Scale-Dependent Effects of a Heterogeneous Landscape on Genetic Differentiation in the Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii)

摘要: Landscape genetic studies offer a fine-scale understanding of how habitat heterogeneity influences population structure. We examined structure and conducted landscape analysis for the endangered Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii) that lives in fragmented, human-modified habitats Pacific region Costa Rica. analyzed non-invasively collected fecal samples from 244 individuals 14 groups 16 microsatellite markers. found two geographically separate clusters with evidence recent gene flow among them. also significant differentiation S. o. citrinellus using pairwise FST comparisons. These are fragments secondary forest separated by unsuitable “matrix” such as cattle pasture, commercial African oil palm plantations, human residential areas. used an individual-based approach to measure spatial patterns variance while taking into account heterogeneity. large, plantations represent moderate barriers between populations, but pastures, rivers, areas do not. However, influence on was diminished when we restricted analyses within pairs, suggesting their effect is scale-dependent manifests during longer dispersal events populations. show methods applied rigorously at right scale, they sensitive enough track processes even species long, overlapping generations primates. Thus approaches extremely valuable conservation management diverse array heterogeneous, habitats. Our results stress importance explicitly considering matrix studies, instead assuming all have uniform processes.