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Conservation Genetics of the Philippine Tarsier: Cryptic Genetic Variation Restructures Conservation Priorities for an Island Archipelago Primate
Brown, Rafe M. Weghorst, Jennifer Olson, Karen Veronica Duya, Mariano R. M. Barley, Anthony J. Duya, Melizar V. Shekelle, Myron Neri-Aboleda, Irene Esselstyn, Jacob Aaron Dominy, Nathaniel J.
Brown, Rafe M.
Weghorst, Jennifer
Olson, Karen Veronica
Duya, Mariano R. M.
Barley, Anthony J.
Duya, Melizar V.
Shekelle, Myron
Neri-Aboleda, Irene
Esselstyn, Jacob Aaron
Dominy, Nathaniel J.
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Abstract
Establishment of conservation priorities for primates is a particular concern in the island archipelagos of Southeast Asia, where rates of habitat destruction are among the highest in the world. Conservation programs require knowledge of taxonomic diversity to ensure success. The Philippine tarsier is a flagship species that promotes environmental awareness and a thriving ecotourism economy in the Philippines. However, assessment of its conservation status has been impeded by taxonomic uncertainty, a paucity of field studies, and a lack of vouchered specimens and genetic samples available for study in biodiversity repositories. Consequently, conservation priorities are unclear. In this study we use mitochondrial and nuclear DNA to empirically infer geographic partitioning of genetic variation and to identify evolutionarily distinct lineages for conservation action. The distribution of Philippine tarsier genetic diversity is neither congruent with expectations based on biogeographical patterns documented in other Philippine vertebrates, nor does it agree with the most recent Philippine tarsier taxonomic arrangement. We identify three principal evolutionary lineages that do not correspond to the currently recognized subspecies, highlight the discovery of a novel cryptic and range-restricted subcenter of genetic variation in an unanticipated part of the archipelago, and identify additional geographically structured genetic variation that should be the focus of future studies and conservation action. Conservation of this flagship species necessitates establishment of protected areas and targeted conservation programs within the range of each genetically distinct variant of the Philippine tarsier.
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Date
2014-08-19
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Publisher
Public Library of Science
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Keywords
Conservation genetics, Conservation science, Evolutionary genetics, Gene targeting, Mitochondria, Philippines, Phylogeography, Population genetics
Citation
Brown RM, Weghorst JA, Olson KV, Duya MRM, Barley AJ, et al. (2014) Conservation Genetics of the Philippine Tarsier: Cryptic Genetic Variation Restructures Conservation Priorities for an Island Archipelago Primate. PLoS ONE 9(8): e104340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0104340