Genetic diversity and structure of red handed howler monkeys assessed by mitochondrial and genotyping by sequencing analyses
Abstract The red-handed howler monkey, Alouatta belzebul, has an uncertain taxonomy complex that includes A. belzebul, A. discolor and A. ululata. These primates are endemic to Brazil and are classified as vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN Red List due to population declines over the past 40 year...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06399-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849399775780143104 |
|---|---|
| author | Jacqueline Vieira Gardellin Carla C. Gestich Pedro M. Galetti Luana Portela Victor Yunes Guimarães Fabiano Rodrigues de Melo Amy Goldberg Patrícia Domingues de Freitas |
| author_facet | Jacqueline Vieira Gardellin Carla C. Gestich Pedro M. Galetti Luana Portela Victor Yunes Guimarães Fabiano Rodrigues de Melo Amy Goldberg Patrícia Domingues de Freitas |
| author_sort | Jacqueline Vieira Gardellin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The red-handed howler monkey, Alouatta belzebul, has an uncertain taxonomy complex that includes A. belzebul, A. discolor and A. ululata. These primates are endemic to Brazil and are classified as vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN Red List due to population declines over the past 40 years. Damming by hydroelectric power plants is the greatest threat to the taxa. The recent implantation of the fourth largest dam worldwide (Belo Monte Hydroelectric Dam, UHBM) threatens their populations, because its flooding zone covers areas where A. belzebul and A. discolor may co-occur. Determining species classification is crucial for conservation efforts. Here, we characterized the genetic diversity and structure of howler monkeys rescued before the flooding. We performed Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) analyses and constructed a mitochondrial-based phylogenetic tree and a haplotype network in specimens identified as A. belzebul, based on their coat color, from both banks of the Xingu River and three islands. The study revealed the occurrence of both taxa, indicating high genetic diversity. These findings are valuable for understanding group diversity, providing reference data for monitoring populations in the region and implementing conservation actions, as well as serving as a model for similar studies of other taxa. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8360f76298204aa8a7d793bea0622a2c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-8360f76298204aa8a7d793bea0622a2c2025-08-20T03:38:15ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-06399-7Genetic diversity and structure of red handed howler monkeys assessed by mitochondrial and genotyping by sequencing analysesJacqueline Vieira Gardellin0Carla C. Gestich1Pedro M. Galetti2Luana Portela3Victor Yunes Guimarães4Fabiano Rodrigues de Melo5Amy Goldberg6Patrícia Domingues de Freitas7Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São CarlosDepartamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São CarlosDepartamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São CarlosDepartamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São CarlosFaculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual PaulistaDepartamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de ViçosaDepartment of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke UniversityDepartamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São CarlosAbstract The red-handed howler monkey, Alouatta belzebul, has an uncertain taxonomy complex that includes A. belzebul, A. discolor and A. ululata. These primates are endemic to Brazil and are classified as vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN Red List due to population declines over the past 40 years. Damming by hydroelectric power plants is the greatest threat to the taxa. The recent implantation of the fourth largest dam worldwide (Belo Monte Hydroelectric Dam, UHBM) threatens their populations, because its flooding zone covers areas where A. belzebul and A. discolor may co-occur. Determining species classification is crucial for conservation efforts. Here, we characterized the genetic diversity and structure of howler monkeys rescued before the flooding. We performed Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) analyses and constructed a mitochondrial-based phylogenetic tree and a haplotype network in specimens identified as A. belzebul, based on their coat color, from both banks of the Xingu River and three islands. The study revealed the occurrence of both taxa, indicating high genetic diversity. These findings are valuable for understanding group diversity, providing reference data for monitoring populations in the region and implementing conservation actions, as well as serving as a model for similar studies of other taxa.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06399-7Population geneticsNeotropical primatesBiological conservationGBSGenomicsDloop |
| spellingShingle | Jacqueline Vieira Gardellin Carla C. Gestich Pedro M. Galetti Luana Portela Victor Yunes Guimarães Fabiano Rodrigues de Melo Amy Goldberg Patrícia Domingues de Freitas Genetic diversity and structure of red handed howler monkeys assessed by mitochondrial and genotyping by sequencing analyses Scientific Reports Population genetics Neotropical primates Biological conservation GBS Genomics Dloop |
| title | Genetic diversity and structure of red handed howler monkeys assessed by mitochondrial and genotyping by sequencing analyses |
| title_full | Genetic diversity and structure of red handed howler monkeys assessed by mitochondrial and genotyping by sequencing analyses |
| title_fullStr | Genetic diversity and structure of red handed howler monkeys assessed by mitochondrial and genotyping by sequencing analyses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic diversity and structure of red handed howler monkeys assessed by mitochondrial and genotyping by sequencing analyses |
| title_short | Genetic diversity and structure of red handed howler monkeys assessed by mitochondrial and genotyping by sequencing analyses |
| title_sort | genetic diversity and structure of red handed howler monkeys assessed by mitochondrial and genotyping by sequencing analyses |
| topic | Population genetics Neotropical primates Biological conservation GBS Genomics Dloop |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06399-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jacquelinevieiragardellin geneticdiversityandstructureofredhandedhowlermonkeysassessedbymitochondrialandgenotypingbysequencinganalyses AT carlacgestich geneticdiversityandstructureofredhandedhowlermonkeysassessedbymitochondrialandgenotypingbysequencinganalyses AT pedromgaletti geneticdiversityandstructureofredhandedhowlermonkeysassessedbymitochondrialandgenotypingbysequencinganalyses AT luanaportela geneticdiversityandstructureofredhandedhowlermonkeysassessedbymitochondrialandgenotypingbysequencinganalyses AT victoryunesguimaraes geneticdiversityandstructureofredhandedhowlermonkeysassessedbymitochondrialandgenotypingbysequencinganalyses AT fabianorodriguesdemelo geneticdiversityandstructureofredhandedhowlermonkeysassessedbymitochondrialandgenotypingbysequencinganalyses AT amygoldberg geneticdiversityandstructureofredhandedhowlermonkeysassessedbymitochondrialandgenotypingbysequencinganalyses AT patriciadominguesdefreitas geneticdiversityandstructureofredhandedhowlermonkeysassessedbymitochondrialandgenotypingbysequencinganalyses |