Predicting future climate change impacts on the potential distribution of the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra): an endangered arboreal primate.

Climate change is one of the main factors affecting biodiversity worldwide at an alarming rate. In addition to increases in global extreme weather events, melting of polar ice caps, and subsequent sea level rise, climate change might shift the geographic distribution of species. In recent years, interest in understanding the effects of climate change on species distribution has increased, including species which depend greatly on forest cover for survival, such as strictly arboreal primates.

Microbiome stability and structure is governed by host phylogeny over diet and geography in woodrats ( spp.).

The microbiome is critical for host survival and fitness, but gaps remain in our understanding of how this symbiotic community is structured. Despite evidence that related hosts often harbor similar bacterial communities, it is unclear whether this pattern is due to genetic similarities between hosts or to common ecological selection pressures. Here, using herbivorous rodents in the genus , we quantify how geography, diet, and host genetics, alongside neutral processes, influence microbiome structure and stability under natural and captive conditions.

The relationship between pinworm (Trypanoxyuris) infection and gut bacteria in wild black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra).

Gut bacteria may coexist with other groups of organisms, such as nematode parasites, that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of primates; however, the possible effects of endoparasites on bacterial communities are frequently overlooked. Here we explored whether infection with Trypanoxyuris, an oxyurid gastrointestinal parasite, is associated with changes in the gut bacterial community of wild black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), by comparing gut bacterial communities of consistently infected individuals and individuals that never tested positive for Trypanoxyuris throughout different months across the year. We additionally controlled for other sources of variation reported to influence the primate microbiome including individual identity, social group, and seasonality.

Natural diets promote retention of the native gut microbiota in captive rodents.

Wild animals entering captivity experience radical lifestyle changes resulting in microbiome alterations. However, little is known about the factors that drive microbial community shifts in captivity, and what actions could mitigate microbial changes. Using white-throated woodrats (Neotoma albigula), we tested whether offering natural diets in captivity facilitates retention of native microbial communities of captive animals.

The relative effects of reproductive condition, stress, and seasonality on patterns of parasitism in wild female black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra).

Parasitic infections in wildlife are shaped by host-related traits including individual reproductive condition. It has been argued that female primates are more susceptible to infectious diseases during pregnancy due to short-term changes in immune function that result in reduced ability to combat infections. Likewise, lactation, which is the most energetically expensive state, may affect immunity and infection risk due to tradeoffs between milk production and maintenance of immune function.

Fluctuations in daily energy intake do not cause physiological stress in a Neotropical primate living in a seasonal forest.

Animals may face periods of nutritional stress due to short-term food shortage and/or low energy consumption associated with seasonal fluctuations in resource availability. We tested the hypothesis that periods of restricted macronutrient and energy intake result in energy deficits and physiological stress in wild black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) inhabiting seasonal tropical semi-deciduous forests. We conducted full-day follows of focal animals recording feeding rates, time spent feeding, and total amount of food ingested.

Phylogenetic and ecological factors impact the gut microbiota of two Neotropical primate species.

Recent studies suggest that variation in diet across time and space results in changes in the mammalian gut microbiota. This variation may ultimately impact host ecology by altering nutritional status and health. Wild animal populations provide an excellent opportunity for understanding these interactions.

Sexual conflict in primates.

Sexual conflict is increasingly recognized as a major force for evolutionary change and holds great potential for delineating variation in primate behavior and morphology. The goals of this review are to highlight the rapidly rising field of sexual conflict and the ongoing shift in our understanding of interactions between the sexes. We discuss the evidence for sexual conflict within the Order Primates, and assess how studies of primates have illuminated and can continue to increase our understanding of sexual conflict and sexual selection.