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Far from home: The synurbisation of a rainforest-evolved primate, the lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus, and its recent adaptations to anthropogenic habitats in southern India. J Biosci 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-022-00306-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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2
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Sushma HS, Ramesh KP, Kumara HN. Determinants of habitat occupancy and spatial segregation of primates in the central Western Ghats, India. Primates 2022; 63:137-147. [PMID: 35039932 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-021-00966-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Primates are among the globally imperiled fauna requiring urgent conservation interventions to protect their habitat. Information on species distribution and factors influencing it are vital to species management and habitat protection. In this study, we assessed habitat occupancy of the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), bonnet macaque (M. radiata), and black-footed gray langur (Semnopithecus hypoleucos) that occur in the Kudremukh Wildlife Division, a large protected area network in the central Western Ghats. We examined the influence of habitat variables on the occupancy probability of these primates. We carried out four temporally replicated detection/non-detection surveys to assess detection probability and site occupancy of the primate species. We surveyed 244 sites of 5 Km2, with each site surveyed for 4 days, to assess detection probability and site occupancy. Among the three species, the langur had the highest habitat occupancy estimate (0.66 ± 0.05SE) and the lion-tailed macaque had the lowest estimate (0.28 ± 0.08SE). The habitat occupancy estimate for the bonnet macaque was (0.56 ± 0.05SE). Wet and semi-evergreen forest cover and mean elevation positively influenced the lion-tailed macaque's occurrence. Covariates influencing bonnet macaque's occurrence were plantations, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, and non-forest areas. Mean elevation negatively affected its occurrence. Wet evergreen forests and plantations positively influenced the occurrence of the langur. We examined spatial segregation between the species based on their site occupancy. Pairwise comparisons revealed a significant negative association between the bonnet macaque and the other two primates. However, we found a significant positive association between the lion-tailed macaque and the langur. We discuss these results and their implications for conservation of primates in the region. Given the cost-effectiveness of carrying out surveys at large spatial scales, we recommend occupancy surveys for future surveys of forest primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hosur Subbarao Sushma
- Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty (POST), Coimbatore, 640118, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Kumar P Ramesh
- Karnataka Forest Department, Bannerghatta National Park, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Honnavalli N Kumara
- Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty (POST), Coimbatore, 640118, Tamil Nadu, India
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3
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Role of Geographical Gaps in the Western Ghats in Shaping Intra- and Interspecific Genetic Diversity. J Indian Inst Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s41745-021-00241-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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4
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Understanding the Phylogenetics of Indian Hoolock Gibbons: Hoolock hoolock and H. leuconedys. INT J PRIMATOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-021-00212-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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5
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Mewa Singh, Mridula Singh, Honnavalli N. Kumara, Dilip Chetry, Santanu Mahato. A history of primatology in India (In memory of Professor Sheo Dan Singh). JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2020. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.6524.12.13.16715-16735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
India harbors a wide diversity of primates with 24 species that include lorises, macaques, langurs and gibbons. Systematic research on the primates in India started about 60 years ago. In order to develop a historical perspective, we recognize three broad phases of primate research: largely natural history and base line research, primarily behavioral ecology research, and increasingly question and hypothesis-driven research. We describe the old and the recent primate research in the country and suggest research areas for the future.
