Christian Roos
Biographic Data
| ID | 626630 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Christian Roos |
| GIVEN NAMES | Christian |
| FAMILY NAME | Roos |
| SIGNATURE | ROOS C |
| AFFILIATIONS | German Primate Center |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0190-4266 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 40 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 102 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 40 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Low genetic diversity in Colobus vellerosus populations in Kikélé Sacred and Okuta Kobunan Forests, Benin
Inside a monkey with rhea feathers: Characterizing the nonhuman primate mummy from the Gran Chaco, South America
Genetic Diversity, Genetic Structure, and Demographic History of Black Snub‐Nosed Monkey ( Rhinopithecus strykeri ) in the Gaoligong Mountains, Southwestern China
The Gaoligong Mountains, located in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and provides a refugium for many endangered endemic animals. In this study, we reported a population genetic study on black snub‐nosed monkey ( Rhinopithecus strykeri ), a critically endangered primate endemic to the Gaoligong Mountains, yet their large‐scale population genetic study remains underexplored. Here, we performed populatio…
Humor and social norms on social media: When bible verses or memes mobilize Christians for humanitarian collective action
Group members' decisions on whether or not to become actively involved in collective action are often guided by social norms regarding both action and inaction. Previous research tentatively suggests that humor may be a means to mock inaction norms and thereby increase mobilization for collective action. The current research investigates Christian student association members' group norms regarding humanitarian collective action. While prescriptiv…
Mixed-Species Groups and Genetically Confirmed Hybridization Between Sympatric Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus phayrei) and Capped Langur (T. pileatus) in Northeast Bangladesh
Confirmation of Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Myanmar Extends Known Geographic Range of an Endangered Primate
Characterizing genetically distinct populations of primates is important for protecting biodiversity and effectively allocating conservation resources. Skywalker gibbons ( Hoolock tianxing ) were first described in 2017, with the only confirmed population consisting of 150 individuals in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan Province, China. Based on river geography, the distribution of the skywalker gibbon has been hypothesized to extend into Myanmar between th…
Mapping suitable habitat for Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzees in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve, North-Western Cameroon
Great apes lose suitable habitats required for their reproduction and survival due to human activities across their distribution range in Africa. Little is known about habitat suitability of the Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee [ Pan troglodytes ellioti (Matschie, 1914)], particularly for populations inhabiting forest reserves in North-West Cameroon. To address this knowledge gap, we employed a common species distribution model (MaxEnt) to map and pre…
Novel mtDNA haplotypes represented in the European captive population of the Endangered François’ langur (Trachypithecus francoisi)
Assessing the genetic diversity of captive populations of endangered species is key to the successful management of conservation-breeding programs. In this study, we sequenced a 393-bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of 23 captive individuals of the Endangered François’ langur ( Trachypithecus francoisi ) to assess the mtDNA diversity of the European captive population and to identify the possible geographical origins of …
Population history of chimpanzees introduced to Lake Victoria’s Rubondo Island
Variation in predicted Covid‐19 risk among lemurs and lorises
The novel coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2, which in humans leads to the disease COVID‐19, has caused global disruption and more than 2 million fatalities since it first emerged in late 2019. As we write, infection rates are at their highest point globally and are rising extremely rapidly in some areas due to more infectious variants. The primary target of SARS‐CoV‐2 is the cellular receptor angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐2 (ACE2). Recent sequence analyses …
Environmental and anthropogenic effects on the nesting patterns of Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzees in North‐West Cameroon
