Blood protein variation of a new population of gelada baboons (Theoropithecus gelada), in the Southern Rift Valley, Arsi Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Blood protein polymorphism of gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada) to the south of the Rift Valley, Arsi Region, were examined for 36 genetic loci using three electrophoresis techniques for 48 blood samples from three localities, and compared with the northern geladas. New variant alleles and genetic markers of Hb-α, PA-2, and TBPA loci were detected. The distribution patterns of the variant alleles of Hb-α, PA-2, TBPA, Pi, Gc, PGM-II, and TBPA loci were localized in the geographic regions of south and north gelada populations, respectively. Genetic variability of southern geladas was estimated as Ppoly=0.083 and\(\bar H = 0.024\), which was comparable to northern geladas. A remarkably high genetic differentiation between the two geographic populations was shown byNei's genetic distance=0.071 and GST value=0.420. Our results of genetic analysis suggest that the southern and northern gelada populations have been separated for several hundred thousand years, and gene flow between the two geographic populations is severely restricted. The southern gelada baboon may be regarded as a distinct subspecies.