Low genetic diversity and limited genetic structure across the range of the critically endangered Mexican howler monkey (<i>Alouatta palliata mexicana</i>)

Melo‐Carrillo, Adrián; Dunn, Jacob C.; Cortés‐Ortiz, Liliana

doi:10.1002/ajp.23160

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Regarding nuclear markers, the howler monkey populations we studied showed moderate genetic diversity ( H o = 0.33; H e = 0.45), similar to values previously reported for other Mexican populations (Alcocer‐Rodríguez, 2015; Jasso‐del Toro et al, 2016; Melo‐Carrillo et al, 2020; Nidiffer & Cortés‐Ortiz, 2015), and for populations from Costa Rica (Ruiz‐Garcia et al, 2007) (Table S5), based on some of the same loci. A pattern of reduction in the number of alleles per locus is observed as latitude increases, with northern Mexican populations (North cluster) showing the lowest values ( N a = 3.3) and Panama the highest ( N a = 4.9; Milton et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Regarding nuclear markers, the howler monkey populations we studied showed moderate genetic diversity (H o = 0.33; H e = 0.45), similar to values previously reported for other Mexican populations (Alcocer-Rodríguez, 2015;Jasso-del Toro et al, 2016;Melo-Carrillo et al, 2020;Nidiffer & Cortés-Ortiz, 2015), and for populations from Costa Rica (Ruiz-Garcia et al, 2007) (Table S5), based on some of the S5). The reduction of genetic diversity toward the margins of a species' distribution is a pattern observed in many species of plants and animals, explained by a hypothesized relationship between optimum environmental conditions that promote population growth, hence genetic diversity, and geographic centrality (Lira-Noriega & Manthey, 2014).…”

Section: Historical Diversification Past Demography and Contemporary Genetic Diversitysupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Habitat loss and fragmentation are considered the main threats reducing their population sizes and viability. Assessments of genetic variation of A. p. mexicana have reported low levels of genetic diversity and different degrees of population differentiation, ranging from panmixia to moderate levels of genetic structure, at local (Argüello‐Sánchez, 2012; Dunn et al, 2014; Jasso‐del Toro et al, 2016) and regional scales (Melo‐Carrillo et al, 2020). Several semi‐captive populations (e.g., living in zoo lands but not within enclosures, or translocated into small islands) have been established from the early 1980s (Aguilar‐Melo et al, 2013; Rodríguez‐Luna et al, 2003), for which no genetic surveys have been performed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conservation implications of living in forest remnants: Inbreeding and genetic structure of the northernmost mantled howler monkeys

2021

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The current unprecedented rates of environmental perturbation, particularly in rain forest ecosystems, are jeopardizing the persistence of a variety of tropical species.The development of adequate conservation programs requires incorporating the evolutionary history and population genetic information of species, especially in those threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. Mexican mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana) represent the northernmost distribution of primates in America, a Critically Endangered species mainly inhabiting forest remnants. We assessed historical and contemporary patterns of genetic variation in A. p. mexicana populations from five regions across its geographic distribution in Mexico. We employed non-invasive sampling techniques and evaluated microsatellite loci and mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences from 127 individuals from 15 wild and two semi-captive populations. Our data demonstrate negative genetic effects on A. p. mexicana as a result of isolation, fragmentation, and small effective population size.Results revealed two mitochondrial lineages and three genetically differentiated nuclear clusters, along with reduced nuclear genetic diversity, limited gene flow, and significant inbreeding, associated with concurrent processes of historical dispersion and contemporary landscape changes. Accordingly, we argue that A. palliata mexicana in Mexico is an independently evolving unit that meets the criteria for being assigned as an Evolutionarily Significant Unit, crucial for the preservation of the howler monkeys' phylogenetic and functional diversity. The three genetic clusters identified are essential for the maintenance of the adaptive diversity and long-term survival of this howler subspecies. Our genetic approach and conservation recommendations may be useful for other endangered primates inhabiting fragmented populations.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Regarding nuclear markers, the howler monkey populations we studied showed moderate genetic diversity (H o = 0.33; H e = 0.45), similar to values previously reported for other Mexican populations (Alcocer-Rodríguez, 2015;Jasso-del Toro et al, 2016;Melo-Carrillo et al, 2020;Nidiffer & Cortés-Ortiz, 2015), and for populations from Costa Rica (Ruiz-Garcia et al, 2007) (Table S5), based on some of the S5). The reduction of genetic diversity toward the margins of a species' distribution is a pattern observed in many species of plants and animals, explained by a hypothesized relationship between optimum environmental conditions that promote population growth, hence genetic diversity, and geographic centrality (Lira-Noriega & Manthey, 2014).…”

