GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BLACK HOWLER MONKEYS (ALOUATTA-PIGRA) FROM BELIZE

To assess the level of genetic variation in a threatened black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) population, we examined 36 allozyme loci and r estriction fragment profiles of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mean hetero zygosity at allozyme loci was only 0.021 and 5.6 percent of the loci w ere polymorphic. Analyses of mtDNA also revealed low genetic diversity compared with other primates. F-statistics revealed no significant ge netic heterogeneity among troops within the Bermudian Landing preserve , but did indicate a deficiency of heterozygotes at one of the two loc i. We explore several explanations for this result, which is unexpecte d in a socially structured primate. Low genetic diversity in this popu lation may reflect its history of demographic bottlenecks. (C) 1997 Wi ley-Liss, Inc.