GENETIC-VARIATION OF BLOOD PROTEINS WITHIN AND BETWEEN LOCAL-POPULATIONS OF GRIVET MONKEY (CERCOPITHECUS-AETHIOPS AETHIOPS) IN CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

A population genetic study by blood protein electrophoresis revealed t hat populations of wild grivet monkeys in central Ethiopia show a comp aratively low level of variability and less differentiation among loca l populations over broad geographical areas. This is evaluated by comp arison with other wild primate studies using the same electrophoretic technique. A total of 196 blood samples, collected from 10 local popul ations comprising 11 troops distributed along approximately 600 km of the Awash River, were examined for 33 genetic loci. The low level of v ariability was indicated by the proportion of polymorphic loci (Ppoly) , which was on average 11% with an average heterozygosity (H) of 3%. A tendency for lower genetic differentiation among local populations wa s shown by the GST value of 0.09, an average FST of 0.08, and NEI's ge netic distance; ranging from 0.002 to 0.023. Considering paleoclimatol ogical studies of the area and ecological traits of this species, thes e findings can be explained as a consequence of a comparatively recent and repeated series of rapid habitat expansions following severe clim atic conditions.