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Tonos J, Papinot B, Park DS, Raelison M, Ramaroson H, Stubbs J, Razafindratsima OH. Examining the structure of plant-lemur interactions in the face of imperfect knowledge. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024:e14323. [PMID: 39045776 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Biotic interactions, such as plant-animal seed dispersal mutualisms, are essential for ecosystem function. Such interactions are threatened by the possible extinction of the animal partners. Using a data set that includes plant-lemur interactions across Madagascar, we studied the current state of knowledge of these interactions and their structure to determine which plant species are most at risk of losing dispersal services due to the loss of lemurs. We found substantial gaps in understanding of plant-lemur interactions; data were substantially skewed toward a few lemur species and locations. There was also a large gap in knowledge on the interactions of plants and small-bodied or nocturnal lemurs and lemurs outside a few highly studied locations. Of the recorded interactions, a significant portion occurred between lemurs and endemic plants, rather than native or introduced plants. We also found that lemur species tended to primarily consume closely related plant species. Such interaction patterns may indicate the threats to Malagasy endemic plants and highlight how lemur population loss or reductions could affect plant phylogenetic diversity. When examining the impacts of lemur extinction, losing critically endangered species left 164 plant species with no known lemur frugivore partners. Despite phylogenetic patterns in lemur diet, plants for which the only known lemur frugivore is critically endangered were not closely related. These results emphasize the need for further studies to complete our knowledge on these essential interactions and to inform conservation priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jadelys Tonos
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Bastien Papinot
- Tundra Ecology Lab, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Daniel S Park
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Herilantonirina Ramaroson
- Zootechnic, Veterinary and Fish Research Department (DRZVP), National Research Institute Applied for Rural Development (FOFIFA / CENRADERU), Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Jessica Stubbs
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Onja H Razafindratsima
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
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2
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Caddeo A, Spagnuolo R, Maurotti S. MBOAT7 in liver and extrahepatic diseases. Liver Int 2023; 43:2351-2364. [PMID: 37605540 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
MBOAT7 is a protein anchored to endomembranes by several transmembrane domains. It has a catalytic dyad involved in remodelling of phosphatidylinositol with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Genetic variants in the MBOAT7 gene have been associated with the entire spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD), recently redefined as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and, lately, steatotic liver disease (SLD), and to an increasing number of extrahepatic conditions. In this review, we will (a) elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which MBOAT7 loss-of-function predisposes to MAFLD and neurodevelopmental disorders and (b) discuss the growing number of genetic studies linking MBOAT7 to hepatic and extrahepatic diseases. MBOAT7 complete loss of function causes severe changes in brain development resulting in several neurological manifestations. Lower MBOAT7 hepatic expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, due to missense nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the locus containing the MBOAT7 gene, affects specifically metabolic and viral diseases in the liver from simple steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma, and potentially COVID-19 disease. This body of evidence shows that phosphatidylinositol remodelling is a key factor for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Caddeo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Oncology and Molecular Pathology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Rocco Spagnuolo
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Samantha Maurotti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
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3
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Beeby N, Rothman JM, Baden AL. Nutrient balancing in a fruit-specialist primate, the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata). Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23484. [PMID: 36891766 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Animals' foraging behavior and dietary choices are, in part, driven by their ultimate function: to meet nutritional demands. However, depending on their degree of dietary specialization and the availability and distribution of food resources in their environment, species may utilize different nutritional strategies. With shifting plant phenology, increasing unpredictability of fruiting, and declining food quality in response to anthropogenic climate change, existing nutritional constraints may become exacerbated. Such changes are especially concerning for Madagascar's endemic fruit specialists given the nutrient-limitation of the island's landscapes. In this study, we examined the nutritional strategy of one such fruit-specialist primate, the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), over a 12-month period (January to December 