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6
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Kolb AW, Brandt CR. Genomic nucleotide-based distance analysis for delimiting old world monkey derived herpes simplex virus species. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:436. [PMID: 32590937 PMCID: PMC7318535 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-06847-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herpes simplex viruses form a genus within the alphaherpesvirus subfamily, with three identified viral species isolated from Old World monkeys (OWM); Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 (McHV-1; herpes B), Cercopithecine alphaherpesvirus 2 (SA8), and Papiine alphaherpesvirus 2 (PaHV-2; herpes papio). Herpes B is endemic to macaques, while PaHV-2 and SA8 appear endemic to baboons. All three viruses are genetically and antigenically similar, with SA8 and PaHV-2 thought to be avirulent in humans, while herpes B is a biosafety level 4 pathogen. Recently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has resulted in an increased number of published OWM herpes simplex genomes, allowing an encompassing phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS In this study, phylogenetic networks, in conjunction with a genome-based genetic distance cutoff method were used to examine 27 OWM monkey herpes simplex isolates. Genome-based genetic distances were calculated, resulting in distances between lion and pig-tailed simplex viruses themselves, and versus herpes B core strains that were higher than those between PaHV-2 and SA8 (approximately 14 and 10% respectively). The species distance cutoff was determined to be 8.94%, with the method recovering separate species status for PaHV-2 and SA8 and showed that lion and pig-tailed simplex viruses (vs core herpes B strains) were well over the distance species cutoff. CONCLUSIONS We propose designating lion and pig-tailed simplex viruses as separate, individual viral species, and that this may be the first identification of viral cryptic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron W Kolb
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 550 Bardeen Laboratories, 1300 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Curtis R Brandt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 550 Bardeen Laboratories, 1300 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.,McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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7
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Nair RR, Karumathil S, Udayan PS, Prakashkumar RP, Sérsic AN. Evolutionary history of Kingiodendron pinnatum(Fabaceae: Caesalpinoideae), an endangered species of the Western Ghats, India: a phylogeographical approach. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Raveendran Nair
- Centre for Evolutionary Ecology, Aushmath Biosciences, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sudeesh Karumathil
- Centre for Evolutionary Ecology, Aushmath Biosciences, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | | | - Alicia N Sérsic
- Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva – Biología Floral, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET–Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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8
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Dixit J, Zachariah A, P. K. S, Chandramohan B, Shanmuganatham V, Karanth KP. Reinvestigating the status of malaria parasite (Plasmodium sp.) in Indian non-human primates. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006801. [PMID: 30521518 PMCID: PMC6298686 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many human parasites and pathogens have closely related counterparts among non-human primates. For example, non-human primates harbour several species of malaria causing parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Studies suggest that for a better understanding of the origin and evolution of human malaria parasites it is important to know the diversity and evolutionary relationships of these parasites in non-human primates. Much work has been undertaken on malaria parasites in wild great Apes of Africa as well as wild monkeys of Southeast Asia however studies are lacking from South Asia, particularly India. India is one of the major malaria prone regions in the world and exhibits high primate diversity which in turn provides ideal setting for both zoonoses and anthropozoonoses. In this study we report the molecular data for malaria parasites from wild populations of Indian non-human primates. We surveyed 349 fecal samples from five different Indian non-human primates, while 94 blood and tissue samples from one of the Indian non-human primate species (Macaca radiata) and one blood sample from M. mulatta. Our results confirm the presence of P. fragile, P. inui and P. cynomolgi in Macaca radiata. Additionally, we report for the first time the presence of human malarial parasite, P. falciparum, in M. mulatta and M. radiata. Additionally, our results indicate that M. radiata does not exhibit population structure probably due to human mediated translocation of problem monkeys. Human mediated transport of macaques adds an additional level of complexity to tacking malaria in human. This issue has implications for both the spread of primate as well as human specific malarias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotsana Dixit
- TE-11, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, India
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Arun Zachariah
- Department of Forests and Wildlife, Sulthan Batheri, Wayanad District, Kerala State, India
| | - Sajesh P. K.
- Scigenom Research Foundation, Cochin, Kerala, India
| | - Bathrachalam Chandramohan
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India
| | - Vinoth Shanmuganatham
- TE-11, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - K. Praveen Karanth
- TE-11, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, India
