社群的遗传结构和基因交流模式是动物社会结构的基本特征，也是保护遗传学研究的重要内容。以往对疣猴亚科特别是亚洲叶猴社群遗传结构的研究较为缺乏。白头叶猴(Trachypithecus leucocephalus)是我国特有的濒危物种，也是国家一级保护动物，现存野外种群栖息地破碎化严重，而对该物种的社群遗传结构和基因交流模式尚无深入研究。本研究拟采用基于微卫星位点和线粒体分子标记的遗传学分析方法，结合野外焦点群观察和非损伤性取样，从多个社群以及局域种群尺度研究野生白头叶猴的社群遗传关系、雌雄扩散模式和基因交流策略，以期阐明其社会遗传稳定及近交回避机制，并且与其他灵长类物种相比较，探讨形成不同社群结构的影响因素、适应意义和进化途径。同时该项目的研究结果可以用于评估种群规模及栖息地连通性等因素对白头叶猴社会遗传稳定的影响作用，对野生白头叶猴种群遗传多样性的保护和恢复具有重要的指导意义。

Genetic structure of social groups and patterns of gene flow are fundamental characteristics of social organization, and also key components of conservation genetic research. Data on the genetic social structure of colobine monkeys (subfamily Colobinae), especially Asian colobine species, are rather limited. The white-headed langur, Trachypithecus leucocephalus, is a highly endangered colobine species endemic to China, and also a Class I National Protected Species. The extant wild population is threatened with extensive habitat fragmentation. However, little is known regarding the social structure and mechanism of gene flow in this species. Here we propose that by using multiple microsatellite loci and mitochondrial markers, in combination with focal observation and non-invasive sampling, we would analyze the genetic relationships, sex-specific dispersal patterns, and strategies for gene flow at both the group and local scales. This study will increase our understanding of the mechanism of social stability and inbreeding avoidance in the white-headed langur. Furthermore, by comparison with other primate societies, we would investigate the influencing factors, adaptive significance, and evolutionary relationships of different social organizations. The results of the proposed study can also be helpful in evaluating the influence of population size and habitat connectivity on genetic stability of the social groups, which will be informative for the conservation of genetic diversity of wild white-headed langur population.