Hybridization Between Howler Monkeys in Mexico: Genetic and Morphological Characterization

灵长类动物之间的自然杂交相对罕见，大多数已知的情况发生在旧世界物种中。在新世界灵长类动物中，自然杂交只在非常接近的小型猴子中观察到。科尔特斯奥尔蒂斯博士将研究一个最近描述的灵长类杂交系统，该系统涉及两种体型较大的新热带猴，来自中美洲的mantled和黑色吼猴。这些物种已经分离了大约300万年，拥有独特的社会和交配系统以及一定程度的生殖隔离。他们目前正在墨西哥南部进行杂交，这项研究的实地工作将在那里进行。科尔特斯奥尔蒂斯博士将从纯合和杂交个体中收集各种分子遗传数据，以从遗传学上表征杂交的程度和基因渗入的程度。对遗传上具有纯合和杂交特征的个体的形态学和形态测量学数据的分析也将允许评估选择在灵长类物种与复杂和独特的社会系统杂交中的作用。这项工作的结果将阐明灵长类动物生殖不相容性的起源，并增强我们对灵长类物种（包括我们自己）可能出现的机制的理解。 这项工作为在墨西哥的美国本科生提供了国际研究经验，促进了国际科学合作，并将为科学界提供新的遗传信息。

Natural hybridization among primates is relatively rare, and most known cases occur among Old World species. In New World primates, natural hybridization has only been observed in very closely related small-bodied monkeys. Dr. Cortes Ortiz will investigate a recently described primate hybrid system that involves two large-bodied species of Neotropical monkeys, mantled and black howler monkeys from Mesoamerica. These species have been separated for about three million years and possess distinct social and mating systems and some degree of reproductive isolation. They are currently hybridizing in southern Mexico where fieldwork for this research will take place.Dr. Cortes Ortiz will collect various molecular genetic data from pure and hybrid individuals to genetically characterize the extent of hybridization and the degree of gene introgression. Analyses of morphological and morphometric data of individuals genetically characterized as pure and hybrids will also permit evaluation of the role of selection in the hybridization of primate species with complex and distinct social systems. Results from this work will illuminate the origins of reproductive incompatibility in primates as well as enhance our understanding of the mechanisms by which primate species, including our own, may have arisen. This work provides international research experiences for US undergraduate students in Mexico, fosters international scientific collaboration, and will make available new genetic information to the scientific community.