2018) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. We hypothesized that Varecia would balance nonprotein energy (NPE) to protein (AP) at a high ratio similar to other frugivorous primates, and that they would prioritize protein intake given their high degree of frugivory. We found that Varecia balance NPE:AP at a ratio of 11:1, higher than in any other primate studied to date; however, diets shifted such that nutrient balancing varied seasonally (12.6:1 abundant-9.6:1 lean). Varecia meet NRC suggested recommendations of 5-8% of calories from protein, despite having a diet mostly comprising fruits. However, seasonal shifts in NPE intakes result in significant energy shortfalls during fruit-lean seasons. Flowers provide an important source of NPE during these periods, with flower consumption best predicting lipid intake, suggesting this species' ability to shift resource use. Nevertheless, achieving adequate and balanced nutrient intakes may become precarious in the face of increasing unpredictability in plant phenology and other environmental stochasticities resulting from climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Beeby
- Department of Anthropology, The Graduate Center of City University of New York, New York, USA.,The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, USA
| | - Jessica M Rothman
- Department of Anthropology, The Graduate Center of City University of New York, New York, USA.,The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, USA.,Department of Anthropology, Hunter College of City University of New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea L Baden
- Department of Anthropology, The Graduate Center of City University of New York, New York, USA.,The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, USA.,Department of Anthropology, Hunter College of City University of New York, New York, USA
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4
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Ramanantsalama RV, Ganzhorn JU, Vololona J, Goodman SM. Bat flies: source of supplement nutrients for an endemic Malagasy fruit bat. TROPICAL ZOOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.4081/tz.2022.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Among frugivorous vertebrates, the nutritional composition of consumed fruits often needs supplementing by other food types, such as leaves, pollen or invertebrates, to meet dietary requirements. The endemic Malagasy fruit bat, Rousettus madagascariensis (Pteropodidae), actively feeds on their dipteran fly ectoparasites, principally of the family Nycteribiidae and Streblidae, during grooming activities. Since bat flies take blood meals from their hosts, the consumption of these flies by bats might represent a mechanism of recycling and reducing the loss of important nutritional components, such as minerals or proteins and fatty acids. The contribution of these ectoparasites to the diet of R. madagascariensis is 4–10% of the daily protein requirements. This is an important proportion for a species considered to be exclusively frugivorous.
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5
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Watkins B, de Guinea M, Poindexter SA, Ganzhorn JU, Donati G, Eppley TM. Routes matter: the effect of seasonality on bamboo lemur navigational strategies. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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6
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Greene LK, Rambeloson E, Rasoanaivo HA, Foss ED, Yoder AD, Drea CM, Blanco MB. Gut Microbial Diversity and Ecological Specialization in Four Sympatric Lemur Species Under Lean Conditions. INT J PRIMATOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-021-00257-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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7
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Fiedler PMA, De Lapparent A, Razafitsalama J, Sanamo J, Steffens KJE, Ganzhorn JU. Secondary seed removal in a degraded forest habitat in Madagascar. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16823. [PMID: 34413376 PMCID: PMC8377146 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96306-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Forest restoration is a prime goal within the 2021-2030 UN "Decade of Ecosystem Resoration". As part of these activities, natural regeneration has to be promoted for biological as well as for economic reasons. For this, the processes of seed dispersal, seed predation and germination have to be understood in the original as well as in degraded vegetation formations. We used seed removal experiments to assess post-dispersal processes that influence recruitment along a gradient of forest degradation in Madagascar analyzing seeds of three animal dispersed tree species. The percentage of seeds consumed or dispersed, declined from forest (28.6%) to degraded forest (17.2%) to savanna (10.8%). Only three out of 1080 seeds were cached and remained intact during the 14-day experiment. All three seeds were cached in the forest habitat and none in the degraded forest and savanna. The low percentage of seeds removed may be due to the lack of endemic rodents caching seeds, as only introduced rats were recorded in the area. The species-poor fauna of potential secondary seed dispersers of the region and especially in the degraded areas might represent an obstacle for diverse regeneration in degraded regions of Madagascar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula M A Fiedler
- Institute of Zoology, Animal Ecology and Conservation, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alice De Lapparent
- Département de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 75005, Paris, France.,Département de Biologie, M2 Agroécologie, Connaissances, Territoires et Sociétés (ACTES), Université de Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
