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Evolutionary Geographic Changes of the Macaques in Mainland East Asia during the Quaternary and Their Prospective Conservation
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  • Hai tao Wang,
  • He Zhang,
  • Hexian Zhang,
  • Hao Pan,
  • Rong Hou,
  • Kang Huang,
  • Songtao Guo,
  • Gang He,
  • Pei Zhang,
  • Baoguo Li,
  • Ruliang Pan
Hai tao Wang
Northwest University

Corresponding Author:wanghaitao_0709@163.com

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He Zhang
Northwest University
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Hexian Zhang
Northwest University
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Hao Pan
Northwest University
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Rong Hou
Northwest University
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Kang Huang
Northwest University
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Songtao Guo
Northwest University
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Gang He
Northwest University
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Pei Zhang
Northwest University
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Baoguo Li
Northwest University
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Ruliang Pan
Northwest University
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Abstract

Understanding how ecological and environmental changes, anthropogenic activities, and climate have driven and will direct animals’ development and predicting their prospective distribution profiles in the Quaternary are essential to making a tangible conservation strategy. Macaques (Macaca) distributed in mainland East Asia provide an ideal research model for such an effort. We reconstruct macaques’ geographic distribution profiles during the Quaternary, from the last inter-glaciation (LIG, 120,000 - 140,000 years BP), the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 22,000 years BP), and the present (1970-2000) – based on which we deduce their perspective distribution in the 2050s. The results show their suitable habitats during LIG and LGM were mainly in Southwest, Central, and Coastal China. A noticeable distribution reduction started in LIG and persisted until the current (1970-2000). Their distribution centroid would shift northward to mountainous regions, mainly in Southwest China, where more migration corridors would be reserved for their future development. Also, the results indicate that China’s Protected Area currently does not cover more than 87% of macaques’ habitats, a dismal situation for their conservation. Finally, this study proclaims that the conservation priority of the macaques in the years to come should focus on Southwest China – their future refuge region in Quaternary.
05 Jun 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
06 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
06 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
06 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
10 Jul 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor