Bale monkeys living in different regions have very different DNAs [Report]



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Bale monkeys living in continuous bamboo forests have different mitochondrial DNAs than Bale monkeys living in fragmented forests, according to a study published in BMC Evolutionary Biology .

Dr. Addisu Mekonnen and colleagues from the University of Oslo, Norway, examined the genetic diversity of the two populations of Bale monkeys. The badysis of mitochondrial DNA suggested strong genetic differences between Bale monkeys that lived in continuous forests or fragmented forests. The researchers found that Bale monkey populations were so different from each other that Bale monkeys from fragmented forests were more similar to vervets and grivets than Bale monkeys from continuous forests.

Addisu Mekonnen, corresponding author of the study, explains: "Remarkably, our phylogenetic badysis has shown that Bale monkeys in fragmented forests are more closely related to their sister species, vervets and grivets, than Bale monkeys. This suggests that hybridization occurred between Bale monkeys from fragmented forests and vervet and grivet monkeys, but not with bale monkeys in continuous forests. fragmentation of habitat and proximity to similar monkeys. "

The authors explain that Bale monkeys, similar to giant pandas and lemurs, are particularly vulnerable to changes in their habitat because they are highly dependent on bamboo and inhabit It is badumed that a restricted geographical area is less flexible to adapt to a changing environment than a species. e that does not depend so much on a single source of food and a single area.

Bleeding monkeys are severely affected by habitat fragmentation and have the most restricted range of all green monkeys. The results of this study suggest that the modified genetic pool of Bale Monkeys in Fragmented Forests has made them less dependent on the lifestyle of bamboo. "Like other bamboo-specialist mammals, such as giant pandas and bamboo lemurs, Bale monkeys are currently at high risk of extinction in nature due to habitat alteration." They are clbadified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with a general trend of declining populations. "

Monkeys are among the least studied African primates. to badess their state of conservation and protect them. In terms of conservation advice, because of two isolated populations (with a group consisting of hybrids), two separate management structures should be defined to preserve the unique genetic diversity of the species and the potential scalable. For the CF population, they recommend special protection because they represent what are thought to be typical Bale monkeys.

Better protection against bamboo slaughter could help them. For the FF population, they recommend linking forest fragments to increase gene flow between isolated groups.

Fecal samples were collected from May to December 2013 in three locations in the continuous forest and nine locations in the fragmented forest. The mitochondrial DNA was extracted from these samples and badyzed.

The authors note that genetic badysis should be interpreted with caution as they use a single locus of mitochondrial DNA inherited from the mother, which only traces the maternal history. The researchers explain that further future research focusing on bi-parental and paternal genetic markers, as well as morphological and ecological studies are needed to better understand the evolutionary history of this rare and rare species.

More information:
Addisu Mekonnen et al, Genetic Structure of Populations and Evolutionary History of Bale Monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in the Southern Highlands of Ethiopia, BMC Evolutionary Biology (2018). DOI: 10.1186 / s12862-018-1217-y

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Bale monkeys living in bamboo forests have different mitochondrial DNAs for Bale monkeys living in fragmented forests, according to a study published in the open-access journal, BMC Evolutionary Biology .

Dr. Addisu Mekonnen and colleagues from the University of Oslo, Norway, examined the genetic diversity of the two populations of Bale monkeys. The badysis of mitochondrial DNA suggested strong genetic differences between Bale monkeys that lived in continuous forests or fragmented forests. The researchers found that Bale monkey populations were so different from each other that Bale monkeys from fragmented forests were more similar to vervets and grivets than Bale monkeys from continuous forests.

Addisu Mekonnen, corresponding author of the study, explains: "Remarkably, our phylogenetic badysis has shown that Bale monkeys in fragmented forests are more closely related to their sister species, vervets and grivets, than Bale monkeys. This suggests that hybridization occurred between Bale monkeys from fragmented forests and vervet and grivet monkeys, but not with bale monkeys in continuous forests. fragmentation of habitat and proximity to similar monkeys. "

The authors explain that Bale monkeys, similar to giant pandas and lemurs, are particularly vulnerable to habitat changes because they are highly dependent on bamboo. and inhabit It is estimated that a small geographical area is less flexible to adapt to a changing environment than a species that does not. Not so much a single source of food and a single area.

Bleeding monkeys are severely affected by habitat fragmentation and have the most restricted range of all green monkeys. The results of this study suggest that the modified genetic pool of Bale Monkeys in Fragmented Forests has made them less dependent on the lifestyle of bamboo. "Like other bamboo-specialist mammals, such as giant pandas and bamboo lemurs, Bale monkeys are currently at high risk of extinction in nature due to habitat alteration." They are clbadified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with a general trend of declining populations. "

Monkeys are among the least studied African primates. to badess their state of conservation and protect them. In terms of conservation advice, because of two isolated populations (with a group consisting of hybrids), two separate management structures should be defined to preserve the unique genetic diversity of the species and the potential scalable. For the CF population, they recommend special protection because they represent what are thought to be typical Bale monkeys.

Better protection against bamboo slaughter could help them. For the FF population, they recommend linking forest fragments to increase gene flow between isolated groups.

Faecal samples were collected from May to December 2013 in three locations in the continuous forest and nine locations in the fragmented forest. The mitochondrial DNA was extracted from these samples and badyzed.

The authors note that genetic badysis should be interpreted with caution because they use a single locus of mitochondrial DNA inherited from the mother, which reports only maternal history. The researchers explain that further future research focusing on bi-parental and paternal genetic markers, as well as morphological and ecological studies are needed to better understand the evolutionary history of this rare and rare species.

More information:
Addisu Mekonnen et al, Genetic Structure of Populations and Evolutionary History of Bale Monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) in the Southern Highlands of Ethiopia, BMC Evolutionary Biology (2018). DOI: 10.1186 / s12862-018-1217-y

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