| | | | - Justin Sanamo
- Département Sciences de la Nature et de l'Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antsiranana, 201, Antsiranana, Madagascar
| | - Kim J E Steffens
- Institute of Zoology, Animal Ecology and Conservation, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jörg U Ganzhorn
- Institute of Zoology, Animal Ecology and Conservation, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
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8
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Rowe AK, Donohue ME, Clare EL, Drinkwater R, Koenig A, Ridgway ZM, Martin LD, Nomenjanahary ES, Zakamanana F, Randriamanandaza LJ, Rakotonirina TE, Wright PC. Exploratory analysis reveals arthropod consumption in 10 lemur species using DNA metabarcoding. Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23256. [PMID: 33818786 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Arthropods (insects, spiders, etc.) can fulfill major nutritional requirements for primates, particularly in terms of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Yet, for many primate species we know very little about the frequency and importance of arthropod consumption. Traditional methods for arthropod prey identification, such as behavioral observations and fecal dissections, offer limited taxonomic resolution and, as a result, underestimate true diversity. Metabarcoding arthropod DNA from primate fecal samples provides a promising but underused alternative. Here, we inventoried arthropod prey diversity in wild lemurs by sequencing two regions of the CO1 gene. Samples were collected opportunistically from 10 species of lemurs inhabiting three national parks in southern Madagascar using a combination of focal animal follows and live trapping. In total, we detected arthropod DNA in 98 of the 170 fecal samples analyzed. Although all lemur species included in these analyses showed evidence of arthropod consumption, those within the family Cheirogaleidae appeared to consume the highest frequency and diversity of arthropods. To our knowledge, this study presents the first evidence of arthropod consumption in Phaner pallescens, Avahi peyrierasi, and Propithecus verreauxi, and identifies 32 families of arthropods as probable food items that have not been published as lemur dietary items to date. Our study emphasizes the importance of arthropods as a nutritional source and the role DNA metabarcoding can play in elucidating an animal's diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Rowe
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Mariah E Donohue
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Clare
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Rosie Drinkwater
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Andreas Koenig
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA.,Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Zachary M Ridgway
- Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Luke D Martin
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Eva S Nomenjanahary
- Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | | | | | - Patricia C Wright
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA.,Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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9
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Guevara EE, Webster TH, Lawler RR, Bradley BJ, Greene LK, Ranaivonasy J, Ratsirarson J, Harris RA, Liu Y, Murali S, Raveendran M, Hughes DST, Muzny DM, Yoder AD, Worley KC, Rogers J. Comparative genomic analysis of sifakas ( Propithecus) reveals selection for folivory and high heterozygosity despite endangered status. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/17/eabd2274. [PMID: 33893095 PMCID: PMC8064638 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd2274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Sifakas (genus Propithecus) are critically endangered, large-bodied diurnal lemurs that eat leaf-based diets and show corresponding anatomical and microbial adaptations to folivory. We report on the genome assembly of Coquerel's sifaka (P. coquereli) and the resequenced genomes of Verreaux's (P. verreauxi), the golden-crowned (P. tattersalli), and the diademed (P. diadema) sifakas. We find high heterozygosity in all sifakas compared with other primates and endangered mammals. Demographic reconstructions nevertheless suggest declines in effective population size beginning before human arrival on Madagascar. Comparative genomic analyses indicate pervasive accelerated evolution in the ancestral sifaka lineage affecting genes in several complementary pathways relevant to folivory, including nutrient absorption and xenobiotic and fatty acid metabolism. Sifakas show convergent evolution at the level of the pathway, gene family, gene, and amino acid substitution with other folivores. Although sifakas have relatively generalized diets, the physiological challenges of habitual folivory likely led to strong selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine E Guevara
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Timothy H Webster
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Richard R Lawler
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
| | - Brenda J Bradley
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Lydia K Greene
- Duke Lemur Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0338, USA
| | - Jeannin Ranaivonasy
- Département Agroécologie, Biodiversité et Changement Climatique, ESSA, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Joelisoa Ratsirarson
- Département Agroécologie, Biodiversité et Changement Climatique, ESSA, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - R Alan Harris
