Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Habitat Modification and Gene Flow In An Endangered New World Primate

景观变化和异质性被认为在灵长类进化中起着核心作用。因此，灵长类动物生态学和进化的研究应该明确考虑景观异质性，特别是灵长类动物的栖息地越来越失去和修改。中美洲松鼠猴（Saimiri oerstedii）是濒临灭绝的灵长类动物，在哥斯达黎加的中太平洋地区经历了严重的历史和持续的栖息地改变。本研究将1）描述野生种群间的基因流模式。oerstedii的研究，2）描述景观异质性对基因流模式的影响，3）通过将景观生态学的理论和工具与种群遗传学模型相结合，改进异质景观中灵长类生态学和进化的未来研究。从野生S.将非侵入性地收集oerstedii种群用于DNA提取、基因分型和测序。景观遗传学的方法将被用来表征本地化的基因流模式的S。oerstedii和相关的景观异质性的措施，这些模式。通过在灵长类动物中进行第一次景观遗传学研究，拟议的研究将有助于开发和完善灵长类动物的景观遗传学方法，并将为未来的研究提供信息，研究异质景观如何影响灵长类动物生态，种群分化和进化。该项目的成果也将纳入一个以科学为基础的保护管理计划，为S。oerstedii与哥斯达黎加研究人员合作。具体而言，本项目提供的传播模式的信息将有助于确定孤立的S。oerstedii，需要特别关注，并指导森林片段之间的生物走廊的建设。

Landscape change and heterogeneity are hypothesized to play central roles in primate evolution. Thus, studies of primate ecology and evolution should explicitly consider landscape heterogeneity, especially as primate habitats are increasingly lost and modified. Central American Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri oerstedii) are endangered primates experiencing severe historical and ongoing habitat modification in the Central Pacific of Costa Rica. This study will 1) describe patterns of gene flow among wild populations of S. oerstedii, 2) describe the effects of landscape heterogeneity on gene flow patterns, and 3) improve future studies of primate ecology and evolution in heterogeneous landscapes by integrating theory and tools from landscape ecology with models of population genetics. Fecal samples from wild S. oerstedii populations will be collected non-invasively for DNA extraction, genotyping, and sequencing. Landscape genetics methods will be used to characterize localized gene flow patterns for S. oerstedii and correlate those patterns with measures of landscape heterogeneity. By conducting one of the first landscape genetics studies in a primate, the proposed research will help develop and refine landscape genetics methods for primates and will inform future studies of how heterogeneous landscapes influence primate ecology, population divergence, and evolution. The results of this project will also be incorporated into a science-based conservation management plan for S. oerstedii in collaboration with Costa Rican researchers. Specifically, information on dispersal patterns provided by this project will help to identify isolated populations of S. oerstedii that need particular attention, and guide the construction of biological corridors between fragments of forest.