Pitheciine Action Group
Conservation Genetics and Biogeography of Pitheciines
Figueiredo, W.B., J.M. Silva, J.M. Bates, M.L. Harada & J.S. Silva Jr.
Endemic to the Amazon region, the Pitheciines (Chiropotes, Cacajao and
Pithecia) are one of the most endangered and poorly known Platyrrhine
taxa. As very few museum specimens are available, geographical and
taxonomic boundaries are not well delimited for most species and
subspecies. Using mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from both
museum preserved and fresh tissue, we constructed phylogenetic trees
for the three Pitheciine genera. Population genetic analysis was also
undertaken to identify genetically differentiated lineages within species
and subspecies. Our results show deep divergences among subspecies
in Chiropotes, suggesting that they should be treated as different
species. A similar pattern is found between the two subspecies of
Cacajao melanocephalus. Within Cacajao calvus, no genetic
differentiation was found among subspecies defined by pelage color. In
Pithecia, major genetic breaks coincide with current taxonomy based on
morphology, however, the taxa inhabiting western Amazonia could not
be defined by the DNA sequences used in this study. Geographically
separated lineages are found within subspecies of all the three genera.
We plotted lineage geographical distributions against maps of currently
protected areas. If available data on population density is taken into
consideration, most pitheciine lineages may not be adequately protected
in the medium term.
Return to symposium programme
Figueiredo, W.B., J.M. Silva, J.M. Bates, M.L. Harada & J.S. Silva Jr.
Endemic to the Amazon region, the Pitheciines (Chiropotes, Cacajao and
Pithecia) are one of the most endangered and poorly known Platyrrhine
taxa. As very few museum specimens are available, geographical and
taxonomic boundaries are not well delimited for most species and
subspecies. Using mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from both
museum preserved and fresh tissue, we constructed phylogenetic trees
for the three Pitheciine genera. Population genetic analysis was also
undertaken to identify genetically differentiated lineages within species
and subspecies. Our results show deep divergences among subspecies
in Chiropotes, suggesting that they should be treated as different
species. A similar pattern is found between the two subspecies of
Cacajao melanocephalus. Within Cacajao calvus, no genetic
differentiation was found among subspecies defined by pelage color. In
Pithecia, major genetic breaks coincide with current taxonomy based on
morphology, however, the taxa inhabiting western Amazonia could not
be defined by the DNA sequences used in this study. Geographically
separated lineages are found within subspecies of all the three genera.
We plotted lineage geographical distributions against maps of currently
protected areas. If available data on population density is taken into
consideration, most pitheciine lineages may not be adequately protected
in the medium term.
Return to symposium programme
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SYMPOSIUM
Pitheciins: Ecology & Conservation
XXI Congress of the International Primatological Society
Pitheciins: Ecology & Conservation
XXI Congress of the International Primatological Society
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