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yue Liu
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shwetha Murali
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Muthuswamy Raveendran
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Donna M Muzny
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anne D Yoder
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0338, USA
| | - Kim C Worley
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey Rogers
- Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53715, USA
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10
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11
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Beeby N, Baden AL. Seasonal variability in the diet and feeding ecology of black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) in Ranomafana National Park, southeastern Madagascar. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 174:763-775. [PMID: 33463723 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We characterized the diet and foraging ecology of the black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), a specialized frugivore, and investigated behavioral strategies exhibited in response to seasonal changes in resource availability. MATERIALS AND METHODS Behavioral data were collected from the same two adjacent communities across 29 months during two observation periods (2007-2008; 2017-2018) in Mangevo, a primary rainforest habitat in southeastern Madagascar. To analyze feeding in the context of energy maximization versus time minimization strategies, we used nonparametric tests to compare plant part constituents, dietary diversity, activity budgets, and canopy strata use between fruit-abundant versus fruit-lean seasons. RESULTS Individuals dedicated ~30% of their time to feeding year-round, mostly in the middle canopy (11-20 m). Animals fed primarily on fruits (74% of diet), but frugivory decreased and folivory increased markedly during fruit-lean seasons. Abundant season dietary diversity (98 taxa, H' = 0.71-1.37) was greater than lean season diversity (70 taxa, H' = 0.56-1.06), which coincided with less traveling, more resting, and higher canopy use-though interannual variation was observed. CONCLUSIONS Herein, we describe behavioral and dietary patterns that are concordant with a time minimizing behavioral strategy. Black-and-white ruffed lemur diets comprised lower taxonomic diversity, fewer fruits, and more leaves during fruit-lean months. Further, shifts toward less travel, more resting, and greater use of higher canopy levels during this time were most likely for thermoregulatory benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Beeby
- The Graduate Center of City University of New York, New York, New York, USA.,The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea L Baden
- The Graduate Center of City University of New York, New York, New York, USA.,The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, New York, USA.,Department of Anthropology, Hunter College of City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
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12
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim J. E. Steffens
- Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology University of Hamburg Martin‐Luther‐King Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg Germany
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13
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Greene LK, Clarke TA, Southworth CA, Bornbusch SL, Ehmke EE. Daily lettuce supplements promote foraging behavior and modify the gut microbiota in captive frugivores. Zoo Biol 2020; 39:334-344. [PMID: 32608534 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
For captive primates, greater provisioning of leafy greens or foliage can promote natural foraging behavior while boosting fiber intake. Recalcitrant fiber, although minimally available to endogenous metabolism, is readily fermented into nutrients by gut microbes. Whereas most primates in captivity consume fiber-limited diets and harbor imbalanced gut microbiota compared to their wild conspecifics, the importance of fiber provisioning to primate gut microbiota has predominately been studied in folivores. We, therefore, determined if commercial lettuce could be used to encourage foraging behavior and modify the gut microbiota of captive frugivores. We provisioned ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra and V. variegata) with romaine lettuce, on top of the standard dietary fare, for 10 consecutive days. Before and across the period of lettuce supplementation, we collected observational data of animal feeding and fecal samples for microbiome analysis, determined via amplicon sequencing. The ruffed lemurs and their gut microbes responded to lettuce provisioning. In particular, younger animals readily ate lettuce and showed no decline in consumption across study days. When controlling for the effects of host species and social-group membership, lettuce consumption shifted the composition of the gut microbiome away from each lemur's own baseline, an effect that became stronger as the study progressed. In the final study days, Ruminococcaceae UCG-008 and Akkermansia, microbes typically and respectively associated with fiber metabolism and host health, were significantly enriched in the consortia of lettuce-provisioned subjects. Ultimately, the routine offering of lettuce, leafy greens, or foliage to captive frugivores may benefit animal wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia K Greene
- University Program in Ecology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Research Department, Duke Lemur Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Tara A Clarke
