LaCONES study reveals climate’s impact on primates

Hyderabad: A recent study led by scientist Govindaswamy Umapathy's lab at the CCMB-Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) has uncovered crucial insights into the role of climate change in shaping the population dynamics of primates in Northeast India.
By examining the population histories of nine primate species during two key climatic periods—Pliocene and Pleistocene—the research highlights how past climate shifts have influenced the diversity and distribution of these species.
The study uncovered that while some of these primates originated in Northeast India, others migrated from Southeast Asia. The researchers also observed that climate shifts led to population declines in certain species, while others experienced growth. These findings underscore the need for species-specific conservation strategies, especially in light of ongoing climate change.
The research, published in the journal Ecology and Evolution under the title ‘Historical Demography and Species Distribution Models Shed Light on Speciation in Primates of Northeast India,' highlights how past climate change significantly influenced primate speciation.
"Northeast India harbours a rich diversity of primates, where such fluctuations can be implicated. Recent advances in climate modelling and genomic data analysis have helped us understand how species accumulate in specific geographic regions," the researchers noted.
To investigate population-level changes, the team inferred the demographic history of the nine primate species and compared their distribution patterns across the Pliocene and Pleistocene periods. "Through this study, we provide a detailed picture of how past climatic changes shaped present species diversity. Some species originated in the region, while others dispersed from mainland Southeast Asia," the researchers explained.
LaCONES' results indicate that while the effective population size of all species dropped, their distribution patterns vary among the four studied—Macaca, Trachypithecus, Hoolock, and Nycticebus. The study highlights the importance of tailoring conservation strategies to each species' unique response to climate change.
The researchers gathered data from the primate genome sequencing initiative and analysed blood samples from nine primate species, collected from captive animals in various zoos and rescue centres. Importantly, these animals were rescued from the wild rather than bred in captivity. High-quality genomic DNA was extracted from the samples to assess both its quantity and quality.
"Our findings suggest that primates in Northeast India followed diverse evolutionary paths, creating a confluence of species seen today. The significant decline in effective population sizes across all studied species could be influenced by human activities, but further research with higher-resolution data is needed to confirm this," the researchers said. They also pointed out the limitations of the study, including gaps in geographical data and the necessity for broader sampling.