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Thorpe CJ, Lewis TR, Kulkarni S, Watve A, Gaitonde N, Pryce D, Davies L, Bilton DT, Knight ME. Micro-habitat distribution drives patch quality for sub-tropical rocky plateau amphibians in the northern Western Ghats, India. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194810. [PMID: 29579111 PMCID: PMC5868820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of patch quality for amphibians is frequently overlooked in distribution models. Here we demonstrate that it is highly important for the persistence of endemic and endangered amphibians found in the threatened and fragile ecosystems that are the rocky plateaus in Western Maharashtra, India. These plateaus are ferricretes of laterite and characterise the northern section of the Western Ghats/Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot, the eighth most important global hotspot and one of the three most threatened by population growth. We present statistically supported habitat associations for endangered and data-deficient Indian amphibians, demonstrating significant relationships between individual species and their microhabitats. Data were collected during early monsoon across two seasons. Twenty-one amphibian taxa were identified from 14 lateritic plateaus between 67 and 1179m above sea level. Twelve of the study taxa had significant associations with microhabitats using a stepwise analysis of the AICc subroutine (distLM, Primer-e, v7). Generalist taxa were associated with increased numbers of microhabitat types. Non-significant associations are reported for the remaining 9 taxa. Microhabitat distribution was spatially structured and driven by climate and human activity. Woody plants were associated with 44% of high-elevation taxa. Of the 8 low-elevation taxa 63% related to water bodies and 60% of those were associated with pools. Rock size and abundance were important for 33% of high elevation specialists. Three of the 4 caecilians were associated with rocks in addition to soil and stream presence. We conclude the plateaus are individualistic patches whose habitat quality is defined by their microhabitats within climatic zones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Thorpe
- Ecology and Evolution Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (CJT); (TRL)
| | - Todd R. Lewis
- Westfield, Wareham, Dorset, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (CJT); (TRL)
| | | | - Aparna Watve
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Taljapur, Osmanabad, Maharashtra, India
| | - Nikhil Gaitonde
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Kodigehalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - David Pryce
- Ecology and Evolution Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - Lewis Davies
- Ecology and Evolution Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - David T. Bilton
- Ecology and Evolution Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - Mairi E. Knight
- Ecology and Evolution Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
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10
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Joshi BD, Matura R, M A P, De R, Pandav B, Sharma V, Nigam P, Goyal SP. Palghat gap reveals presence of two diverged populations of Nilgiri tahr ( Nilgiritragus hylocrius) in Western Ghats, India. MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES 2018; 3:245-249. [PMID: 33474132 PMCID: PMC7800121 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2018.1436990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Genetic analysis is an important tool in understanding population structure, genetic diversity, and phylogenetics of endangered species likely to be affected by microevolution and anthropogenic factors. Western Ghats landscape is one of the identified biodiversity hotspots in India, and micro-evolutionary processes are observed in this landscape due to the presence of the gaps in the mountain ranges. Nilgiri tahr is endemic to and distributed in this landscape while very little is known about genetic characteristics, population structure and impact of these gaps on the species. In the present study, two different populations of Nilgiri tahr from the north (NPG) and south (SPG) of Palghat gap (PG) were studied using the cytochrome b gene (Cyt b; 310 bp) of mtDNA genome in the Western Ghats, India. Two variable sites were observed in the Cyt b fragment while the mean pairwise genetic distance between these two populations was 0.007. All the samples phylogenetically clustered in either north or south of PG. The presence of shallow divergence indicates the presence of suitable habitat in past which may have facilitated movement between NPG and SPG. A subsequent change in Paleo-climatic conditions and gradual formation of PG may have resulted in population diversification during the Pleistocene. Besides, Forensically Informative Nucleotide Sequence (FINS) observed would help in geo-assigning any individual from NPG or SPG to understand the likely influences on population demography due to poaching.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rakesh Matura
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttakrakhand, India
| | - Predit M A
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttakrakhand, India
| | - Rahul De
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttakrakhand, India
| | - Bivash Pandav
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttakrakhand, India
| | - Vipin Sharma
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttakrakhand, India
| | - Parag Nigam
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttakrakhand, India
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11
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Engelhardt A, Muniz L, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Widdig A. Highly Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers for the Assessment of Male Reproductive Skew and Genetic Variation in Critically Endangered Crested Macaques ( Macaca nigra). INT J PRIMATOL 2017; 38:672-691. [PMID: 28845069 PMCID: PMC5550527 DOI: 10.1007/s10764-017-9973-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Genetic analyses based on noninvasively collected samples have become an important tool for evolutionary biology and conservation. Crested macaques (Macaca nigra), endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia, are important for our understanding of primate evolution as Sulawesi macaques represent an exceptional example of primate adaptive radiation. Crested macaques are also Critically Endangered. However, to date we know very little about their genetics. The aim of our study was to find and validate microsatellite markers useful for evolutionary, conservation, and other genetic studies on wild crested macaques. Using fecal samples of 176 wild macaques living in the Tangkoko Reserve, Sulawesi, we identified 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci through cross-species polymerase chain reaction amplification with later modification of some of these primers. We tested their suitability by investigating and exploring patterns of paternity, observed heterozygosity, and evidence for inbreeding. We assigned paternity to 63 of 65 infants with high confidence. Among cases with solved paternity, we found no evidence of extragroup paternity and natal breeding. We found a relatively steep male reproductive skew B index of 0.330 ± 0.267; mean ± SD) and mean alpha paternity of 65% per year with large variation across groups and years (29–100%). Finally, we detected an excess in observed heterozygosity and no evidence of inbreeding across our three study groups, with an observed heterozygosity of 0.766 ± 0.059 and expected heterozygosity of 0.708 ± 0.059, and an inbreeding coefficient of −0.082 ± 0.035. Our results indicate that the selected markers are useful for genetic studies on wild crested macaques, and possibly also on other Sulawesi and closely related macaques. They further suggest that the Tangkoko population of crested macaques is still genetically variable despite its small size, isolation, and the species’ reproductive patterns. This gives us hope that other endangered primate species living in small, isolated populations may also retain a healthy gene pool, at least in the short term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Engelhardt