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Chelsea A Southworth
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Sally L Bornbusch
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Erin E Ehmke
- Research Department, Duke Lemur Center, Durham, North Carolina
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14
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Li Y, Ma G, Zhou Q, Li Y, Huang Z. Nutrient contents predict the bamboo-leaf-based diet of Assamese macaques living in limestone forests of southwest Guangxi, China. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5570-5581. [PMID: 32607175 PMCID: PMC7319238 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the nutrient factors influencing food choice provides important insight into the feeding strategy of animals, which is crucial for understanding their behavioral response to environmental changes. A bamboo-leaf-based diet is rare among mammals. Animals' food choice and nutritional goals have been explained by several frameworks; however, the influence of nutrients on food choice in bamboo-leaf-based macaques is not yet available. Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis) inhabiting limestone forests are characterized by such a bamboo-leaf-based diet, predominantly consuming young leaves of Bonia saxatilis, a shrubby, karst-endemic bamboo. We studied the feeding behavior of one group of Assamese macaques using instantaneous scan sampling in limestone forests of the Guangxi Nonggang National Nature Reserve in southwest Guangxi, China. We compared the nutrient content of staple food and nonfood items and examine the role of key nutrients in the food selection of macaques. Our results showed that young leaves of bamboo B. saxatilis contained more water, crude protein, phosphorus, and less tannin than nonfood items. Furthermore, staple foods contained a higher content of water and less content of calcium than nonfood items. More specifically, quantities of water, crude protein, calcium, and phosphorus in food items were critical factors affecting feeding time on a specific plant item. Our results suggest that young bamboo leaves could meet macaques' required protein and water intake, while enabling them to maintain their mineral balance, consequently facilitating to maintain the primates' bamboo-leaf-diet in the limestone forest. Our findings confirm the effects of nutrient contents in food choice of Assamese macaques, highlighting the importance of the nutrient contents in maintaining their bamboo-based diet and the need to increase the knowledge on their nutritional strategy adapted to the bamboo-dominated diet inhabiting the unique limestone habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University)Ministry of EducationGuilinChina
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal EcologyGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
| | - Guangzhi Ma
- School of Life SciencesSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Qihai Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University)Ministry of EducationGuilinChina
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal EcologyGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
| | - Youbang Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University)Ministry of EducationGuilinChina
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal EcologyGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
| | - Zhonghao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University)Ministry of EducationGuilinChina
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal EcologyGuangxi Normal UniversityGuilinChina
- School of Life SciencesSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhouChina
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15
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Valenta K, Nevo O. The dispersal syndrome hypothesis: How animals shaped fruit traits, and how they did not. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kim Valenta
- Department of Anthropology University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Omer Nevo
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics Ulm University Ulm Germany
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16
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Eppley TM, Santini L, Tinsman JC, Donati G. Do functional traits offset the effects of fragmentation? The case of large-bodied diurnal lemur species. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23104. [PMID: 32011761 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Primates worldwide are faced with increasing threats making them more vulnerable to extinction. Anthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat degradation and fragmentation, are among the main concerns, and in Madagascar, these issues have become widespread. As this situation continues to worsen, we sought to understand how fragmentation affects primate distribution throughout the island. Further, because species may exhibit different sensitivity to fragmentation, we also aimed to estimate the role of functional traits in mitigating their response. We collated data from 32 large-bodied lemur species ranges, consisting of species from the families Lemuridae (five genera) and Indriidae (two genera). We fitted Generalized Linear Models to determine the role of habitat fragmentation characteristics, for example, forest cover, patch size, edge density, and landscape configuration, as well as the protected area (PA) network, on the species relative probability of presence. We then assessed how the influence of functional traits (dietary guild, home range size) mitigate the response of species to these habitat metrics. Habitat area had a strong positive effect for many species, and there were