Genetic Variation in Mantled and Black Howler Monkeys (genus Alouatta): Toward a Phylogeography of Central American Primates

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This is a proposal to examine the evolutionary genetics of a pair of New World primates, the mantled howler monkey and the black howler monkey ( A. palliata). The goals of this study include a reconstruction of the ancient invasion of Central America by howler monkeys and, as a secondary objective, a genetic analysis of social structure in a well-studied population of mantled howlers. A SGER grant is requested here to support a preliminary survey of genetic variation in mantled and black howler monkeys that will demonstrate the feasibility of this study. This study will significantly augment our understanding of primate evolutionary dynamics in two ways: (1) The results of this study will provide a preliminary model for the population genetics of Central American primates. (2) The information generated by this preliminary study about New World primate genetics will also contribute to future ecological and evolutionary studies in this group.