Genetic diversity of Macaca fascicularis (Cercopithecidae) from Penang, Malaysia as inferred from mitochondrial control region segment

J. J. Rovie-Ryan; M. T. Abdullah; F. T. Sitam; S. G. Tan; Z. Z. Zainuddin; M. M. Basir; Z. Z. Abidin; C. Keliang; A. Denel; E. Joeneh; F. M. Ali

J. J. Rovie-Ryan Outbreak Response Team, Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
M. T. Abdullah 1) Kenyir Ecosystem Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. 2) Department of Zoology, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia.
F. T. Sitam Outbreak Response Team, Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
S. G. Tan Dept. of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.
Z. Z. Zainuddin Borneo Rhino Alliance, Sabah, Malaysia.
M. M. Basir 1) Outbreak Response Team, Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2) Deputy Director General I and II Office, DWNP, KM 10 Cheras Road, 56100 Kuala Lumpur.
Z. Z. Abidin 1) Outbreak Response Team, Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2) Deputy Director General I and II Office, DWNP, KM 10 Cheras Road, 56100 Kuala Lumpur.
C. Keliang Outbreak Response Team, Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
A. Denel Outbreak Response Team, Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
E. Joeneh Outbreak Response Team, Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
F. M. Ali Outbreak Response Team, Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Abstract

The genetic diversity of the long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) from Penang, Malaysia, including Jerejak Island and the mainland area of the state of Penang, Seberang Perai were examined using 1,042 bp control region (CR) segment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Twenty haplotypes were described with a single haplotype sharing between the mainland and the island which suggests that it is a remnant of the genetic makeup from the mainland. Compared to previous studies based on the CR, all the Penang haplotypes are newly described with none shared with the other regional populations of M. fascicularis. A single deletion mutation unique to the Penang samples (Groups I and II) could be a good indicator for the conservation of the genetic uniqueness and possibly should be managed as a management unit (MU). A summarised phylogenetic tree (NJ, MP, ML and Bayesian) supports the monophyletic clustering of the M. fascicularis as described in previous studies. The topology separates the Penang haplotypes into three major groups, which generally corresponds to their geographical distribution. We also noted that the Penang haplotypes are of the continental lineage which separated from the insular lineage at around 1.04 mya. Finally, we showed that the CR of the mtDNA is powerful and suitable for the quantification of intraspecific diversity in M. fascicularis.