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Gesquiere LR, Adjangba C, Wango TL, Oudu VK, Mututua RS, Warutere JK, Siodi IL, Campos FA, Archie EA, Markham AC, Alberts SC. Thyroid hormone concentrations in female baboons: Metabolic consequences of living in a highly seasonal environment. Horm Behav 2024; 161:105505. [PMID: 38364455 PMCID: PMC11218546 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
How female mammals adapt metabolically in response to environmental variation remains understudied in the wild, because direct measures of metabolic activity are difficult to obtain in wild populations. However, recent advances in the non-invasive measurement of fecal thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3), an important regulator of metabolism, provide an opportunity to understand how female baboons living in the harsh Amboseli ecosystem in southern Kenya adapt to environmental variability and escape strict reproductive seasonality. Specifically, we assessed how a female's activity budget, diet, and concentrations of fecal T3 metabolites (mT3) changed over the course of the year and between years. We then tested which of several environmental variables (season, rainfall, and temperature) and behavioral variables (female activity budget and diet) best predicted mT3 concentrations. Finally, we determined if two important reproductive events - onset of ovarian cycling and conception of an offspring - were preceded by changes in female mT3 concentrations. We found female baboons' mT3 concentrations varied markedly across the year and between years as a function of environmental conditions. Further, changes in a female's behavior and diet only partially mediated the metabolic response to the environment. Finally, mT3 concentrations increased in the weeks prior to menarche and cycling resumption, regardless of the month or season in which cycling started. This pattern indicates that metabolic activation may be an indicator of reproductive readiness in female baboons as their energy balance is restored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tim L Wango
- Amboseli Baboon Research Project, PO Box 72211-0020, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Vivian K Oudu
- Amboseli Baboon Research Project, PO Box 72211-0020, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - I Long'ida Siodi
- Amboseli Baboon Research Project, PO Box 72211-0020, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Fernando A Campos
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Archie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - A Catherine Markham
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Susan C Alberts
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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Santander C, Molinaro L, Mutti G, Martínez FI, Mathe J, Ferreira da Silva MJ, Caldon M, Oteo-Garcia G, Aldeias V, Archer W, Bamford M, Biro D, Bobe R, Braun DR, Hammond P, Lüdecke T, Pinto MJ, Meira Paulo L, Stalmans M, Regala FT, Bertolini F, Moltke I, Raveane A, Pagani L, Carvalho S, Capelli C. Genomic variation in baboons from central Mozambique unveils complex evolutionary relationships with other Papio species. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:44. [PMID: 35410131 PMCID: PMC8996594 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-01999-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique hosts a large population of baboons, numbering over 200 troops. Gorongosa baboons have been tentatively identified as part of Papio ursinus on the basis of previous limited morphological analysis and a handful of mitochondrial DNA sequences. However, a recent morphological and morphometric analysis of Gorongosa baboons pinpointed the occurrence of several traits intermediate between P. ursinus and P. cynocephalus, leaving open the possibility of past and/or ongoing gene flow in the baboon population of Gorongosa National Park. In order to investigate the evolutionary history of baboons in Gorongosa, we generated high and low coverage whole genome sequence data of Gorongosa baboons and compared it to available Papio genomes. Results We confirmed that P. ursinus is the species closest to Gorongosa baboons. However, the Gorongosa baboon genomes share more derived alleles with P. cynocephalus than P. ursinus does, but no recent gene flow between P. ursinus and P. cynocephalus was detected when available Papio genomes were analyzed. Our results, based on the analysis of autosomal, mitochondrial and Y chromosome data, suggest complex, possibly male-biased, gene flow between Gorongosa baboons and P. cynocephalus, hinting to direct or indirect contributions from baboons belonging to the “northern” Papio clade, and signal the presence of population structure within P. ursinus. Conclusions The analysis of genome data generated from baboon samples collected in central Mozambique highlighted a complex set of evolutionary relationships with other baboons. Our results provided new insights in the population dynamics that have shaped baboon diversity. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-01999-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Santander
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. .,Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Ludovica Molinaro
- Estonian Biocentre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Giacomo Mutti
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Felipe I Martínez
- Escuela de Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jacinto Mathe
- School of Anthropology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Maria Joana Ferreira da Silva
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal.,CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.,ONE - Organisms and Environment Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff, UK
| | - Matteo Caldon
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Gonzalo Oteo-Garcia
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Vera Aldeias
- Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behavior (ICArEHB), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Will Archer
- Department of Archaeology, National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Marion Bamford
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Dora Biro
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - René Bobe
- School of Anthropology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Gorongosa National Park, Sofala, Mozambique
| | - David R Braun
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, George Washington University, Washington, USA
| | | | - Tina Lüdecke
- School of Anthropology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Emmy Noether Group for Hominin Meat Consumption, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
| | - Maria José Pinto
- AESDA - Associação de Estudos Subterrâneos e Defesa do Ambiente, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Luis Meira Paulo
- AESDA - Associação de Estudos Subterrâneos e Defesa do Ambiente, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marc Stalmans
- Department of Scientific Services, Gorongosa National Park, Chitengo, Sofala Province, Mozambique
| | - Frederico Tátá Regala
- Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behavior (ICArEHB), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Francesco Bertolini
- Laboratory of Hematology-Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Ida Moltke
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alessandro Raveane
- Laboratory of Hematology-Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Pagani
- Estonian Biocentre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Susana Carvalho
- School of Anthropology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Gorongosa National Park, Sofala, Mozambique.