Environmental conditions and human activity influence the selection of nest sites by chimpanzees and may have serious conservation implications. We examined the characteristics of nesting trees preferred by chimpanzees, investigated the effect of vegetation composition and topography on nest site locations and seasonality on nesting heights of chimpanzees, and verified the effect of predator occurrence and human activity on the nesting behavior o…
Human Activity and Forest Degradation Threaten Populations of the Nigeria–Cameroon Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) in Western Cameroon
Increased human activities such as commodity-led deforestation, extension of agriculture, urbanization, and wildfires are major drivers of forest loss worldwide. In Cameroon, these activities cause a loss of suitable primate habitat and could ultimately threaten the survival of chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ). We derived independent estimates of the population size of the Endangered Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ellioti ) in Kom-W…
New mitogenomic lineages in Papio baboons and their phylogeographic implications
OBJECTIVES: Incomplete and/or biased sampling either on a taxonomic or geographic level can lead to delusive phylogenetic and phylogeographic inferences. However, a complete taxonomic and geographical sampling is often and for various reasons impossible, particularly for widespread taxa such as baboons (Papio spp.). Previous studies on baboon phylogeography identified several sampling gaps, some of which we fill by investigating additional materi…
Hybridization in human evolution: Insights from other organisms
During the late Pleistocene, isolated lineages of hominins exchanged genes thus influencing genomic variation in humans in both the past and present. However, the dynamics of this genetic exchange and associated phenotypic consequences through time remain poorly understood. Gene exchange across divergent lineages can result in myriad outcomes arising from these dynamics and the environmental conditions under which it occurs. Here we draw from our…
Introduction to Special Issue on Primate Hybridization and Hybrid Zones
The Hybrid Origin of the Indochinese Gray Langur Trachypithecus crepusculus
The radiation of macaques out of Africa: Evidence from mitogenome divergence times and the fossil record
Species-specific effects of climate change on the distribution of suitable baboon habitats - Ecological niche modeling of current and Last Glacial Maximum conditions
Hybridization in human evolution: Insights from other organisms
During the late Pleistocene, isolated lineages of hominins exchanged genes thus influencing genomic variation in humans in both the past and present. However, the dynamics of this genetic exchange and associated phenotypic consequences through time remain poorly understood. Gene exchange across divergent lineages can result in myriad outcomes arising from these dynamics and the environmental conditions under which it occurs. Here we draw from our…
Impending extinction crisis of the world’s primates: Why primates matter
Impending extinction of the world’s primates due to human activities; immediate global attention is needed to reverse the trend.
Description of a new species of Hoolock gibbon (Primates: (Hylobatidae) based on integrative taxonomy
We describe a species of Hoolock gibbon (Primates: Hylobatidae) that is new to science from eastern Myanmar and southwestern China. The genus of hoolock gibbons comprises two previously described living species, the western (Hoolock hoolock) and eastern hoolock (H. leuconedys) gibbons, geographically isolated by the Chindwin River. We assessed the morphological and genetic characteristics of wild animals and museum specimens, and conducted multi-…
Population genetic insights into the social organization of Guinea baboons ( Papio papio ): Evidence for female‐biased dispersal
Sex differences in philopatry and dispersal have important consequences on the genetic structure of populations, social groups, and social relationships within groups. Among mammals, male dispersal and female philopatry are most common and closely related taxa typically exhibit similar dispersal patterns. However, among four well-studied species of baboons, only hamadryas baboons exhibit female dispersal, thus differing from their congenerics, wh…
Full‐length Numt analysis provides evidence for hybridization between the Asian colobine genera Trachypithecus and Semnopithecus
The phylogenetic position of the genus Semnopithecusis unresolved because of topological incongruence when inferred using different molecular markers. Although some studies proposed hybridization between the genera Semnopithecus and Trachypithecus to explain the discordance, no conclusive evidence for hybridization has been identified. To address this issue, we used DNA walking and long-range PCR to describe a nuclear mitochondrial DNA (Numt) seg…
Fitness impacts of tapeworm parasitism on wild gelada monkeys at Guassa, Ethiopia
