Genetic diversity in black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) from belize

Roxie A. James, Paul L. Leberg, Joseph M. Quattro, Robert C. Vrijenhoek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

To assess the level of genetic variation in a threatened black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) population, we examined 36 allozyme loci and restriction fragment profiles of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mean heterozygosity at allozyme loci was only 0.021 and 5.6 percent of the loci were polymorphic. Analyses of mtDNA also revealed low genetic diversity compared with other primates. F-statistics revealed no significant genetic heterogeneity among troops within the Bermudian Landing preserve, but did indicate a deficiency of heterozygotes at one of the two loci. We explore several explanations for this result, which is unexpected in a socially structured primate. Low genetic diversity in this population may reflect its history of demographic bottlenecks.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)329-336
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology
Volume102
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1997

Keywords

  • allozymes
  • bottlenecks
  • heterozygosity
  • mitochondrial DNA
  • mtDNA
  • population structure
  • restriction fragments
  • threatened species

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