Authors

Jack D. Lester, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Linda Vigilant, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Paolo Gratton, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Maureen S. McCarthy, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Christopher D. Barratt, German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Leipzig, Germany
Paula Dieguez, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Anthony Agbor, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Paula Alvarez-Varona, Jane Goodall Institute of Spain & Senegal
Samuel Angedakin, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Emmanuel Ayuk Ayimisin, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Emma Bailey, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Mattia Bessone, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Gregory Brazzola, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Rebecca Chancellor, West Chester University of PennsylvaniaFollow
Heather Cohen, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Emmanuel Danquah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana
Tobias Deschner, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Villard Ebot Egbe, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Manasseh Eno-Nku, WWF Cameroon Country Programme Office
Annemarie Goedmakers, Chimbo Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Anne-Celine Granjon, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Josephine Head, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Daniela Hedwig, Cornell University
R. Adriana Hernandez-Aguilar, Jane Goodall Institute of Spain & Senegal
Kathryn J. Jeffery, University of Stirling
Sorrel Jones, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Jessica Junker, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Parag Kadam, University of Cambridge
Michael Kaiser, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Ammie K. Kalan, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Laura Kehoe, Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, Leipzig, Germany
Ivonne Kienast, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Kevin E. Langergraber, Arizona State University
Juan Lapuente, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Anne Laudisoit, Ecohealth Alliance, New York
Kevin Lee, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Sergio Marrocoli, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Vianet Mihindou, Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux, Gabon
David Morgan, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago
Geoffrey Muhanguzi, Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda
Emily Neil, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Sonia Nicholl, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Christopher Orbell, Panthera, New York, NY
Lucy Jayne Ormsby, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Liliana Pacheco, Jane Goodall Institute of Spain & Senegal
Alex Piel, University College London
Martha M. Robbins, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Aaron S. Rundus, West Chester University of PennsylvaniaFollow
Crickette Sanz, Washington University in St. Louis
Lilah Sciaky, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Alhaji M. Siaka, National Protected Area Authority, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Veronika Staedele, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Fiona Stewart, Liverpool John Moores University
Nikki Tagg, Royal Zoological Society Antwerp
Els Ton, Chimbo Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Joost van Schijndel, Chimbo Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Magloire Kambale Vyalengerera, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Erin G. Wessling, Harvard University
Jacob Willie, Royal Zoological Society Antwerp
Roman M. Wittig, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Yisa Ginath Yuh, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Kyle Yurkiw, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Klaus Zuberbuehler, Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda
Christophe Boesch, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Hjalmar S. Kuehl, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
Mimi Arandjelovic, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-5-2021

Abstract

Much like humans, chimpanzees occupy diverse habitats and exhibit extensive behavioural variability. However, chimpanzees are recognized as a discontinuous species, with four subspecies separated by historical geographic barriers. Nevertheless, their range-wide degree of genetic connectivity remains poorly resolved, mainly due to sampling limitations. By analyzing a geographically comprehensive sample set amplified at microsatellite markers that inform recent population history, we found that isolation by distance explains most of the range-wide genetic structure of chimpanzees. Furthermore, we did not identify spatial discontinuities corresponding with the recognized subspecies, suggesting that some of the subspecies-delineating geographic barriers were recently permeable to gene flow. Substantial range-wide genetic connectivity is consistent with the hypothesis that behavioural flexibility is a salient driver of chimpanzee responses to changing environmental conditions. Finally, our observation of strong local differentiation associated with recent anthropogenic pressures portends future loss of critical genetic diversity if habitat fragmentation and population isolation continue unabated. Lester and colleagues use faecal samples and genetic analyses to investigate the genetic connectivity across chimpanzees. Their results indicate that the global pattern of genetic diversity in chimpanzees is largely characterized by a pattern of isolation by distance with several isolated populations exhibiting strong local differentiation.

Publication Title

Communications Biology

ISSN

2399-3642

Publisher

Nature Research

Volume

4

Issue

1

First Page

1

Last Page

11

DOI

10.1038/s42003-021-01806-x

Comments

Article Number: 283

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