Genetic variability within and between the troops of toque macaque,Macaca sinica,in Sri Lanka

Genetic variability within and between the troops of toque macaque in Sri Lanka was studied from a population genetical perspective. Studies were made using electrophoretical blood protein variations as markers in order to clarify the genetic characteristics of the population of this species. A total of 256 samples from 20 troops which were collected in the field in 1981 to 1982 and 1983 to 1984 were examined for 32 blood protein loci. Eleven loci, that is, Tf, Alb, TBPA, Hb-α, PHI, PGM-II, CA-I, IDH, AK, ADA, and Ch-E showed the polymorphism in one or more troops. Of these 11 loci, 7 loci, that is, Tf, TBPA, Hb-α, PHI, PGM-II, CA-I, and IDH were highly polymorphic in most troops. The genetic variability within troops were quantified as H=0.0782 in average and this value was on higher level than other primates and comparable with that of continental macaques,Macaca fascicularis, in Thailand. The genetic differentiation between troops was quantified byG _ST andF _ST and these values were relatively smaller than those of other insular macaques.