Frank Momberg

Evolutionary History of the Odd-Nosed Monkeys and the Phylogenetic Position of the Newly Described Myanmar Snub-Nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri

Odd-nosed monkeys represent one of the two major groups of Asian colobines. Our knowledge about this primate group is still limited as it is highlighted by the recent discovery of a new species in Northern Myanmar. Although a common origin of the group is now widely accepted, the phylogenetic relationships among its genera and species, and the biogeographic processes leading to their current distribution are largely unknown. To address these issues, we have analyzed complete mitochondrial genomes and 12 nuclear loci, including one X chromosomal, six Y chromosomal and five autosomal loci, from all ten odd-nosed monkey species. The gene tree topologies and divergence age estimates derived from different markers were highly similar, but differed in placing various species or haplogroups within the genera Rhinopithecus and Pygathrix. Based on our data, Rhinopithecus represent the most basal lineage, and Nasalis and Simias form closely related sister taxa, suggesting a Northern origin of odd-nosed monkeys and a later invasion into Indochina and Sundaland. According to our divergence age estimates, the lineages leading to the genera Rhinopithecus, Pygathrix and Nasalis+Simias originated in the late Miocene, while differentiation events within these genera and also the split between Nasalis and Simias occurred in the Pleistocene. Observed gene tree discordances between mitochondrial and nuclear datasets, and paraphylies in the mitochondrial dataset for some species of the genera Rhinopithecus and Pygathrix suggest secondary gene flow after the taxa initially diverged. Most likely such events were triggered by dramatic changes in geology and climate within the region. Overall, our study provides the most comprehensive view on odd-nosed monkey evolution and emphasizes that data from differentially inherited markers are crucial to better understand evolutionary relationships and to trace secondary gene flow.

Rhinopithecus strykeri Found in China

The January 2011 issue of the American Journal of Primatology included an article published by Geissman et al. [2011] describing a new species of snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri) from northeastern Myanmar. The common name proposed for this fifth Rhinopithecus species was the Burmese snub-nosed monkey. The distribution of R. strykeri was reported to include “the mountain forests in the watershed area of the Maw River, a tributary to the N’mai Hka River, and forests across the range to the east above the village of Chichitago. The species therefore appears to be limited in distribution to a small area of the Salween–N’mai Hka divide in northeastern Kachin state and northeastern Myanmar” [Geissman et al. 2011: 102]. The total population size was estimated at approximately 300 individuals within an estimated area of some 273 km2. Here, we report the first evidence, including photographs, of a population of R. strykeri in China. On the morning of October 16, 2011, Mr. Liu Pu, a forest guard for Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve (GNNR), took photos of members of a group of snubnosed monkeys in a patch of evergreen broadleaf forest near Pianma (E98o37′09′′, N26o02′44′′, elevation 2,546 m), a township in Lushui County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, China. Although Mr. Liu Pu knew that the monkey was named Meyah by local Lisu people, none of the reserve staff could provide its scientific name. Two of the photos were sent to the senior author for identification, and it was clearly identified as the black snubnosed monkey, R. strykeri. As described by Geissman et al. [2011:98], R. strykeri differs from other snub-nosed monkeys in possessing “black or blackish ventral parts, all black or blackish limbs, and a white chin beard.” It appears that it exhibits several important similarities with the Yunnan snubnosed monkey, R. bieti. Based on the suggestion of the senior author, GNNR researchers collected feces and hair from monkeys at the site and sent the material to the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) for genetic analysis. Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain DNA due to the poor quality of samples. Approximately 5 months later, on March 13, 2012, a group of black snub-nosed monkeys was located at a site near Pianma (E98o37′19.18′′, N26o02′27.34′′, elevation 2,619 m) by two forest guards, Mr. Bo Sifu and Mr. San Yuehua. Following an entire day’s survey, on the afternoon of March 14, 2012, the study group was seen again by Mr. Liu Pu and Mr Bo Sifu at a nearby site (E98o38′21.77′′, N26o02′38.04′′, elevation 2,732 m). The research team took additional photographs and filmed for the first time ever black snub-nosed monkeys! They also collected fresh fecal material that was sent to KIZ for genetic analyses. All three sites where we observed black snub-nosed monkeys were located approximately 50 km to the southwest of the site originally reported by Geissmann et al. [2011]. Our finding of a population of black snub-nosed monkeys was widely celebrated in China (see the following websites):

Political transition and emergent forest-conservation issues in Myanmar

Political and economic transitions have had substantial impacts on forest conservation. Where transitions are underway or anticipated, historical precedent and methods for systematically assessing future trends should be used to anticipate likely threats to forest conservation and design appropriate and prescient policy measures to counteract them. Myanmar is transitioning from an authoritarian, centralized state with a highly regulated economy to a more decentralized and economically liberal democracy and is working to end a long-running civil war. With these transitions in mind, we used a horizon-scanning approach to assess the 40 emerging issues most affecting Myanmars forests, including internal conflict, land-tenure insecurity, large-scale agricultural development, demise of state timber enterprises, shortfalls in government revenue and capacity, and opening of new deforestation frontiers with new roads, mines, and hydroelectric dams. Averting these threats will require, for example, overhauling governance models, building capacity, improving infrastructure- and energy-project planning, and reforming land-tenure and environmental-protection laws. Although challenges to conservation in Myanmar are daunting, the political transition offers an opportunity for conservationists and researchers to help shape a future that enhances Myanmars social, economic, and environmental potential while learning and applying lessons from other countries. Our approach and results are relevant to other countries undergoing similar transitions.