Research Projects
The research scope of our lab includes biogeography, ecology and conservation with a focus on Amazonian primates. Our goal is to better understand the processes that led to the origins and evolution of Amazonian's rich biota. We also endeavour to understand current ecological processes that help maintain such diversity and that are currently under threat by human activities.
Rise of the Continent of the Monkeys (NERC funded, 2020-2022)
In this study, we will analyse NWP whole nuclear genome sequences for signals of adaptive radiation, specifically evidence for changes in genes known to be associated with key phenotypic traits (diet, activity and body size) in mammals, in order to determine number, direction and timing of transitions between traits. We will produce the first comprehensive species-level phylogeny of NWPs, complete with estimated divergence dates, using sequence-enrichment methods to sequence ~3000 UCEs (>500 kb) and 50 standard gene exons used in phylogenetic studies of vertebrates, but redesigned by our team to better hybridise to their primate orthologs. These datasets are particularly suited for deep phylogenetic divergences, and only slowly lose phylogenetic informativeness as a function of divergence time. The large amount of markers will also allow testing of hybridisation and introgression hypotheses. The different phylogenomic datasets will be analysed both individually and in combination, and we will calculate divergence dates from them using molecular clock approaches. We will also implement coalescence-based identification of species resulting in objective clarification of species boundaries and creation of a genuinely stable list of NWP species, which is critically important for conservation efforts.”
The Global Primate Conservation Sequencing Initiative
The Primate Conservation Sequencing Consortium (PCSC) comprises an international team of researchers that aim to characterize genetic variation across non-human primate species, and make his resource available for the benefit of the wider scientific community to support primate conservation efforts and human biomedical research. The scientific leadership of the PCSC is comprised by the following individuals: Kyle Farh, Illumina; Jeffrey Rogers, Baylor College of Medicine; Tomas Marques-Bonet, Universitat Pompeu Fabra
01300032.AVIAlthough the use of camera traps in studies of wildlife sureys is now widespread, their use for assessing the abundance of arboreal mammals is still rare. For most primates that never come to the ground, only cameras placed in the canopy can assess their population status locally. From 2017 to 2019 we placed 12 camera traps at ~25 m height in the canopy of trees of Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke in Manaus, Brazil. We were able to record all species except the locally rare spider monkey.
Amazonian Dimensions of Diversity (NSF - FAPESP funded, 2012-2018)
"Assembly and evolution of the Amazonian biota and its environment: An integrated approach"
This project seeks to understand the evolutionary and ecological history of Amazonia, one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. A goal of the project is to build a comprehensive database of plants and vertebrates, which, together with remote sensing, geology and Earth-systems modeling, will be used to understand how the Amazonian biota assembled across space and time.
SISBIOTA (2012 - 2016)
MCT / CNPq / MEC / CAPES / FNDCT Notice - Transversal Action / FAPs No. 47/2010 - National Biodiversity Research System -SISBIOTA BRASIL, aiming to expand knowledge and understanding of Brazilian biodiversity, improve the predictive capacity of responses to global changes, particularly to changes in use and land cover and climate change; associating research into human resource training, environmental education and dissemination of scientific knowledge. Create a network of researchers and institutions working with the main issues related to sampling and characterizing in a standardized manner the biodiversity of target groups of vertebrates in the Amazon biome. The purpose of the Network is to build a taxonomy reference database, molecular barcoding, taxonomy, cytogenetics / cytogenomics and through bioinformatics integrate this database with database of tissues deposited in depository loyal institutions, and biological data associated companies. The resulting bioproduct will be the formation of a reference database for future characterization, inspection and bioprospecting of Amazonian biodiversity, thus meeting the requirements of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by the government of Brazil in 1994-02-28.
In this project, a multidisciplinary team composed of specialists in the areas of Primatology, Mastozoology, Herpetology, Ornithology, Ichthyology, Molecular Biology and Anthropology, belonging to institutions responsible for the description and cataloging of Brazil's biodiversity such as the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro, the Museum of Zoology at the University of São Paulo, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the National Institute for Research in the Amazon, propose to carry out an inventory of vertebrate biodiversity in the Brazilian Pantepui region, including ecological research of the region and ethnobiological of its inhabitants ( Yanomamis), in order to recognize the biological importance of the region for the elaboration of regional strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of its natural resources.
The Pantepui region comprises the set of mountainous plateaus that define the border between Brazil, Venezuela and the Guianas, presenting the highest and most varied relief of the Amazon. Due to these unique physical characteristics, the region has been indicated as of extreme biological importance due to the existence of a large number of endemic species, many of them adapted to the unique conditions of relief, soil, temperature and ecology of the region. Recently, with the advent of illegal gold mining, predatory fishing, mainly of ornamental fish and the territorial and demographic expansion of the Yanomami Indians resulting from their new post-contact socio-economic reality, the biological heritage of the Pantepui region has been disturbed from a unprecedented way. For this reason, it is urgent to carry out a survey of the biological potential of the area in order to preserve this biodiversity. By adopting a Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) survey methodology, the team of experts will carry out a survey of the biodiversity of the Pantepui region of Amazonas, more specifically, of the Tapirapecó and Aracá mountains and rivers Marauiá, Darahá, Preto and Aracá, producing relatively inexpensive conclusive results that assist in the elaboration of regional strategies for the preservation of the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Muriquis or mono-carvoeiros (Brachyteles spp., Primates) are critically endangered and it is estimated that there are less than 1,500 animals living in isolated populations in small fragments of the Atlantic Forest. Of the two existing species, the northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) is in an even more critical state with only about 500 individuals ('Critically Endangered' - MMA, 2003). About 226 northern muriquis are found at the Caratinga Biological Station / RPPN Feliciano Miguel Abdala (EBC / RPPN-FMA), MG, which represents about 40% of the total population of B. hypoxanthus, being the only population considered viable (Strier 2000). On the other hand, due to the high density achieved by the EBC / RPPN-FMA muriquis, the increase in available habitat has been identified as a necessary condition to guarantee the long-term survival of this population (Strier 1996). Therefore, in this subproject, we have implemented a socio-environmental action plan for the environmental recovery of the degraded areas of the EBC / RPPN-FMA and its surroundings, in order to increase the supply of habitat for muriquis and water for neighboring farmers. This program included the first stage of an expansion plan for the surrounding areas, with a view to creating a fauna corridor that will interconnect the forest remnants near the EBC / RPPN-FMA, favoring the formation of a metapopulation. In addition, we carried out a synthesis on the ecology of the genus Brachyteles taking into account aspects of its biogegraphy, ecology of different populations throughout its geographical distribution and local management actions in other areas of occurrence of these primates. The issues raised and discussed during the workshop organized by this subproject encouraged the decisions taken at the meeting of the IBAMA Muriqui Committee held in October 2005.
CRES Zoological Society of San Diego (2001 - 2005)
The Jao project was a 5 year field project designed to systematically study the behavior and ecology of one group of Brachyteles hypoxanthus (the Jaó group), living in a 890 ha fragment forest at the Estacao Biologica de Caratinga (EBC), Fazenda Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The main objective of this project was to understand the basis for the unusual large population size of muriquis in EBC as compared to other wild populations of this species. The contribution of this study to the conservation of muriquis will be a better understanding of some of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of population densities in this species.
