New World Primates Hologenomes talk by Jean Boubli

TALK - from Genomes to Microbiomes: Exploring the Evolutionary History of New World Primates

New World primates comprise one of the most diverse mammalian radiations, with nearly 190 species distributed across the Neotropics. Over three decades, our research has combined field biology, taxonomy, phylogeography, and genomics to reconstruct the evolutionary history of these primates and build extensive genomic resources. In the first part of this talk, I will present this evolutionary framework and discuss its potential relevance for microbiome research. In the second, my PhD student, Tommy Burch, will present preliminary findings on gut microbiome in Neotropical primates and explore future opportunities at the interface of ecology, evolution, and hologenomics.

Jean P. Boubli is Professor of Primate Ecology and Evolution at the University of Salford and leads research on the ecology, evolution, and conservation of South American primates. His work combines field biology, taxonomy, phylogeography, and genomics to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Amazonian primates and understand the processes that generate tropical biodiversity.

Tommy Burch is a PhD candidate in Biological Sciences at the University of Salford under the supervision of Professor Jean Boubli and Dr Naiara Sales. His research investigates the gut microbiomes of Neotropical primates across the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon, exploring how diet, seasonality, habitat, and anthropogenic influences shape microbial communities and affect primate ecology and health.