Population genetic studies of Alouatta caraya (Alouattinae, Primates): inferences on geographic distribution and ecology

Abstract

Cytochrome b DNA sequence data (ca. 1,140 bp) of 44 Alouatta caraya, including 42 specimens from three localities of Brazil and two from Bolivia, were used for phylogenetic reconstructions and population studies. Seventeen haplotypes were identified, eight of which were present in more than one individual. Seven of these eight haplotypes were shared by individuals from a same locality and one by individuals from two localities. We found 26 variable sites along the entire gene, consisting of 18 transitions and eight transversions; most replacements occurring at the third codon position (65.39%) in contrast to first and second positions (26.92 and 7.69%, respectively). In the sample collected at Chapada dos Guimarães (Brazil), nucleotide and haplotype diversity estimates were pi=0.002325 and h=0.8772, respectively. Maximum parsimony analysis grouped all haplotypes in two clades, separating Bolivian haplotypes from Brazilian haplotypes, the grouping of which did not show a straightforward correspondence with geographic distribution. Median-joining and TCS network pointed to haplotypes 11 or 12 as the most likely ancestral ones. Mismatch distribution and the goodness-of-fit test (SSD estimate=0.0027; P=0.6999) indicated that the population from Chapada dos Guimarães experienced a demographic expansion, in agreement with the median-joining star-like pattern, although this finding could not be confirmed by Fu's F(s) test.

Population genetic studies of Alouatta belzebul from the Amazonian and Atlantic Forests

“…Smith and McDonough [2005], when analyzing mtDNA of rhesus monkey populations of different geographic origin, found marked differences between Indian and Chinese haplotypes; the former comprising a single homogeneous haplogroup and the latter spitting into separate clusters exhibiting a higher diversity and population structure. Nascimento et al [2007], when analyzing cytochrome b (cytb) DNA in Alouatta caraya, grouped all haplotypes in two different clades, separating Bolivian from Brazilian haplotypes, the last ones lacking a straightforward correspondence with geographic distribution. Ascunce et al [2007], when analyzing A. caraya from northern Argentina and southern Paraguay, found two sympatric mitochondrial lineages resulting from demographic expansion and colonizations through forest corridors along the Paraná and Paraguay rivers.…”

Molecular Systematics and Phylogeography of the Genus Lagothrix (Atelidae, Primates) by Means of the Mitochondrial COII Gene

“…Several molecular population genetics studies have been carried out to resolve the phylogeny and natural history demographic and evolutionary traits in some of these Atelidae genera ( Alouatta [Figueiredo et al, 1998;Cortes-Ortiz et al, 2003;Nascimento et al, 2005Nascimento et al, , 2007Nascimento et al, , 2008Ascunce et al, 2007;Ruiz-García et al, 2007a] and Ateles [Collins and Dubach, 2000a, b;Collins and Dubach, 2001;Ruiz-García, 2003;Ruiz-García et al, 2006]). However, to date, no molecular phylogenetic work has been published on relationships within Lagothrix .…”

Genetic Diversity of Neotropical Primates: Phylogeny, Population Genetics, and Animal Models for Infectious Diseases

“…Analyses of cytochrome b DNA in A. caraya separated Bolivian from Brazilian haplotypes, the grouping of which did not show a straightforward correspondence with geographic distribution [Nascimento et al, 2007]. The genetic variability in A. caraya was lower than in A. belzebul from Tucurui (Pará State, Brazil), a difference apparently reflecting the size of the geographic area where samples had been collected, ca.…”

“…Subsequent studies were carried out with mtDNA or microsatellite markers in A. belzebul [Nascimento et al, 2005[Nascimento et al, , 2008, Alouatta caraya [Nascimento et al, 2005[Nascimento et al, , 2007Inglêz 2006;Ascunce et al, 2007;Ruiz-Garcia et al, 2007], A. seniculus , Alouatta palliata and Alouatta macconnelli [Ruiz-Garcia et al, 2007], and A. palliata [Winkler et al, 2004;Milton et al, 2009], and with DNA sequence data of ␣ -fibrinogen [Gonçalves et al, 2008].…”