Whole genomes of Amazonian uakari monkeys reveal complex connectivity and fast differentiation driven by high environmental dynamism
Despite showing the greatest primate diversity on the planet, genomic studies on Amazonian primates show very little representation in the literature. With 48 geolocalized high coverage whole genomes from wild uakari monkeys, we present the first population-level study on platyrrhines using whole genome data. In a very restricted range of the Amazon rainforest, eight uakari species (Cacajao genus) have been described and categorized into the bald and black uakari groups, based on phenotypic and ecological differences. Despite a slight habitat overlap, we show that posterior to their split 0.92 Mya, bald and black uakaris have remained independent, without gene flow. Nowadays, these two groups present distinct genetic diversity and group-specific variation linked to pathogens. We propose differing hydrology patterns and effectiveness of geographic barriers have modulated the intra-group connectivity and structure of bald and black uakari populations. With this work we have explored the effects of the Amazon rainforest's dynamism on wild primates' genetics and increased the representation of platyrrhine genomes, thus opening the door to future research on the complexity and diversity of primate genomics.
Authors
- Claudia Fontsere (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2233-6026)
- Esther Lizano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3304-9807)
- Tomas Hrbek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3239-7068)
- Sebastián Cuadros-Espinoza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6240-281X)
- Kyle Kai‐How Farh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6947-8537)
- Harvinder Pawar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3852-4999)
- Izeni Pires Farias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1416-4351)
- Joanna L. Kelley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7731-605X)
- Alejandro Valenzuela (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2252-3887)
- João Valsecchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9138-0381)
- Ivo Glynne Gut (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7219-632X)
- Armida Faella
- Lukas F. K. Kuderna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9992-9295)
- Tomàs Marquès‐Bonet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5597-3075)
- Felipe Ennes Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1315-0847)
- Jean P. Boubli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5833-9264)
- Jeffrey Rogers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7374-6490)
- Sandra Ruibal-Puertas
- Pol Alentorn-Moron (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4858-0652)
- Núria Hermosilla-Albala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9079-1093)
- Marta Ortova Gut (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4063-7159)
Institutions
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ES)
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE)
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES)
- Illumina (United States) (US)
- Baylor College of Medicine (US)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (BR)
- Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (PE)
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (BR)
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (ES)
- Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (ES)
- Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá (BR)
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ES)
- Baylor Genetics (US)
- University of Salford (GB)
- Trinity University (US)
- Universidade Federal do Amazonas (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Biology
- Published
- 2024-10-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06901-3
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.22
Funders
- Centres de Recerca de Catalunya
- Sight Research UK
- European Commission
- Generalitat de Catalunya
- Natural Environment Research Council