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Patterns of microsatellite polymorphism in the range‐restricted bonobo ( Pan paniscus ): considerations for interspecific comparison with chimpanzees ( P. troglodytes )
Author(s) -
Reinartz G. E.,
Karron J. D.,
Phillips R. B.,
Weber J. L.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2000.00852.x
Subject(s) - pan paniscus , bonobo , biology , troglodytes , interspecific competition , microsatellite , polymorphism (computer science) , evolutionary biology , range (aeronautics) , zoology , genetics , ecology , genotype , allele , gene , materials science , composite material
The endangered great ape, Pan paniscus (bonobo) has the smallest range of the African apes. Virtually nothing is known about the genetic diversity or genetic structure of this species, while substantial amounts of polymorphism have been reported for the bonobo’s widespread congener, the chimpanzee ( P. troglodytes ). Given its restricted range, what is the extent of genetic variation in the bonobo relative to the chimpanzee, and is the bonobo genetically depauperate? To investigate patterns of genetic polymorphism, bonobos of wild origin were genotyped for 28 microsatellite loci. The mean number of alleles per locus (5.2) and the mean observed heterozygosity (0.52) in bonobos were similar to variation observed in a wild chimpanzee community ( P. t. schweinfurthii ). The rarer bonobo is not genetically depauperate and may have genetic diversity comparable to the eastern chimpanzee subspecies. Bonobos have approximately 55% of the allelic diversity and 66% of the observed heterozygosity exhibited by all three chimpanzee subspecies sampled across equatorial Africa. Resampling techniques were used to quantify the effects of sample size differences and number and choice of loci between bonobos and chimpanzees. The examination of these variables underscores their importance in accurately interpreting interspecific comparisons of diversity estimates.