Sains Malaysiana 53(7)(2024): 1509-1523

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5307-03

Molecular Phylogenetics and Phylogeography of Malaysian Mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil) Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences of the D-Loop Region

(Filogenetik Molekul dan Filogeografi Pelanduk Malaysia (Tragulus kanchil) Berdasarkan Jujukan DNA Mitokondria Kawasan D-Loop)

MOHAMAD AZAM AKMAL ABU-BAKAR^1,2, NOR RAHMAN AIFAT³, JEFFRINE JAPNING ROVIE-RYAN^4,5, MUHAMMAD ABU BAKAR ABDUL-LATIFF⁶, AHMAD AMPENG⁷, SHUKOR MD-NOR¹ & BADRUL MUNIR MD-ZAIN^1,*

¹Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

²Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA Pahang, Jengka Campus, 26400 Bandar Tun Abdul Razak, Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia

³Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

⁴National Wildlife Forensic Laboratory, Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Park (DWNP) Peninsular Malaysia, KM 10 Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

⁵Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

⁶Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (Pagoh Campus), 84600 Muar, Johor, Malaysia

⁷Forest Department Sarawak, Bangunan Baitul Makmur II, Medan Raya, 93050 Petra Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Received: 22 June 2022/Accepted: 4 June 2024

Abstract

Two sympatric mousedeer species, Tragulus kanchil and Tragulus napu, inhabit the Malaysian tropical rainforests. Previous studies have established their phylogenetic relationships based on morphological variations; however, comprehensive genetic data have yet to be extensively used to relate the relationships especially from different populations. The main objectives of this study were to determine the phylogenetic relationships, population genetics, and phylogeography of mousedeer species based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial D-loop region. DNA from 32 mousedeer samples, representing various populations in Malaysia, was sequenced and analyzed using Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Parsimony, and Bayesian Inference approaches. The phylogenetic analyses showed two main clades representing the populations of T. kanchil and T. napu. The results also showed that the T. kanchil populations in Borneo was separated from Peninsular Malaysia taxa in MP and BI phylogenetic tree. However, Borneo population was nested in east population of Peninsular Malaysia in NJ tree. In addition, the T. kanchil population in Peninsular Malaysia further separated into east and west coast populations of Titiwangsa Range. It was supported with finding in population genetic relation that showed relatively low levels among population. This is expected because some of the populations are isolated geographically. The divergence of these populations is likely due to the Titiwangsa Range which acts as a barrier separating the east and west Peninsular Malaysia populations, and the South China Sea separates the populations of Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Molecular clock tree reconstruction showed that the separation of T. kanchil and T. napu occurred around 17.11 million years ago (MYAs). Furthermore, the T. kanchil populations from the east and west Peninsular Malaysia showed a branching pattern from those of Borneo of about 11.04 and 9.14 MYAs, respectively. The results of this study increase our understanding of Malaysian mousedeer phylogeny and phylogeography.

Keywords: Mousedeer; phylogeography; Tragulus kanchil; Tragulus napu; ungulate

Abstrak

Dua spesies pelanduk Tragulus kanchil dan Tragulus napu, bersimpatrik menghuni hutan hujan tropika Malaysia. Kajian terdahulu telah mengesahkan pertalian filogenetik pelanduk berdasarkan variasi morfologi. Walau bagaimanapun, data genetik yang komprehensif masih belum digunakan sepenuhnya untuk mengaitkan hubungan terutamanya populasi yang berlainan. Objektif utama kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan pertalian filogenetik, genetik populasi dan filogeografi kedua-dua spesies pelanduk menggunakan jujukan DNA mitokondria kawasan D-loop. DNA daripada 32 sampel pelanduk yang mewakili populasi di Malaysia telah dijujuk dan dianalisis menggunakan kaedah Neighbor-Joining (NJ), Maximum Parsimony (MP) dan Bayesian Inference (BI). Analisis filogenetik menunjukkan terhasil dua klad utama mewakili populasi T. kanchil dan T. napu. Keputusan juga menunjukkan populasi T. kanchil di Borneo terpisah daripada populasi Semenanjung Malaysia berdasarkan pokok filogenetik MP dan BI. Walau bagaimanapun, populasi Borneo masih tergolong dalam satu kumpulan bersama populasi Timur Semenanjung Malaysia dalam pokok NJ. Selain itu, populasi T. kanchil di Semenanjung Malaysia terpisah kepada populasi barat dan timur Banjaran Titiwangsa. Ini juga disokong dengan hasil analisis populasi genetik menunjukkan tahap hubungan yang rendah antara populasi. Hal ini dijangka disebabkan populasi ini terpisah oleh halangan geografi. Pencapahan populasi ini berkemungkinan disebabkan Banjaran Titiwangsa bertindak sebagai penghalang yang memisahkan populasi Timur dan Barat Semenanjung Malaysia dan Laut China Selatan yang memisahkannya dengan populasi Borneo. Pohon jam molekul juga menunjukkan pemisahan spesies T. kancil dan T. napu berlaku sekitar 17.11 juta tahun dahulu (JTD). Tambahan lagi, populasi T. kancil Timur dan Barat Semenanjung Malaysia menunjukkan percambahan daripada populasi Borneo masing-masing sekitar 11.04 JTD dan 9.14 JTD. Hasil kajian ini dapat meningkatkan pemahaman tentang filogeni dan filogeografi spesies kancil di Malaysia.

Kata kunci: Filogeografi; pelanduk; Tragulus kanchil; Tragulus napu; ungulat

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*Corresponding author; email: abgbadd@ukm.edu.my