title: Implications of genetics and current protected areas for conservation of 5 endangered primates in China.
abstract: Most of China's 24-28 primate species are threatened with extinction. Habitat reduction and fragmentation are perhaps the greatest threats. We used published data from a conservation genetics study of 5 endangered primates in China (Rhinopithecus roxellana, R. bieti, R. brelichi, Trachypithecus francoisi, and T. leucocephalus); distribution data on these species; and the distribution, area, and location of protected areas to inform conservation strategies for these primates. All 5 species were separated into subpopulations with unique genetic components. Gene flow appeared to be strongly impeded by agricultural land, meadows used for grazing, highways, and humans dwellings. Most species declined severely or diverged concurrently as human population and crop land cover increased. Nature reserves were not evenly distributed across subpopulations with unique genetic backgrounds. Certain small subpopulations were severely fragmented and had higher extinction risk than others. Primate mobility is limited and their genetic structure is strong and susceptible to substantial loss of diversity due to local extinction. Thus, to maximize preservation of genetic diversity in all these primate species, our results suggest protection is required for all sub-populations. Key priorities for their conservation include maintaining R. roxellana in Shennongjia national reserve, subpopulations S4 and S5 of R. bieti and of R. brelichi in Fanjingshan national reserve, subpopulation CGX of T. francoisi in central Guangxi Province, and all 3 T. leucocephalus sub-populations in central Guangxi Province.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Zhijin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100101, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China.
authors.forename: Guangjian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Primate Genetics Laboratory, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.|Gene Bank of Primates, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100101, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China.
authors.forename: Ziming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: ZuoFu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100101, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China.
authors.forename: Pingfen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100101, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China.
authors.forename: Boshi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Baoping
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Fanglei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Haidian, Beijing, 100083, China.
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100101, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D016673:Colobinae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056727:Endangered Species; D051456:Gene Flow; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial
keywords: Rhinopithecus spp; Trachypithecus spp; demographic history; estructura genética poblacional; historia demográfica; population genetic structure