Name: João Luiz Guedes da Fonseca
Type: PhD thesis
Publication date: 28/06/2023
Advisor:

Name	Role
Yuri Luiz Reis Leite	Advisor *

Examining board:

Name	Role
Ana Carolina Loss Rodrigues	Internal Examiner *
Cibele Rodrigues Bonvicino	External Examiner *
Fabiano Rodrigues de Melo	External Examiner *
JERONYMO DALAPICOLLA	External Examiner *
Yuri Luiz Reis Leite	Advisor *

Summary: In this study, we evaluated the genetic diversity of two primate genera most affected by the last yellow fever outbreak in Brazil (2016–2018). In the first chapter we used an integrative approach combining phylogenetic, population genetics and landscape genetics to test the hypothesis that fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest could have prevented the rapid spread of yellow fever among populations of howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba). However, we did not find evidence to support this hypothesis, since there is genetic connectivity among all sampled individuals and there was no discernible geographic pattern among clades retrieved by phylogenetic analysis. Thus, we have a strong indication that yellow fever can be easily transmitted between apparently isolated populations of howler monkeys. In the second chapter, we use the mitogenome and mtDNA control region to investigate the diversity and ancestry of marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) at international animal research and supply facilities. Our results suggest that analyzes of mitogenomic variation have great potential for resolving evolutionary relationships among marmoset populations, defining species boundaries and detecting hybrids. Thus, we suggest that the combination of the mitogenome with phenotypic data and nuclear genomes are essential to maintain the genetic diversity of marmosets
aiming at appropriate reproduction plans, helping in the adequate selection of the phenotype for specific biomedical research.

Keywords: Atelidae, Callitrichidae, yellow fever; Atlantic Forest, primates.