Abstract

JASSO-DEL TORO, Cristina; MARQUEZ-VALDELAMAR, Laura  and  MONDRAGON-CEBALLOS, Ricardo. Genetic diversity in Mexican mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana) at the Reserva de la Biosfera Los Tuxtlas (Veracruz, Mexico). Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2016, vol.87, n.3, pp.1069-1079. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmb.2016.07.003.

Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to Mexican mantled monkey (Alouatta palliata mexicana), which have reduced drastically the size of its natural populations. This reduction causes a negative impact on its genetic diversity, which in turns threatens the viability of its remnant populations. In this study, genetic diversity is determined in 4 groups of howler monkeys inhabiting continuous and 3 in fragmented forest sections at Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. DNA was extracted from fecal samples, and 13 microsatellite loci were analyzed, which resulted in 8 polymorphic loci. Our results suggest low levels of genetic diversity (Ho = 0.14, He=0.23 and Na = 2.88) and low genetic differentiation (Fst = 0.043, p = .01) between continuous and fragmented habitats. We found no significant differences between groups or habitat type in any of the genetic diversity parameters analyzed. The inbreeding index was positive for each group and significantly different from zero in continuous and fragmented habitats, indicating heterozygosity deficiency in both ecological conditions. We discuss the results in relation to colonization history of howler monkeys and forest fragmentation.

Keywords : Genetic variability; Howler monkeys; Primates; Microsatellites; Heterozygosity; Inbreeding; Forest fragments.