We examined a purported lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufusxE. albocollaris) hybrid zone at Andringitra, Madagascar, using sequences from five genes (one mitochondrial gene (d-loop) and four nuclear introns (hemopexin, malic enzyme, ceruloplasmin, and microsatellite 26 flanking region)), from 60 individuals (E. albocollaris (n = 16), E.f. rufus (n = 14), E. collaris (n = 9), and purported hybrids from Andringitra (n = 21)). Diagnostic (d-loop and microsatellite 26) and private sites (all other genes) were found in all gene regions for E. albocollaris and E.f. rufus. Also, private sites were found for the purported hybrid population in two gene regions (d-loop and ceruloplasmin). When the putative hybrids were examined for diagnostic and private markers, 18 of 21 were found to contain markers from both E. albocollaris and E.f. rufus populations. The remaining three individuals were found to contain only markers for E. albocollaris. These results indicate that the population at Andringitra is a hybrid population between E. albocollaris and E.f. rufus.

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Eulniur jidzw: a complex comprising six subspecies, is a classic example of species status conferred through evolutionary taxonomy. \Vc used the phylogcnctic species concept as an altrrnativc method to the biological species concept for determining historic patterns of gene flow between the various E. Ji/m sul)spccics and for conferring species status. In this paper, wc used population aggregation analysis to dctcrminc the proper species partitions and cladistic analysis to reconstruct the evolutionary rclationships of the different populations in the Eulmur,/i/z~ti.c complex. 1%'~sequenced three mtlIN.4 gene regions (d-loop, 12S, and cyt-11) and OIIC nuclear region, casein kiirasc, for R total of 1247 Imscs. Through population aggrrgation analysis, we determined that the E. fihlu., complex should he split into three units; one unit supported by six diagn tic sites comprising E.J: a/boco//fl7i\, ouc unit supportcd by thrcc diagnostic sites comprising f.. col/aii,s, and one unit supported by two diagnostic sites comprising the four other suhspccics. Although all six sul)species in the E.fuhw.\ complex share a commrin ancestor, WT found in our cladistic-analysis that E. J: collnri.~ and 6 ,/:nlbocollurir share a common ancestor that more recently split ofY from thc common ancestor of the fbur other E. ,fithu\ subspecies. 0 I W!l 'l'lrr I.iiiiiixii Sucirt\ 0 S 1.imd111~ AD1)ITIONAL KEY M'ORDS: --phylogcnctic and biological species concepts ~ evolutionary taxonomy ~ population aggregation analysis.

A character-based phylogenetic species concept approach was used to examine conservation unit status for three wild populations of black and white ruffed lemurs, Varecia vareigata variegata, from Betampona (N = 3), Manombo (N = 6), and Ranomafana (N = 14), Madagascar. Population aggregation analysis was performed on 548 bp from the control region (D-loop) of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Twenty-one diagnostic sites were found to differentiate the Betampona (northern) population from the Manombo/Ranomafana (southern) populations. Additionally, individuals from the North American captive population (N = 11) and from Parc Ivoloina, Madagascar (N = 6) were examined for the same mtDNA fragment. The captive animals more closely resembled the southern populations and the Parc Ivoloina animals were more similar to the northern population. However, the inclusion of these ex situ animals reduced the number of diagnostic sites differentiating the northern and southern populations. Our genetic data were used to assess the ongoing management strategy for reintroducing individuals into the Betampona population and for introducing new founders into the ex situ population. This study demonstrates the utility of combining genetic information with a consideration of conservation priorities in evaluating the implementation of management strategies.