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大陆物种之间。在新大陆的灵长类动物中，只在近亲小体猴中观察到自然杂交。科尔特斯·奥尔蒂斯博士将研究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，即中美洲的毛猴和黑吼猴。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杂交，在那里将进行这项研究的实地考察。Cortes Ortiz将从纯和杂交个体收集各种分子遗传数据，以遗传表征杂交程度和基因渗入程度。对具有纯种和杂交遗传特征的个体的形态学和形态计量学数据的分析，也将允许评估选择在具有复杂和独特社会系统的灵长类物种杂交中的作用。这项工作的结果将阐明灵长类动物生殖不相容的起源，并增强我们对灵长类物种（包括我们自己）可能产生的机制的理解。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.