Parasitism is expected to impact host morbidity or mortality, although the fitness costs of parasitism have rarely been quantified for wildlife hosts. Tapeworms in the genus Taenia exploit a variety of vertebrates, including livestock, humans, and geladas (Theropithecus gelada), monkeys endemic to the alpine grasslands of Ethiopia. Despite Taenia's adverse societal and economic impacts, we know little about the prevalence of disease associated wi…
So what is a species anyway? A primatological perspective
Since Darwin's time, the question "what a species" has provoked fierce disputes and a tremendous number of publications, from short opinion papers to thick volumes. The debates covered fundamental philosophical questions, such as: Do species exist at all independently of a human observer or are they just a construct of the human mind to categorize nature's organismic diversity and serve as a semantic tool in human communication about biodiversity…
Baboon phylogeny as inferred from complete mitochondrial genomes
Baboons (genus Papio ) are an interesting phylogeographical primate model for the evolution of savanna species during the Pleistocene. Earlier studies, based on partial mitochondrial sequence information, revealed seven major haplogroups indicating multiple para‐ and polyphylies among the six baboon species. The most basal splits among baboon lineages remained unresolved and the credibility intervals for divergence time estimates were rather larg…
Introgressive hybridization in southern African baboons shapes patterns of mtDNA variation
Species, as main evolutionary units have long been considered to be morphological entities with limited hybridization potential. The occurrence of taxa which maintain morphological distinctness despite extensive hybridization is an interesting phenomenon. To understand the evolution of these taxa, descriptions of contemporary morphological and genetic variation are essential, also to reconstruct sound phylogenies. Baboons, with their wide geograp…
The radiation of macaques out of Africa: Evidence from mitogenome divergence times and the fossil record
The Influence of Social Systems on Patterns of Mitochondrial DNA Variation in Baboons
Behavior is influenced by genes but can also shape the genetic structure of natural populations. Investigating this link is of great importance because behavioral processes can alter the genetic diversity on which selection acts. Gene flow is one of the main determinants of the genetic structure of a population and dispersal is the behavior that mediates gene flow. Baboons (genus Papio ) are among the most intensely studied primate species and se…
Spatio‐genetic population structure in mustached tamarins, Saguinus mystax
Dispersal and philopatry influence gene flow and thus the spatio‐genetic structure within and between populations. In callitrichids the flexible social and mating system corresponds with a variable migration pattern where both sexes might be philopatric or might disperse. We investigated the relationship between the spatio‐genetic structure and migration patterns in a population of mustached tamarins, Saguinus mystax . Using the rapidly evolving …
Species-specific effects of climate change on the distribution of suitable baboon habitats - Ecological niche modeling of current and Last Glacial Maximum conditions
Introduction to Special Issue on Primate Hybridization and Hybrid Zones
The Hybrid Origin of the Indochinese Gray Langur Trachypithecus crepusculus
Out of Africa, but how and when? The case of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas)
Many species of Arabian mammals are considered to be of Afrotropical origin and for most of them the Red Sea has constituted an obstacle for dispersal since the Miocene-Pliocene transition. There are two possible routes, the 'northern' and the 'southern', for terrestrial mammals (including humans) to move between Africa and Arabia. The 'northern route', crossing the Sinai Peninsula, is confirmed for several taxa by an extensive fossil record, esp…
Confirmation of Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Myanmar Extends Known Geographic Range of an Endangered Primate
Characterizing genetically distinct populations of primates is important for protecting biodiversity and effectively allocating conservation resources. Skywalker gibbons ( Hoolock tianxing ) were first described in 2017, with the only confirmed population consisting of 150 individuals in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan Province, China. Based on river geography, the distribution of the skywalker gibbon has been hypothesized to extend into Myanmar between th…
Human Activity and Forest Degradation Threaten Populations of the Nigeria–Cameroon Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) in Western Cameroon
