PARENT SESSION
Oral Session # 7: Populations and Genetics.
Presiding: E Sotka
Monday, August 4. 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM, SITCC Meeting Room 106.
Mitochondrial phylogeography of western lowland gorillas.
Anthony, Nicola*,1, Clifford, Stephen2, Johnson-Bawe, Mireille2, Abernethy, Kate 2, 3, Tutin, Caroline 3, White, Lee 4, Wickings, Jean2, Bruford, Michael5, 1 University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA2 Centre International de Récherches Medicales, Franceville, Gabon3 University of Stirling, Stirling, U.K.4 Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY, U.S.A.5 Cardiff University, Wales, Cardiff, Wales, U.K.
ABSTRACT- Gabon is an important centre of biodiversity and harbors the largest remaining populations of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Understanding population genetic structure and patterns of gene flow at different spatial scales is essential to the formulation of an effective long-term management strategy. We surveyed mitochondrial DNA variation in hair and faecal samples collected from wild gorillas across much of their current range. Preliminary results indicate high levels of genetic diversity and considerable phylogeographic structure within western gorillas. Phylogenetic analysis recapitulate the major evolutionary split between eastern and western gorillas and indicate two major haplogroups within western gorillas. One group is made up of sequences from Nigeria and Cameroon. The other is comprised of populations from the remaining western gorilla range and includes three discrete subgroups of sequences from Gabon and adjacent Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic. The geographic distribution of DNA variation suggest that Pleistocene forest refugia may have played an important role in shaping patterns of genetic structure within western lowland gorillas.
Key words: phylogeography, gorilla, biogeography, conservation