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, L3 3AF, Liverpool, UK.,Junior Research Group of Primate Sexual Selection, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.,Courant Research Center Evolution of Social Behavior, Georg August University, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Laura Muniz
- Junior Research Group of Primate Kin Selection, Department of Primatology, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Research Group of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dyah Perwitasari-Farajallah
- Primate Research Centre, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Anja Widdig
- Junior Research Group of Primate Kin Selection, Department of Primatology, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Research Group of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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12
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Li WJ, Sui XL, Kuss P, Liu YY, Li AR, Guan KY. Long-Distance Dispersal after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) Led to the Disjunctive Distribution of Pedicularis kansuensis (Orobanchaceae) between the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Tianshan Region. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165700. [PMID: 27806090 PMCID: PMC5091882 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Quaternary climate fluctuations have profoundly affected the current distribution patterns and genetic structures of many plant and animal species in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and adjacent mountain ranges, e.g. Tianshan (TSR), Altay, etc. In this greater area disjunct distributions are prominent but have nevertheless received little attention with respect to the historical processes involved. Here, we focus on Pedicularis kansuensis to test whether the current QTP and TSR disjunction is the result of a recent Holocene range expansion involving dispersal across arid land bridge(s) or a Pleistocene range fragmentation involving persistence in refugia. Two chloroplast DNA spacers were sequenced for 319 individuals from 34 populations covering the entire distribution range of this species in China. We found a total of 17 haplotypes of which all occurred in the QTP, and only five in the TSR. Overall genetic diversity was high (HT = 0.882, HS = 0.559) and higher in the QTP than in the TSR. Genetic differentiation among regions and populations was relatively low (GST = 0.366) and little evidence for a phylogeographic pattern emerged. The divergence times for the four main lineages could be dated to the early Pleistocene. Surprisingly, the two ubiquitous haplotypes diverged just before or around the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and were found in different phylogenetic lineages. The Species Distribution Model suggested a disappearance of P. kansuensis from the TSR during the LGM in contrast to a relatively constant potential distribution in the QTP. We conclude that P. kansuensis colonized the TSR after the LGM. The improbable long-distance dispersal by wind or water across arid land seed flow may well have had birds or men as vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Sui
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Wild Plant Resources, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Patrick Kuss
- Institute of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yan-Yan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Ai-Rong Li
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Wild Plant Resources, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- * E-mail: (ARL); (KYG)
| | - Kai-Yun Guan
- Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Wild Plant Resources, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- * E-mail: (ARL); (KYG)
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13
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Ram MS, Kittur SM, Biswas J, Nag S, Shil J, Umapathy G. Genetic Diversity and Structure among Isolated Populations of the Endangered Gees Golden Langur in Assam, India. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161866. [PMID: 27564405 PMCID: PMC5001631 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Gee’s golden langur (Trachypithecus geei) is an endangered colobine primate, endemic to the semi-evergreen and mixed-deciduous forests of Indo-Bhutan border. During the last few decades, extensive fragmentation has caused severe population decline and local extinction of golden langur from several fragments. However, no studies are available on the impact of habitat fragmentation and the genetic diversity of golden langur in the fragmented habitats. The present study aimed to estimate the genetic diversity in the Indian population of golden langur. We sequenced and analyzed around 500 bases of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) hypervariable region-I from 59 fecal samples of wild langur collected from nine forest fragments. Overall, genetic diversity was high (h = 0.934, π = 0.0244) and comparable with other colobines. Populations in smaller fragments showed lower nucleotide diversity compared to the larger forest fragments. The median-joining network of haplotypes revealed a genetic structure that corresponded with the geographical distribution. The Aie and Champabati Rivers were found to be a barrier to gene flow between golden langur populations. In addition, it also established that T. geei is monophyletic but revealed possible hybridization with capped langur, T. pileatus, in the wild. It is hoped that these findings would result in a more scientific approach towards managing the fragmented populations of this enigmatic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muthuvarmadam S. Ram
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500007, India
| | - Sagar M. Kittur
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500007, India
| | - Jihosuo Biswas
- Primate Research Centre NE India, H/N 4, Byelane 3, Ananda Nagar, Pandu, Guwahati 781012, India
| | - Sudipta Nag
- Primate Research Centre NE India, H/N 4, Byelane 3, Ananda Nagar, Pandu, Guwahati 781012, India
| | - Joydeep Shil
- Primate Research Centre NE India, H/N 4, Byelane 3, Ananda Nagar, Pandu, Guwahati 781012, India
- Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty, Coimbatore 641108, India
| | - Govindhaswamy Umapathy
- Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500007, India
- * E-mail:
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