Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Evolutionary Genetics of Kloss's Gibbons (Hylobates klossii): Systematics, Phylogeography, and Conservation

极度濒危的克洛斯长臂猿(Hylobates Klossii)只在印度尼西亚的明打威群岛上发现，明打威群岛是苏门答腊岛西海岸外的一个由四个小岛组成的小岛链。明打威群岛长期以来一直与该地区的其他地区隔绝，因此人们对这种鲜为人知的类人猿与邻近地区其他长臂猿物种的关系知之甚少。此外，一些研究人员认为，其他三个明打威灵长类物种有两个不同的亚种，有着不同的颜色和行为：一个在最北端的西比鲁特岛上，另一个在南部的三个岛屿上。没有人提议对克劳斯长臂猿的种群进行区分，因为所有克劳斯长臂猿的毛皮都是全黑的，没有表现出明显的变异，而且在西伯鲁特以外的地方也没有进行过行为研究。然而，克劳斯长臂猿与其他三个物种有着共同的生物地理历史，这有力地表明，西伯鲁特群岛和南部岛屿之间的分离影响了猴子的分化，也应该影响长臂猿。Klossii种内变异的遗传模式从未被研究过。野生长臂猿群体的胎儿样本将从所有四个明打威群岛的地点非侵入性地收集。使用线粒体和核DNA标记，该项目将解决以下研究问题：1)克劳斯长臂猿与海洛兹属其他成员之间的关系？2)明打威群岛内部和之间的地理和遗传种群结构之间的关系？3)这些数据对明打威群岛的保护规划有什么影响？更广泛的影响：目前，明打威群岛唯一受法律保护的地区是西比鲁特国家公园。这个项目的数据可以用来支持加强对公园的保护，如果发现了多个遗传上截然不同的群体或“保护单位”，还可以用来鼓励在宪报上公布新的保护区。所有四种明打威灵长类动物都受到威胁或濒临灭绝，而任何保护克洛斯长臂猿这一旗舰物种的行动也将使这些灵长类动物受益。调查人员将与当地的明打威人以及印度尼西亚的学生和学者密切合作，加强当地的保护教育和国际科学合作。

The critically endangered Kloss's gibbon (Hylobates klossii) is found only on Indonesia's Mentawai Islands, a small chain of four islands located off the west coast of Sumatra. The Mentawai Islands have been long isolated from the rest of the region, and therefore little is known about the relationships of this little-studied ape to other gibbon species in neighboring areas. In addition, some researchers have suggested that the other three Mentawai primate species have two distinct subspecies with different coloration and behavior: one on the northernmost island of Siberut, the other on the three southern islands. No distinction has been proposed for populations of Kloss's gibbons, since all Kloss's gibbons have completely black fur, exhibiting no obvious variation, and no behavioral studies have been conducted outside of Siberut. However, the Kloss's gibbon shares a biogeographic history with the other three species, strongly suggesting that the separation between Siberut and the southern islands affecting differentiation in the monkeys should also affect the gibbons. Genetic patterns of intraspecific variation within H. klossii have never been studied.Fecal samples from wild gibbon groups will be non-invasively collected from sites on all four Mentawai Islands. Using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers, this project will address the following research questions:1)How is the Kloss's gibbon related to other members of the genus Hylobates?2)What is the relationship between geography and genetic population structure within and between the Mentawai Islands?3)What are the implications of these data for conservation planning in the Mentawai Islands?Broader Impacts:Currently, the only legally protected area in the Mentawais is Siberut National Park. Data from this project may be used to support increased protection of the park, and, if multiple genetically distinct groups or "conservation units" are found, to encourage the gazetting of new protected areas. All four Mentawai primates are threatened or endangered, and any conservation action for the Kloss's gibbon, the flagship species, will also benefit these primates. The investigators will work closely with local Mentawai people, as well as Indonesian students and academics, increasing local conservation education and international scientific collaboration.