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Preliminary study of the genetic diversity of eastern Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis assamensis) in Thailand based on mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers

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Abstract

Human overpopulation, deforestation, invasion of agricultural areas, and livestock are the primary causes for population fragmentation of wildlife. The distribution range of species of the genus Macaca is constantly decreasing and becoming increasingly fragmented due to forest deterioration. Assamese macaques (M. assamensis) are classified as near threatened in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Animals (2008) and have been declared a protected wildlife animal according to Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, B.E.2535 (1992) of Thailand. As studies of the population history and genetic diversity of Assamese macaques in Thailand are currently lacking, we aimed at a first investigation of their genetic diversity based on mitochondrial DNA [hypervariable regions 1 and 2 (HV1, HV2) and cytochrome B (CYTB) regions], as well as 15 microsatellite markers of five sampling sites distributed across Thailand. Our results indicate that Assamese macaques in Thailand are diverse, with eight maternal haplotypes and a low inbreeding coefficient in the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary (PKWS) population. Moreover, our phylogenetic and median-joining network analysis based on mitochondrial (mt)DNA suggests a population distribution in accordance with the evolutionary scenario proposed for M. sinica. Today, the population of Assamese macaques is fragmented, and conservation strategies are needed to ensure the maintenance of genetic diversity of this primate species.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) for the permission to conduct this study and for all the support granted (permit 0004.3/3618, 0002.3/2647, 0907.1/1092). We are grateful to Kitti Kreetiyutanont, Mongkul Kumsuk, Kanjana Nitaya, and Jarupol Prabnasuk (Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary) for their cooperation. We thank all Team Macaque members at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary for help with sample collection. We thank Supakarn Kaewchot, Khajornpong Nakguea, all staff members from Mae Lao Wildlife Breeding Center and Chaing Rai Provincial Livestock Office for sample collection. We thank all staff from Primate Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University and the 11th protected area regional office. We thank Benchapol Lorsunyaluck from Wildlife Unit, Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Kampaeng Saen Campus and Private Zoo for helping us with sample collection. We are very grateful to Linda Vigilant and Jojo Bhagavatula who developed the genetic analyses for the samples collected at PKWS. This research was supported by the Max-Planck Society, the National Geographic Society, and the German Initiative of Excellence through funds to University of Göttingen, as well as the Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology, Science and Technology Postgraduate Education and Research Development Office, Office of Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE); and we thank the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Thailand.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, 73140, Thailand

    Manakorn Sukmak

  2. Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology: (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Manakorn Sukmak

  3. Primate Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Suchinda Malaivijitnond

  4. Courant Research Centre Evolution of Social Behaviour, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany

    Oliver Schülke & Julia Ostner

  5. Evolutionary Morphology Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan

    Yuzuru Hamada

  6. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, 73140, Thailand

    Worawidh Wajjwalku

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  1. Manakorn Sukmak
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  2. Suchinda Malaivijitnond
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  3. Oliver Schülke
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  4. Julia Ostner
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  5. Yuzuru Hamada
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  6. Worawidh Wajjwalku
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Correspondence to Worawidh Wajjwalku.

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Sukmak, M., Malaivijitnond, S., Schülke, O. et al. Preliminary study of the genetic diversity of eastern Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis assamensis) in Thailand based on mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers. Primates 55, 189–197 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-013-0388-9

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