title: Postglacial population expansion of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) inferred from mitochondrial DNA phylogeography.
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.
authors.affiliation: Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi, 484-8506, Japan. kawamoto@pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shotake
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nozawa
authors.forename: Sakie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: Ken-ichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomari
authors.forename: Shizuka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morimitsu
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Hisaaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akaza
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hagihara
authors.forename: Keigo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Shigehiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akachi
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oi
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayaishi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006239:Haplotypes; D007564:Japan; D008251:Macaca / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011158:Population Growth; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial