Mitochondrial Phylogeography of the Proboscis Monkey ( Nasalis larvatus ) Reveals Riverine and Coastal Population Structure Across Eastern Borneo
6 affiliations
- 1Research Center for Biota Systems National Research and Innovation Agency Cibinong West Java Indonesia
- 2Research Center for Applied Zoology National Research and Innovation Agency Cibinong West Java Indonesia
- 3Technical Implementation Unit for Forest Tree Seed Region III Ministry of Forestry Yogyakarta Indonesia
- 4Research Center for Applied Botany National Research and Innovation Agency Cibinong West Java Indonesia
- 5Center for Southeast Asian Studies Kyoto University Kyoto Japan
- 6The Hakubi Center for Advanced Research Kyoto University Kyoto Japan
Abstract
The proboscis monkey ( Nasalis larvatus ) is an endangered colobine endemic to Borneo, largely confined to mangrove, peat‐swamp, and riverine forest and capable of swimming across the rivers and tidal channels that structure its habitat. How this riparian specialization influences the spatial distribution of genetic diversity across the species' range in Indonesia has not been characterized. We sequenced the mitochondrial control region from 32 individuals collected at 11 localities throughout North and East Kalimantan and combined them with published data from Sabah and Pulau Kaget. Twenty‐six haplotypes (Hd = 0.986; π = 0.029) are divided into three haplogroups, with their geographic distributions only partially separated. AMOVA revealed significant population differentiation ( Φ ST = 0.275, p = 0.018). Differentiation among localities was more accurately explained by least‐cost distance calculated over a combined riverine–coastal network than by straight‐line distance, supporting the idea that gene flow predominantly occurs along riparian and coastal corridors rather than crossing land. A haplotype found in Sembakung, Nunukan, and Sabah indicates mitochondrial continuity across the Indonesia–Malaysia border. The Pulau Kaget reserve population clusters with East Kalimantan rather than forming a separate southern lineage. Neutrality tests indicate a demographic expansion in the late Pleistocene within the most prevalent haplogroup. Calibrated Simias – Nasalis distances place the split between these sister genera in the Pleistocene (~0.74 Ma). These findings reveal regionally distinct and transboundary mitochondrial lineages, which should guide conservation efforts for this endangered primate.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{atmoko2026mitochondrial,
title = {{Mitochondrial Phylogeography of the Proboscis Monkey ( Nasalis larvatus ) Reveals Riverine and Coastal Population Structure Across Eastern Borneo}},
author = {Tri Atmoko and Widya Pintaka Bayu Putra and Maryatul Qiptiyah and Istiana Prihatini and Mukhlisi and Muhammad Azhari Akbar and Chika Yamada and Youdiil Ophinni},
journal = {Ecology and Evolution},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/ece3.74593},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.74593},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mitochondrial Phylogeography of the Proboscis Monkey ( Nasalis larvatus ) Reveals Riverine and Coastal Population Structure Across Eastern Borneo
AU - Tri Atmoko
AU - Widya Pintaka Bayu Putra
AU - Maryatul Qiptiyah
AU - Istiana Prihatini
AU - Mukhlisi
AU - Muhammad Azhari Akbar
AU - Chika Yamada
AU - Youdiil Ophinni
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Ecology and Evolution
DO - 10.1002/ece3.74593
UR - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.74593
AB - The proboscis monkey ( Nasalis larvatus ) is an endangered colobine endemic to Borneo, largely confined to mangrove, peat‐swamp, and riverine forest and capable of swimming across the rivers and tidal channels that structure its habitat. How this riparian specialization influences the spatial distribution of genetic diversity across the species' range in Indonesia has not been characterized. We sequenced the mitochondrial control region from 32 individuals collected at 11 localities throughout North and East Kalimantan and combined them with published data from Sabah and Pulau Kaget. Twenty‐six haplotypes (Hd = 0.986; π = 0.029) are divided into three haplogroups, with their geographic distributions only partially separated. AMOVA revealed significant population differentiation ( Φ ST = 0.275, p = 0.018). Differentiation among localities was more accurately explained by least‐cost distance calculated over a combined riverine–coastal network than by straight‐line distance, supporting the idea that gene flow predominantly occurs along riparian and coastal corridors rather than crossing land. A haplotype found in Sembakung, Nunukan, and Sabah indicates mitochondrial continuity across the Indonesia–Malaysia border. The Pulau Kaget reserve population clusters with East Kalimantan rather than forming a separate southern lineage. Neutrality tests indicate a demographic expansion in the late Pleistocene within the most prevalent haplogroup. Calibrated Simias – Nasalis distances place the split between these sister genera in the Pleistocene (~0.74 Ma). These findings reveal regionally distinct and transboundary mitochondrial lineages, which should guide conservation efforts for this endangered primate.
SN - 2045-7758
SN - 2045-7758
ER -