Section: Historical Diversification Past Demography and Contemporary Genetic Diversitysupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conservation implications of living in forest remnants: Inbreeding and genetic structure of the northernmost mantled howler monkeys

2021

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“…Values of observed heterozygosity < 0.3 are generally considered to represent low genetic diversity (Robertson et al 2018; Kleinhans and Willows-Munro 2019; Melo-Carrillo et al 2020) and for all the populations sampled in the present study, the mean observed heterozygosity was < 0.18. In fact, more than 30% of loci had an observed heterozygosity of ≤ 0.1, and observed heterozygosity was consistently lower than expected heterozygosity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

The blowflyChrysomya latifronsinhabits fragmented rainforests, but lacks genetic diversity and population structure

Butterworth

Wallman

Johnston

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Climate change and deforestation are causing rainforests to become increasingly fragmented, placing them at heightened risk of biodiversity loss. Invertebrates constitute the greatest proportion of this biodiversity, yet we lack basic knowledge of their population structure and ecology. It is not currently feasible to assess the population structure of every invertebrate species, so there is a compelling need to identify indicator species that are broadly indicative of habitat-level patterns and processes. Blowflies are an ideal candidate, because they are widespread, abundant, and can be easily collected within rainforests. Here, we present the first study of the blowfly Chrysomya latifrons , which is endemic to the rainforests of New South Wales, Australia. We genotyped 188 flies from 15 isolated rainforests and found low overall genetic diversity and a complete lack of genetic structure between populations, suggesting the presence of a single large panmictic population along 1,000 km of the Australian east coast. This highlights that: (1) Ch. latifrons inhabits every rainforest in NSW and undoubtedly plays an important role in these ecosystems, but low genetic diversity may cause it to struggle to adapt to a changing climate; (2) strongly dispersing insects have the capacity to migrate between isolated rainforests, likely carrying pollen, parasites, phoronts, and pathogens with them to form crucial trophic networks; and (3) there is an urgent need for similar studies on poorly dispersing rainforest insects, as these may be the most fragmented and at highest risk of local extinction.

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“…The Mexican howler monkey is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN as it is predicted that this subspecies will experience a decline exceeding 80% over three generations (36 years), largely owing to past and ongoing rates of habitat loss (IUCN, 2019). The subspecies also exhibits extremely low genetic diversity compared to other Neotropical primates (Dunn et al ., 2014; Mello‐Carillo et al ., 2020).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating extinction debt in fragmented forests: the rapid recovery of a critically endangered primate

Alcocer‐Rodríguez

Arroyo‐Rodríguez

Galán‐Acedo

et al. 2020

Animal Conservation

Self Cite

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Fragmented tropical forests can be highly dynamic, with the spatial configuration of forest patches changing through time. Yet, the lack of longitudinal studies limits our understanding of how patch dynamics affect biodiversity, especially when there is a time lag in species extinctions (extinction debt). We assessed how temporal changes in patch size, shape complexity and isolation affect populations of the Mexican howler monkey (Alouatta palliata mexicana), hypothesizing that we would find an extinction debt in this relatively long‐lived species. We assessed patch occupancy, subpopulation size and immature‐to‐female ratio in 39 forest patches from Los Tuxtlas, Mexico, in both 2001 and 2013. To identify time‐lag responses to habitat disturbance, we related demographic attributes in 2013 to patch metrics in 2001 and 2013 and tested whether primate subpopulations were better predicted by current or historical patch characteristics. We also assessed how changes in patch metrics affected each demographic attribute between 2001 and 2013. Patch size and shape complexity increased over time, whereas isolation decreased. These positive spatial changes were accompanied by a 1.6‐fold increase in mean subpopulation size over the same period. In addition, occupancy and immature‐to‐female ratio were similarly related to patch attributes in both years, suggesting that there is no extinction debt. Our findings are ‘good news’, suggesting that forest recovery over a relatively short period can promote the recovery of this Critically Endangered taxon. They also highlight the importance of preventing forest loss and promoting forest regeneration in human‐modified tropical landscapes.

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Low genetic diversity and limited genetic structure across the range of the critically endangered Mexican howler monkey (Alouatta palliata mexicana)

Abstract: Low genetic diversity and limited genetic structure across the range of the critically endangered Mexican howler monkey (Alouatta palliata mexicana).

Cited by 14 publications

References 54 publications

Conservation implications of living in forest remnants: Inbreeding and genetic structure of the northernmost mantled howler monkeys

Conservation implications of living in forest remnants: Inbreeding and genetic structure of the northernmost mantled howler monkeys

The blowflyChrysomya latifronsinhabits fragmented rainforests, but lacks genetic diversity and population structure

Evaluating extinction debt in fragmented forests: the rapid recovery of a critically endangered primate

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