Abstract
Lemurs are among the world's most threatened mammals. The critically endangered black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), in particular, has recently experienced rapid population declines due to habitat loss, ecological sensitivities to habitat degradation, and extensive human hunting pressure. Despite this, a recent study indicates that ruffed lemurs retain among the highest levels of genetic diversity for primates. Identifying how this diversity is apportioned and whether gene flow is maintained among remnant populations will help to diagnose and target conservation priorities. We sampled 209 individuals from 19 sites throughout the remaining V. variegata range. We used 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci and ∼550 bp of mtDNA sequence data to evaluate genetic structure and population dynamics, including dispersal patterns and recent population declines. Bayesian cluster analyses identified two distinct genetic clusters, which optimally partitioned data into populations occurring on either side of the Mangoro River. Localities north of the Mangoro were characterized by greater genetic diversity, greater gene flow (lower genetic differentiation) and higher mtDNA haplotype and nucleotide diversity than those in the south. Despite this, genetic differentiation across all sites was high, as indicated by high average FST (0.247) and ΦST (0.544), and followed a pattern of isolation-by-distance. We use these results to suggest future conservation strategies that include an effort to maintain genetic diversity in the north and restore connectivity in the south. We also note the discordance between patterns of genetic differentiation and current subspecies taxonomy, and encourage a re-evaluation of conservation management units moving forward.
Highlights
Lemurs are among the world’s most endangered mammals (IUCN 2013)
Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Our analyses show significant genetic differentiation among sampling localities, with a primary division north and south of the Mangoro River (Figs. 1B, 2 and 4)
Summary
Lemurs are among the world’s most endangered mammals (IUCN 2013). 93 of 103 lemur taxa (90%) are classified as at least vulnerable and the number of species listed as Critically Endangered (i.e., at extremely high risk of extinction in the wild) has tripled since 2008 (Schwitzer et al 2013). Understanding the genetic structure of these threatened populations, those that exist in degraded or fragmented habitats, is an urgent pri-. Ruffed Lemur Population Genetic Structure ority for conservation efforts (Schwartz et al 2006; Frankham 2010), and relevant to developing environmental and climate change models (e.g., Ikeda et al 2012)
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