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

Abstract

Cytochrome b DNA sequence data (ca. 1,140 bp) of 66 Alouatta belzebul from the Amazonian and the Atlantic Forests of Brazil were used for phylogenetic reconstructions and population studies. Our sample consisted of 60 specimens from the Amazonian Forest (captured in 1984 and 1998 in Pará-PA state) and six specimens from the Atlantic Forest (Paraíba-PB state). We found 32 haplotypes, 23 in PA-1984 (with 12 present in more than one individual), 11 in PA-1998 (with two present in more than one individual), and a single haplotype in the PB sample. Animals from PA-1984 and PA-1998 shared three haplotypes while animals from Pará and Paraíba did not share any haplotype. We found 57 variable sites, consisting of 53 transitions and four transversions, with most replacements occurring at third codon position (77.19%) and less frequently at first and second positions (10.53 and 12.28%, respectively). Genetic distance between all haplotypes varied between 0 and 1.2%. Nucleotide diversity estimates between PA-1984 haplotypes and PA-1998 haplotypes were the same (π=0.01), and haplotype diversity estimates were very similar (h=0.96 and 0.93 for PA-1984 and PA-1998, respectively). Maximum parsimony, median-joining, split decomposition, and TCS showed that PA and PB haplotypes had not drastically diverged and that subsequent radiation within these regions was not apparent. No temporal structure was found between PA-1984 and PA-1998. The sum of square deviation estimate for PA-1984 equaled 0.01 (P=0.23), in agreement with a hypothetical model of sudden expansion contrary to PA-1998 whose sum of square deviation estimate (0.40; P=0.04) was not compatible with this model, although the small sample size of PA-1998 as well as the smaller area of capture could have also accounted for this result. Fu's F(s) and R(2) statistical neutrality tests corroborated these propositions. Lack of drastic differentiation was attributable to the once existing connection between the Atlantic and the Amazonian forests at a non-distant past.

Identification, classification and evolution of Owl Monkeys (Aotus, Illiger 1811)

“…Cytochrome b DNA was amplified with primers L14724 [22] and Citb2 [23], and amplified products were labeled with primers Citb AloAotR [24] and Citb AloAotF [24], Citb Alo [23] and Citb Aot (5'-CATGAGGCCAAATATCATTCTGAGG-3'). Cytochrome Oxidase Units I and II were amplified with two primer pairs: CO1F/CO1R (5'-ATGCTTACTCAGCCATTTTA-3' and 5'-TTTGAGGAGAAAGCTTCTC-3' respectively) and CO1F3/CO2R2 (5'-TTGCTATCCCTACTGGGGTAAA-3' and 5'-GGTCTTTAACTTAAAAGGTTAATGCTARRTA-3' repectively).…”

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

“…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].…”

“…Analysis of cytochrome b DNA from A. belzebul from the Amazonian and the Atlantic Forests of Brazil [Nascimento et al, 2008] suggested a phylogeographic pattern corresponding to species with relatively extensive and recent historical interconnections through gene flow, without firm and longstanding zoogeographic barriers to movement, as well as life histories conductive to dispersal (category IV) [Avise et al, 1987]. This might be accounted for by the short period (approximately 5,000-6,000 years) since the time the Amazonian and Atlantic Forests, once contiguous, became separated from one another by other morphoclimatic domains.…”