Doctoral Dissertation Research: Species boundaries, phylogeography, and primate conservation genetics

本论文研究的是新热带猕猴种群间的遗传关系，以更好地了解种群如何随时间而变化，成为不同的物种。具体地说，该项目将研究物种的边界、杂交的模式和后果，以及人类对环境的影响如何影响物种的持久性和在景观中的移动。这项研究将为保护管理者提供以科学为基础的工具，包括开发遗传工具来改进物种管理做法，确定栖息地走廊的潜在位置，并就如何在受人类影响的环境中保持种群的生存能力提出建议。该项目将为学生培训、公共科学推广和国际研究合作提供大量机会。金发卷尾猴生活在巴西东北部的大西洋热带雨林，鉴于该栖息地历史上的丧失和碎片化程度，现有种群处于相对孤立的状态。这种支离破碎的地形对金发卷尾猴遗传多样性的影响程度尚不清楚。利用基因组学方法，这项研究将(1)描述粗壮的卷尾猴谱系中物种之间的进化关系，(2)检查北大西洋森林卷尾猴和卡廷加栖息地之间杂交区的存在，以及(3)有助于我们理解人类改变的栖息地如何影响灵长类动物的遗传变异和种群连通性。这个项目解决了物种形成和种群遗传学的基本问题，并为需要大量了解物种自然和进化史的保护工作做出了贡献。

This dissertation project is an investigation of genetic relationships among populations of Neotropical monkey species, to better understand how populations change over time and become different species. Specifically, the project will address species boundaries, patterns and consequences of hybridization, and how human impact on the environment affects species' persistence and movement through the landscape. This research will result in science-based tools for conservation managers, including the development of genetic tools to improve species management practices, the identification of potential locations for habitat corridors, and recommendations on how to maintain population viability in human-impacted environments. The project will provide numerous opportunities for student training, public science outreach and international research collaborations.The blond capuchin monkey occurs in the Atlantic rainforest of northeastern Brazil, and given the extent of historic loss and fragmentation of this habitat, extant populations exist in relative isolation. The extent to which this fragmented landscape impacts the blond capuchin's genetic diversity is not known. Using a genomic approach, this study will (1) describe the evolutionary relationships among species in the robust capuchin lineage, (2) examine the presence of hybrid zones between capuchins of the northern Atlantic Forest and Caatinga habitats, and (3) contribute to our understanding of how human-modified habitats have affected primate genetic variation and population connectivity. This project addresses fundamental questions about speciation and population genetics and contributes to conservation efforts that require substantial knowledge of species' natural and evolutionary history.