DOI: 10.5061/dryad.fbg79cnvq
title: Hemotological and morphometric measurements from geladas

description: Primates have adapted to numerous environments and lifestyles but very few
 species are native to high elevations. Here, we investigated high-altitude
 adaptations in the gelada (Theropithecus gelada), a monkey endemic to the
 Ethiopian Plateau. We examined genome-wide variation in conjunction with
 measurements of haematological and morphological traits. Our new gelada
 reference genome is highly intact and assembled at chromosome-length
 levels. Unexpectedly, we identified a chromosomal polymorphism in geladas
 that could potentially contribute to reproductive barriers between
 populations. Compared to baboons at low altitude, we found that
 high-altitude geladas exhibit significantly expanded chest circumferences,
 potentially allowing for greater lung surface area for increased oxygen
 diffusion. We identified gelada-specific amino acid substitutions in the
 alpha-chain subunit of adult haemoglobin but found that gelada haemoglobin
 does not exhibit markedly altered oxygenation properties compared to
 lowland primates. We also found that geladas at high altitude do not
 exhibit elevated blood haemoglobin concentrations, in contrast to the
 normal acclimatization response to hypoxia in lowland primates. The
 absence of altitude-related polycythaemia suggests that geladas are able
 to sustain adequate tissue-oxygen delivery despite environmental hypoxia.
 Finally, we identified numerous genes and genomic regions exhibiting
 accelerated rates of evolution, as well as gene families exhibiting
 expansions in the gelada lineage, potentially reflecting altitude-related
 selection. Our findings lend insight into putative mechanisms of
 high-altitude adaptation while suggesting promising avenues for functional
 hypoxia research.
description: This dataset includes hematological and morphometric measurements
 collected from geladas (<em>Theropithecus
 gelada</em>). Samples and data collected for this
 study were obtained from wild geladas in the Simien Mountains National
 Park (~3,000–4,550 meters above sea level) as part of continuous long-term
 research conducted by the Simien Mountains Gelada Research Project
 (SMGRP). Beginning in 2017, the SMGRP has carried out annual
 capture-and-release campaigns during which animals were temporarily
 immobilized through remote-distance injection. Briefly, a mixture of
 ketamine (7.5 mg/kg) and medetomidine (0.04 mg/kg) was injected using
 darts delivered by a blowpipe (Telinject USA, Inc). Following data and
 sample collection under the supervision of licensed veterinarians and
 veterinary technicians, immobilization was reversed with atipamezole (0.2
 mg/kg). Animals were monitored by project staff throughout their recovery
 until they were visibly unimpaired and had returned to their social units.
 All research was conducted with permission of the Ethiopian Wildlife and
 Conservation Authority (EWCA) following all laws and guidelines in
 Ethiopia. Animal procedures were conducted with approval by the
 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) of the University of
 Washington (protocol 4416-01) and Arizona State University (20-1754R).
 This research conformed to the American Society of
 Primatologists/International Primatological Society Code of Best Practices
 for Field Primatology. While animals were sedated, we
 collected morphometric measurements including body mass, chest
 circumference, and waist circumference. Body mass was measured by a
 hanging digital scale to 0.05 kg precision. Chest circumference and waist
 circumference were measured using flexible tape to 0.1 cm precision. Chest
 circumference was defined as the maximum circumference of the trunk, taken
 at the maximum anterior projection of the thoracic cage. Waist
 circumference was defined as the minimum circumference between the pelvis
 and the thoracic cage. Whole blood was obtained from
 all chemically immobilized individuals by femoral venipuncture and
 collected into K3 EDTA S-Monovette collection tubes (Sarstedt).
 We measured hemoglobin concentrations using an AimStrip 78200
 digital hemoglobin meter. We loaded 10 µl of venous blood into provided
 test strips and recorded hemoglobin concentrations (g/dl) using the
 digital meter. Hematocrit estimates (percentages) were derived from
 hemoglobin concentrations using the equation: Hct = 2.94 * Hgb
 [g/dl].
description: Please cite the linked publication(s) when using this
 dataset.