BLOOD PROTEIN VARIATION OF A NEW POPULATION OF GELADA BABOONS (THEROPITHECUS-GELADA), IN THE SOUTHERN RIFT-VALLEY, ARSI REGION, ETHIOPIA

Blood protein polymorphism of gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada) to the south of the Rift Valley, Arsi Region, were examined for 36 generi c loci using three electrophoresis techniques for 48 blood samples fro m three localities, and compared with the northern geladas. New varian t alleles and genetic markers of Hb-alpha, PA-2, and TBPA loci were de tected. The distribution patterns of the variant alleles of Hb-alpha, PA-2, TBPA, Pi, Gc, PGM-II, and TBPA loci were localized in the geogra phic regions of south and north gelada populations, respectively. Gene tic variability of southern geladas was estimated as P-poly=0.083 and (H) over bar=0.024, which was comparable to northern geladas. A remark ably high genetic differentiation between the two geographic populatio ns was shown by NEI's genetic distance=0.071 and G(ST) value=0.420. Ou r results of genetic analysis suggest that the southern and northern g elada populations have been separated for several hundred thousand yea rs, and gene flow between the two geographic populations is severely r estricted. The southern gelada baboon may be regarded as a distinct su bspecies.