title: Genetic diversity and population history of a critically endangered primate, the northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus).
abstract: Social, ecological, and historical processes affect the genetic structure of primate populations, and therefore have key implications for the conservation of endangered species. The northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) is a critically endangered New World monkey and a flagship species for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest hotspot. Yet, like other neotropical primates, little is known about its population history and the genetic structure of remnant populations. We analyzed the mitochondrial DNA control region of 152 northern muriquis, or 17.6% of the 864 northern muriquis from 8 of the 12 known extant populations and found no evidence of phylogeographic partitions or past population shrinkage/expansion. Bayesian and classic analyses show that this finding may be attributed to the joint contribution of female-biased dispersal, demographic stability, and a relatively large historic population size. Past population stability is consistent with a central Atlantic Forest Pleistocene refuge. In addition, the best scenario supported by an Approximate Bayesian Computation analysis, significant fixation indices (Φ(ST) = 0.49, Φ(CT) = 0.24), and population-specific haplotypes, coupled with the extirpation of intermediate populations, are indicative of a recent geographic structuring of genetic diversity during the Holocene. Genetic diversity is higher in populations living in larger areas (>2,000 hectares), but it is remarkably low in the species overall (θ = 0.018). Three populations occurring in protected reserves and one fragmented population inhabiting private lands harbor 22 out of 23 haplotypes, most of which are population-exclusive, and therefore represent patchy repositories of the species' genetic diversity. We suggest that these populations be treated as discrete units for conservation management purposes.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Clara S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Alvarenga
authors.forename: Carla de B
authors.initials: Cde B
authors.lastname: Possamai
authors.forename: Luiz G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Jean P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Boubli
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Strier
authors.forename: Sérgio L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: Valéria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fagundes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001938:Brazil; D056727:Endangered Species; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005843:Geography; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D051078:Platyrrhini / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics