Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Phylogeny and Phylogeography of the Mesoamerican Spider Monkeys (Ateles Geoffroyi and Ateles Fusciceps)

了解热带森林进化多样化的机制已经吸引了科学家们超过世纪。更新世避难所假说提出，在冰川最大期间的森林破碎导致了相关类群的隔离和随后的多样化，这一假说经常被认为是新热带灵长类物种形成模式的可能解释。蜘蛛猴分布于从巴拿马到墨西哥尤卡坦半岛的地区，是中美洲最多样化的灵长类属之一。有人认为，它们第一次进入中美洲大约是在200万年前，也就是巴拿马地峡形成后不久。 目前，至少有两个物种和九个亚种被确认，主要是基于皮毛颜色的区域差异。然而，这些不同形式的中美洲蜘蛛猴之间的系统发育关系仍然存在争议，该属内广泛的形态变异的意义也知之甚少。一些作者质疑使用皮毛颜色作为区分物种和亚种的有效特征，该项目将有助于更好地了解中美洲蜘蛛猴的进化历史，[1]记录目前公认的蜘蛛猴类型内部和之间的遗传关系，[2]研究中美洲蜘蛛猴目前的多样性是否可以用更新世避难所假说来解释。该项目将产生迄今为止对中美洲蛛猴系统发育关系和物种地理学进行的最全面的分子评估，并可能有助于更普遍地阐明中美洲动物群多样化和物种形成的可能原因。从保护的角度来看，它将有助于了解哪些形式的蜘蛛猴代表不同的进化谱系，这对于制定有效的保护和管理计划至关重要。

Understanding the mechanisms that underlie evolutionary diversification in tropical forests has intrigued scientists for more than a century. The Pleistocene refugia hypothesis proposes that forest fragmentation during glacial maxima led to the isolation and subsequent diversification of associated taxa, and this hypothesis is often suggested as a possible explanation for patterns of speciation among Neotropical primates.Spider monkeys are distributed from Panama to the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and are among the most diverse primate genus in Mesoamerica. It has been suggested that they first entered Mesoamerica roughly two million years ago, shortly after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama. Currently, at least two species and nine subspecies are recognized, based mainly on regional differences in pelage color. However, the phylogenetic relationships among these various forms of Mesoamerican spider monkeys are still debated and the significance of the extensive morphological variation seen within the genus is poorly understood. Some authors have questioned the use of pelage color as a valid trait for separating species and subspecies, and others have stressed the importance of evaluating the genetic diversity that underlies variation in coat color.This project will contribute to a better understanding of the evolutionary history of Mesoamerican spider monkeys by [1] documenting the genetic relationships within and among currently recognized spider monkey forms and [2] examining whether the current diversity of spider monkeys in Mesoamerica can be explained by the Pleistocene refugia hypothesis. The project will yield the most comprehensive molecular assessment of Mesomerican spider monkey phylogenetic relationships and biogeography undertaken to date and may help elucidate likely causes of diversification and speciation among Mesoamerican fauna more generally. From a conservation perspective, it will contribute to understanding of which forms of spider monkeys represent distinct evolutionary lineages, which is crucial for developing effective conservation and management programs.