Primate landscape genetics: A review and practical guide

Westphal, D.; Mancini, Amanda N.; Baden, Andrea L.

doi:10.1002/evan.21891

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 91 publications

(179 reference statements)

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“…Nuclear microsatellite markers are more likely to reveal contemporary genetic patterns due to their higher evolutionary rates, while mtDNA is more useful for revealing historical events (Frankham et al, 2004). Given that at least five generations are needed for the genetic signatures of a landscape feature to be detectable (Westphal et al, 2021), it can be inferred that the two populations experienced restricted gene flow for at least 125 years (the generation time for chimpanzee being 25 years (Langergraber et al, 2012)).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to chimpanzee gene flow at the south‐east edge of their distribution

et al. 2023

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Populations on the edge of a species' distribution may represent an important source of adaptive diversity, yet these populations tend to be more fragmented and are more likely to be geographically isolated. Lack of genetic exchanges between such populations, due to barriers to animal movement, can not only compromise adaptive potential but also lead to the fixation of deleterious alleles. The south‐eastern edge of chimpanzee distribution is particularly fragmented, and conflicting hypotheses have been proposed about population connectivity and viability. To address this uncertainty, we generated both mitochondrial and MiSeq‐based microsatellite genotypes for 290 individuals ranging across western Tanzania. While shared mitochondrial haplotypes confirmed historical gene flow, our microsatellite analyses revealed two distinct clusters, suggesting two populations currently isolated from one another. However, we found evidence of high levels of gene flow maintained within each of these clusters, one of which covers an 18,000 km2 ecosystem. Landscape genetic analyses confirmed the presence of barriers to gene flow with rivers and bare habitats highly restricting chimpanzee movement. Our study demonstrates how advances in sequencing technologies, combined with the development of landscape genetics approaches, can resolve ambiguities in the genetic history of critical populations and better inform conservation efforts of endangered species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to chimpanzee gene flow at the south‐east edge of their distribution

et al. 2023

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“…More recently, landscape genetic methods have allowed researchers to combine genetic distances with remotely sensed landscape information to explicitly evaluate the environmental drivers of between-site functional connectivity and within-site environmental variability and gene flow [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Studies of primate landscape genetics remain limited, though are increasing in number [ 38 ]. From these, it is clear that primate gene flow can be impeded by both natural (e.g., rivers: [ 39 , 40 ]) and anthropogenic barriers (e.g., highways: [ 41 ]), including anthropogenically-driven landcover change (e.g., agriculture and deforestation: [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]) and proximity to human settlements ([ 46 , 47 ]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Terrain Ruggedness and Canopy Height Predict Short-Range Dispersal in the Critically Endangered Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

Mancini

Chandrashekar

Lahitsara³

et al. 2023

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Dispersal is a fundamental aspect of primates’ lives and influences both population and community structuring, as well as species evolution. Primates disperse within an environmental context, where both local and intervening environmental factors affect all phases of dispersal. To date, research has primarily focused on how the intervening landscape influences primate dispersal, with few assessing the effects of local habitat characteristics. Here, we use a landscape genetics approach to examine between- and within-site environmental drivers of short-range black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) dispersal in the Ranomafana region of southeastern Madagascar. We identified the most influential drivers of short-range ruffed lemur dispersal as being between-site terrain ruggedness and canopy height, more so than any within-site habitat characteristic evaluated. Our results suggest that ruffed lemurs disperse through the least rugged terrain that enables them to remain within their preferred tall-canopied forest habitat. Furthermore, we noted a scale-dependent environmental effect when comparing our results to earlier landscape characteristics identified as driving long-range ruffed lemur dispersal. We found that forest structure drives short-range dispersal events, whereas forest presence facilitates long-range dispersal and multigenerational gene flow. Together, our findings highlight the importance of retaining high-quality forests and forest continuity to facilitate dispersal and maintain functional connectivity in ruffed lemurs.

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Landscape and conservation genetics of western black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor) in China

Orkin,

He,

et al. 2024

American J Primatol

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Despite decades of field study, very little is known about the molecular ecology of gibbons, particularly as it relates to their ability to disperse across degraded and fragmentary landscapes. The critically endangered western black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor) has been reduced to a small, fragmented population with about 1300 individuals. In the largest population genetic study of free‐ranging gibbons to date, we sampled 47 of these gibbons from 13 sites in China and generated 15 polymorphic autosomal microsatellite markers. We identify three population clusters of N. concolor in Yunnan centered in 1) the Wuliang and Ailao Mountains, 2) the Yongde Daxueshan Mountains, and 3) an isolated remnant near the border with Vietnam. Within the Wuliang Mountains, we identified four subclusters, three of which are bounded by high‐altitude rhododendron forest, and one that is isolated from the main population by ~2 km of degraded forest and pasture. Least‐cost path analysis and isolation by resistance modeling demonstrates that the population genetic distances among gibbons in Wuliangshan National Nature Reserve are significantly correlated with geographic paths that avoid use of high‐altitude rhododendron forest in favor of evergreen broadleaf forest. Although these gibbons have likely undergone reductions in heterozygosity from recent consanguineous mating, we suggest that their active avoidance of inbreeding on the population level maintains higher than expected levels of genetic diversity. This research provides new insights into how gibbons interact with heterogeneous environments and expands our understanding of their molecular ecology and conservation genetics.

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Primate landscape genetics: A review and practical guide

Cited by 6 publications

References 91 publications

Barriers to chimpanzee gene flow at the south‐east edge of their distribution

Barriers to chimpanzee gene flow at the south‐east edge of their distribution

Terrain Ruggedness and Canopy Height Predict Short-Range Dispersal in the Critically Endangered Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

Landscape and conservation genetics of western black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor) in China

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