title: Phylogenetic relationships of Malaysia's long-tailed macaques, Macaca fascicularis, based on cytochrome b sequences.
abstract: Phylogenetic relationships among Malaysia's long-tailed macaques have yet to be established, despite abundant genetic studies of the species worldwide. The aims of this study are to examine the phylogenetic relationships of Macaca fascicularis in Malaysia and to test its classification as a morphological subspecies. A total of 25 genetic samples of M. fascicularis yielding 383 bp of Cytochrome b (Cyt b) sequences were used in phylogenetic analysis along with one sample each of M. nemestrina and M. arctoides used as outgroups. Sequence character analysis reveals that Cyt b locus is a highly conserved region with only 23% parsimony informative character detected among ingroups. Further analysis indicates a clear separation between populations originating from different regions; the Malay Peninsula versus Borneo Insular, the East Coast versus West Coast of the Malay Peninsula, and the island versus mainland Malay Peninsula populations. Phylogenetic trees (NJ, MP and Bayesian) portray a consistent clustering paradigm as Borneo's population was distinguished from Peninsula's population (99% and 100% bootstrap value in NJ and MP respectively and 1.00 posterior probability in Bayesian trees). The East coast population was separated from other Peninsula populations (64% in NJ, 66% in MP and 0.53 posterior probability in Bayesian). West coast populations were divided into 2 clades: the North-South (47%/54% in NJ, 26/26% in MP and 1.00/0.80 posterior probability in Bayesian) and Island-Mainland (93% in NJ, 90% in MP and 1.00 posterior probability in Bayesian). The results confirm the previous morphological assignment of 2 subspecies, M. f. fascicularis and M. f. argentimembris, in the Malay Peninsula. These populations should be treated as separate genetic entities in order to conserve the genetic diversity of Malaysia's M. fascicularis. These findings are crucial in aiding the conservation management and translocation process of M. fascicularis populations in Malaysia.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Abu Bakar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdul-Latiff
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Farhani
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruslin
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ; UCSI University, 1, Jalan Menara Gading, UCSI Heights, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Vun Vui
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Fui
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd-Hashim
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Abu
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Km 10, Jalan Cheras, 50664, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jeffrine Japning
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rovie-Ryan
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ; Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Km 10, Jalan Cheras, 50664, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Pazil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abdul-Patah
authors.affiliation: Sabah Parks, Research and Education Division, PO Box 10626, 88806, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Maklarin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lakim
authors.affiliation: Gene Bank of Primates, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Salmah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yaakop
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Badrul Munir
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Md-Zain
keywords: Cytochrome b; Long-tailed macaque; Macaca fascicularis; phylogenetic relationships