PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 36: Genetics / Population Ecology
Thursday, August 11, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Quantitative variation in morphological traits across rhesus macaque subgroups.
Kohn, Luci Ann*,1, Bledsoe, Zachary1, 1 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois
ABSTRACT- The genetic variation among subgroups is an important consideration in the understanding of morphological trait evolution, since natural selection acts on randomly differentiated local populations. Few studies have examined the magnitude of intrapopulation genetic variation. This study examined skeletal dimensions from rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico and tested whether subgroups differ genetically and phenotypically in their mean morphology. The sample is unique due to the availability of breeding and social information on colony residents from approximately 1960. Fifty postcranial skeletal dimensions were measured on 285 rhesus macaques from the Caribbean Primate Research Center colony on Cayo Santiago. Included individuals were from known matrilines and 8 social groups. Maximum likelihood methods, which use all available information on individual relationships, were used to estimate trait heritabilities, genetic and environmental correlations. Principal component analysis of correlation matrices was used to generate strongly and weakly heritable traits. Social group differences were tested by analysis of variance, and distances by Mahalanobis D2. Highly heritable traits exhibited significant differences among social group means. Differences among social groups probably developed through random selection, migration, or founder effects. Significant intragroup distances were observed in the Mahalanobis D2. Male migration from their natal social group at puberty, and the relatively small effective population size on Cayo Santiago contribute to the intragroup genetic variation.
Key words: evolution, morphology, quantitative variation, Macaca mulatta