wish to thank Dr. O. Takenaka, Dr. N. Shigehara, Dr. M. Aimi, Dr. T Mouri, Mr. Y Mito, Dr. E. Kitahara, Dr. S. Miura and Dr. J. Fooden for their cooperation and encouragement in studying wild populations of Japanese macaques and Dr. H. Tanaka for support in data analysis. We are grateful to Dr. D.G. Smith and two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi, 484-8506, Japan

    Yoshi Kawamoto, Takayoshi Shotake, Ken Nozawa, Sakie Kawamoto, Ken-ichiro Tomari & Shizuka Kawai

  2. Wildlife Management Office Incorporated, Tokyo, Japan

    Kei Shirai & Yoshiki Morimitsu

  3. The Technical Management Center for Wildlife Damage, Miyazaki, Japan

    Naoki Takagi

  4. Yuho Highschool, Toyama, Japan

    Hisaaki Akaza

  5. Department of Literature, Shokei College, Kumamoto, Japan

    Hisanori Fujii

  6. Boso Peninsula Monkey Management and Research Society, Chiba, Japan

    Ko Hagihara

  7. Tateyama High School, Chiba, Japan

    Keigo Aizawa

  8. Public Health and Environment Research Division, Mie Prefectural Science and Technology Promotion Center, Mie, Japan

    Shigehiro Akachi

  9. Kansai Research Center, Forestry and Forestry Products Research Institute, Kyoto, Japan

    Toru Oi

  10. Laboratory of Human Evolution Studies, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Shuhei Hayaishi

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  1. Yoshi Kawamoto
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  2. Takayoshi Shotake
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Correspondence to Yoshi Kawamoto.

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Appendix

Appendix

Table 3 List of study sites and mtDNA haplotypes. Locality no. indicates the site in Fig. 1. Sample no. is the code of sample banked at Population Genetics Section of the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University
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Kawamoto, Y., Shotake, T., Nozawa, K. et al. Postglacial population expansion of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) inferred from mitochondrial DNA phylogeography. Primates 48, 27–40 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-006-0013-2

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