Increased human activities such as commodity-led deforestation, extension of agriculture, urbanization, and wildfires are major drivers of forest loss worldwide. In Cameroon, these activities cause a loss of suitable primate habitat and could ultimately threaten the survival of chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ). We derived independent estimates of the population size of the Endangered Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ellioti ) in Kom-W…
Novel mtDNA haplotypes represented in the European captive population of the Endangered François’ langur (Trachypithecus francoisi)
Assessing the genetic diversity of captive populations of endangered species is key to the successful management of conservation-breeding programs. In this study, we sequenced a 393-bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of 23 captive individuals of the Endangered François’ langur ( Trachypithecus francoisi ) to assess the mtDNA diversity of the European captive population and to identify the possible geographical origins of …
New mitogenomic lineages in Papio baboons and their phylogeographic implications
OBJECTIVES: Incomplete and/or biased sampling either on a taxonomic or geographic level can lead to delusive phylogenetic and phylogeographic inferences. However, a complete taxonomic and geographical sampling is often and for various reasons impossible, particularly for widespread taxa such as baboons (Papio spp.). Previous studies on baboon phylogeography identified several sampling gaps, some of which we fill by investigating additional materi…
Hybridization in human evolution: Insights from other organisms
During the late Pleistocene, isolated lineages of hominins exchanged genes thus influencing genomic variation in humans in both the past and present. However, the dynamics of this genetic exchange and associated phenotypic consequences through time remain poorly understood. Gene exchange across divergent lineages can result in myriad outcomes arising from these dynamics and the environmental conditions under which it occurs. Here we draw from our…
Phylogenetic relationships among the Lorisoidea as indicated by craniodental morphology and mitochondrial sequence data
The phylogeny of the Afro‐Asian Lorisoidea is controversial. While postcranial data attest strongly to the monophyly of the Lorisidae, most molecular analyses portray them as paraphyletic and group the Galagidae alternately with the Asian or African lorisids. One of the problems that has bedevilled phylogenetic analysis of the group in the past is the limited number of taxa sampled for both ingroup families. We present the results of a series of …
Spatio‐genetic population structure in mustached tamarins, Saguinus mystax
Dispersal and philopatry influence gene flow and thus the spatio‐genetic structure within and between populations. In callitrichids the flexible social and mating system corresponds with a variable migration pattern where both sexes might be philopatric or might disperse. We investigated the relationship between the spatio‐genetic structure and migration patterns in a population of mustached tamarins, Saguinus mystax . Using the rapidly evolving …
A PCR‐based marker to simply identify Saimiri sciureus and S. boliviensis boliviensis
Squirrel monkeys, mainly Saimiri sciureus and S. boliviensis , are common in zoos and widely used in biomedical research. However, an exact species identification based on morphological characteristics is difficult. Hence, several molecular methods were proposed, but all of them are expensive and require extensive laboratory work. In contrast, we describe an Alu integration, which is present in S. boliviensis boliviensis and absent in S. sciureus…
Reproductive parameters in Guizhou snub‐nosed monkeys ( Rhinopithecus brelichi )
In this study, we present data on reproductive parameters and birth seasonality of Guizhou snub‐nosed monkeys ( Rhinopithecus brelichi ). Our analyses are based on data from a small captive population collected over 15 years and on 5 years of observations of free‐ranging snub‐nosed monkeys. Captive females ( n =4) mature at an age of 70.8±6.7 months and reproduce for the first time at 103.4±7.5 months. The mean interbirth interval was 38.2±4.4 mo…
Mitochondrial phylogeny of tamarins ( Saguinus , Hoffmannsegg 1807) with taxonomic and biogeographic implications for the S. nigricollis species group
Tamarins of the genus Saguinus, subfamily Callitrichinae, represent one of the most diverse primate radiations. So far, about 35 taxa have been described, but detailed information about their taxonomy and phylogeny is still lacking. To further elucidate the phylogenetic relationships and the biogeographic history within the genus, and to contribute to a more reliable classification of its taxa, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b…
Phylogeny and distribution of crested gibbons (genus Nomascus ) based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence data
Crested gibbons, genus Nomascus , are endemic to the Indochinese bioregion and occur only in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and southern China. However, knowledge about the number of species to be recognized and their exact geographical distributions is still limited. To further elucidate the evolutionary history of crested gibbon species and to settle their distribution ranges, we analyzed the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from 79 crested g…
Introgressive hybridization in southern African baboons shapes patterns of mtDNA variation
Species, as main evolutionary units have long been considered to be morphological entities with limited hybridization potential. The occurrence of taxa which maintain morphological distinctness despite extensive hybridization is an interesting phenomenon. To understand the evolution of these taxa, descriptions of contemporary morphological and genetic variation are essential, also to reconstruct sound phylogenies. Baboons, with their wide geograp…
A Molecular Phylogeny of Living Primates
Comparative genomic analyses of primates offer considerable potential to define and understand the processes that mold, shape, and transform the human genome. However, primate taxonomy is both complex and controversial, with marginal unifying consensus of the evolutionary hierarchy of extant primate species. Here we provide new genomic sequence (~8 Mb) from 186 primates representing 61 (~90%) of the described genera, and we include outgroup speci…
Population genetic structure of Guizhou snub‐nosed monkeys ( Rhinopithecus brelichi ) as inferred from mitochondrial control region sequences, and comparison with R. roxellana and R. bieti
The Guizhou snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi) is a primate species endemic to the Wuling Mountains in southern China. With a maximum of 800 wild animals, the species is endangered and one of the rarest Chinese primates. To assess the genetic diversity within R. brelichi and to analyze its genetic population structure, we collected fecal samples from the wild R. brelichi population and sequenced the hypervariable region I of the mitochond…
The strange blood: Natural hybridization in primates
Hybridization between two closely related species is a natural evolutionary process that results in an admixture of previously isolated gene pools. The exchange of genes between species may accelerate adaptation and lead to the formation of new lineages. Hybridization can be regarded as one important evolutionary mechanism driving speciation processes. Although recent studies have highlighted the taxonomic breadth of natural hybridization in the …
Extra‐pair paternity confirmed in wild white‐handed gibbons
Knowledge of the genetic mating system of animal species is essential for our understanding of the evolution of social systems and individual reproductive strategies. In recent years, genetic methods have uncovered an unexpected diversity of paternal genetic contributions across diverse animal social mating systems, but particularly in pair-living species. In most pair-living birds, for example, genetic and behavioral observations have confirmed …
Mitochondrial Diversity and Distribution of African Green Monkeys ( Chlorocebus Gray, 1870)
African green monkeys ( Chlorocebus ) represent a widely distributed and morphologically diverse primate genus in sub‐Saharan Africa. Little attention has been paid to their genetic diversity and phylogeny. Based on morphological data, six species are currently recognized, but their taxonomy remains disputed. Here, we aim to characterize the mitochondrial (mt) DNA diversity, biogeography and phylogeny of African green monkeys. We analyzed the com…
Baboon phylogeny as inferred from complete mitochondrial genomes
Baboons (genus Papio ) are an interesting phylogeographical primate model for the evolution of savanna species during the Pleistocene. Earlier studies, based on partial mitochondrial sequence information, revealed seven major haplogroups indicating multiple para‐ and polyphylies among the six baboon species. The most basal splits among baboon lineages remained unresolved and the credibility intervals for divergence time estimates were rather larg…
So what is a species anyway? A primatological perspective
Since Darwin's time, the question "what a species" has provoked fierce disputes and a tremendous number of publications, from short opinion papers to thick volumes. The debates covered fundamental philosophical questions, such as: Do species exist at all independently of a human observer or are they just a construct of the human mind to categorize nature's organismic diversity and serve as a semantic tool in human communication about biodiversity…
The Influence of Social Systems on Patterns of Mitochondrial DNA Variation in Baboons
Behavior is influenced by genes but can also shape the genetic structure of natural populations. Investigating this link is of great importance because behavioral processes can alter the genetic diversity on which selection acts. Gene flow is one of the main determinants of the genetic structure of a population and dispersal is the behavior that mediates gene flow. Baboons (genus Papio ) are among the most intensely studied primate species and se…
Out of Africa, but how and when? The case of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas)
Many species of Arabian mammals are considered to be of Afrotropical origin and for most of them the Red Sea has constituted an obstacle for dispersal since the Miocene-Pliocene transition. There are two possible routes, the 'northern' and the 'southern', for terrestrial mammals (including humans) to move between Africa and Arabia. The 'northern route', crossing the Sinai Peninsula, is confirmed for several taxa by an extensive fossil record, esp…
Population genetic insights into the social organization of Guinea baboons ( Papio papio ): Evidence for female‐biased dispersal
Sex differences in philopatry and dispersal have important consequences on the genetic structure of populations, social groups, and social relationships within groups. Among mammals, male dispersal and female philopatry are most common and closely related taxa typically exhibit similar dispersal patterns. However, among four well-studied species of baboons, only hamadryas baboons exhibit female dispersal, thus differing from their congenerics, wh…
Full‐length Numt analysis provides evidence for hybridization between the Asian colobine genera Trachypithecus and Semnopithecus
The phylogenetic position of the genus Semnopithecusis unresolved because of topological incongruence when inferred using different molecular markers. Although some studies proposed hybridization between the genera Semnopithecus and Trachypithecus to explain the discordance, no conclusive evidence for hybridization has been identified. To address this issue, we used DNA walking and long-range PCR to describe a nuclear mitochondrial DNA (Numt) seg…
Fitness impacts of tapeworm parasitism on wild gelada monkeys at Guassa, Ethiopia
Parasitism is expected to impact host morbidity or mortality, although the fitness costs of parasitism have rarely been quantified for wildlife hosts. Tapeworms in the genus Taenia exploit a variety of vertebrates, including livestock, humans, and geladas (Theropithecus gelada), monkeys endemic to the alpine grasslands of Ethiopia. Despite Taenia's adverse societal and economic impacts, we know little about the prevalence of disease associated wi…
Impending extinction crisis of the world’s primates: Why primates matter
Impending extinction of the world’s primates due to human activities; immediate global attention is needed to reverse the trend.
Description of a new species of Hoolock gibbon (Primates: (Hylobatidae) based on integrative taxonomy
We describe a species of Hoolock gibbon (Primates: Hylobatidae) that is new to science from eastern Myanmar and southwestern China. The genus of hoolock gibbons comprises two previously described living species, the western (Hoolock hoolock) and eastern hoolock (H. leuconedys) gibbons, geographically isolated by the Chindwin River. We assessed the morphological and genetic characteristics of wild animals and museum specimens, and conducted multi-…
Hybridization in human evolution: Insights from other organisms
During the late Pleistocene, isolated lineages of hominins exchanged genes thus influencing genomic variation in humans in both the past and present. However, the dynamics of this genetic exchange and associated phenotypic consequences through time remain poorly understood. Gene exchange across divergent lineages can result in myriad outcomes arising from these dynamics and the environmental conditions under which it occurs. Here we draw from our…
Hybridization in human evolution: Insights from other organisms
During the late Pleistocene, isolated lineages of hominins exchanged genes thus influencing genomic variation in humans in both the past and present. However, the dynamics of this genetic exchange and associated phenotypic consequences through time remain poorly understood. Gene exchange across divergent lineages can result in myriad outcomes arising from these dynamics and the environmental conditions under which it occurs. Here we draw from our…
Introduction to Special Issue on Primate Hybridization and Hybrid Zones
The Hybrid Origin of the Indochinese Gray Langur Trachypithecus crepusculus
Biology (35 works) · Primate Behavior and Ecology (29 works) · Zoology (24 works) · Ecology (22 works) · Evolutionary biology (21 works) · Population (19 works) · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (15 works) · Genetics (14 works) · Demography (13 works) · Geography (12 works)