| | - Cristian Capelli
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
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Grieneisen LE, Charpentier MJE, Alberts SC, Blekhman R, Bradburd G, Tung J, Archie EA. Genes, geology and germs: gut microbiota across a primate hybrid zone are explained by site soil properties, not host species. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190431. [PMID: 31014219 PMCID: PMC6501927 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota in geographically isolated host populations are often distinct. These differences have been attributed to between-population differences in host behaviours, environments, genetics and geographical distance. However, which factors are most important remains unknown. Here, we fill this gap for baboons by leveraging information on 13 environmental variables from 14 baboon populations spanning a natural hybrid zone. Sampling across a hybrid zone allowed us to additionally test whether phylosymbiosis (codiversification between hosts and their microbiota) is detectable in admixed, closely related primates. We found little evidence of genetic effects: none of host genetic ancestry, host genetic relatedness nor genetic distance between host populations were strong predictors of baboon gut microbiota. Instead, gut microbiota were best explained by the baboons' environments, especially the soil's geologic history and exchangeable sodium. Indeed, soil effects were 15 times stronger than those of host-population FST, perhaps because soil predicts which foods are present, or because baboons are terrestrial and consume soil microbes incidentally with their food. Our results support an emerging picture in which environmental variation is the dominant predictor of host-associated microbiomes. We are the first to show that such effects overshadow host species identity among members of the same primate genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Grieneisen
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Marie J. E. Charpentier
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Université Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Susan C. Alberts
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Institute for Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya
| | - Ran Blekhman
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Gideon Bradburd
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jenny Tung
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Institute for Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth A. Archie
- Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
- Institute for Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00502, Kenya
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Alberts SC, Gaillard J. Social influences on survival and reproduction: Insights from a long-term study of wild baboons. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:47-66. [PMID: 30033518 PMCID: PMC6340732 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
For social species, the environment has two components: physical and social. The social environment modifies the individual's interaction with the physical environment, and the physical environment may in turn impact individuals' social relationships. This interplay can generate considerable variation among individuals in survival and reproduction. Here, I synthesize more than four decades of research on the baboons of the Amboseli basin in southern Kenya to illustrate how social and physical environments interact to affect reproduction and survival. For immature baboons, social behaviour can both mitigate and exacerbate the challenge of survival. Only c. 50% of live-born females and c. 44% of live-born males reach the median age of first reproduction. Variation in pre-adult survival, growth and development is associated with multiple aspects of the social environment. For instance, conspecifics provide direct care and are a major source of social knowledge about food and the environment, but conspecifics can also represent a direct threat to survival through infanticide. In adulthood, both competition (within and between social groups) and cooperative affiliation (i.e. collective action and/or the exchange of social resources such as grooming) are prominent features of baboon social life and have important consequences for reproduction and survival. For instance, adult females with higher social dominance ranks have accelerated reproduction, and adult females that engage in more frequent affiliative social interactions have higher survival throughout adulthood. The early life environment also has important consequences for adult reproduction and survival, as in a number of other bird and mammal species. In seasonal breeders, early life effects often apply to entire cohorts; in contrast, in nonseasonal and highly social species such as baboons, early life effects are more individual-specific, stemming from considerable variation not only in the early physical environment (even if they are born in the same year) but also in the particulars of their social environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan C. Alberts
- Departments of Biology and Evolutionary AnthropologyDuke UniversityDurhamNorth Carolina
- Institute of Primate ResearchNational Museums of KenyaKarenNairobiKenya
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