significantly negative effects of fragmentation on the distribution of many lemur species. In addition, there was a positive influence of PAs on many lemur species' distribution. Functional trait classifications showed that lemurs of all dietary guilds are negatively affected by fragmentation; however, folivore-frugivores show greater flexibility/variability in terms of habitat area and landscape complexity compared to nearly exclusive folivores and frugivores. Furthermore, species of all home range sizes showed a negative response to fragmentation, while habitat area had an increasingly positive effect as home range increased in size. Overall, the general trends for the majority of lemur species are dire and point to the need for immediate actions on a multitude of fronts, most importantly landscape-level reforestation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Eppley
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, California.,Department of Anthropology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Luca Santini
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, Montelibretti, Italy.,Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Institute for Wetland and Water Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jen C Tinsman
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Giuseppe Donati
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
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17
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Ross AC. Lactating Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus coquereli) exhibit reduced stress responses in comparison to males and nonlactating females. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23103. [PMID: 31994758 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that plays a principal role in metabolic function and stress responses in wild primates. Stressors are ubiquitous in environments and elicit a variety of physiological and behavioral responses. While stress responses are adaptive in the short-term, they can have negative effects when experienced over longer durations. As a physiological stressor, the process of lactation is an energetically expensive activity for mammals. Milk production increases water loss and increased hydration demands are amplified in mammalian species inhabiting xeric habitats, including lemur species living in northwestern Madagascar-the region for this research work. Here, sifakas give birth during the dry season (May-October) and wean infants during the subsequent wet season (November-April). The author collected fecal samples during the 24 weeks following infant births in 10 groups of Coquerel's sifaka in Ankarafantsika Park, Madagascar. The author analyzed the samples by comparing the first 12-week time block to the second 12-week time block, which corresponded to the dry and the beginning of the wet seasons, respectively. Analyses were based on 375 samples collected over two birth seasons (2010 and 2011). A linear mixed model determined the relationships between reproductive class and temporal cortisol variation. The three reproductive classes had significantly different cortisol concentrations. Lactating females had lower cortisol than adult males and nonlactating females in all weeks postnatal. Males had significantly higher cortisol in weeks 13-24 relative to weeks 1-12. Examining seasonal changes in cortisol concentrations demonstrates how lemurs respond physiologically to the energetic constraints of lactation during the critical life history stage of infant development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail C Ross
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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18
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Crowley BE, Godfrey LR. Strontium Isotopes Support Small Home Ranges for Extinct Lemurs. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Ramanantsalama RV, Noroalintseheno Lalarivoniaina OS, Raselimanana AP, Goodman SM. Seasonal Variation in Diurnal Cave-Roosting Behavior of a Malagasy Fruit Bat (Rousettus madagascariensis, Chiroptera: Pteropodidae). ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2019.21.1.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Riana V. Ramanantsalama
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d'Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
| | | | - Achille P. Raselimanana
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d'Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
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20
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Semel BP, Baden AL, Salisbury RL, McGee EM, Wright PC, Arrigo‐Nelson SJ. Assessing the function of geophagy in a Malagasy rain forest lemur. Biotropica 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Lee Baden
- Department of Anthropology Hunter College New York NY USA
- Department of Anthropology The Graduate Center of City University of New York New York NY USA
- The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology New York NY USA
| | - Rachael Lee Salisbury
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science California University of Pennsylvania California PA USA
| | - Elizabeth M. McGee
- Department of Biological Sciences San Jose State University San Jose CA USA
| | | | - Summer Joyce Arrigo‐Nelson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science California University of Pennsylvania California PA USA
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21
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Nevo O, Razafimandimby D, Valenta K, Jeffrey JAJ, Reisdorff C, Chapman CA, Ganzhorn JU, Ayasse M. Signal and reward in wild fleshy fruits: Does fruit scent predict nutrient content? Ecol Evol 2019; 9:10534-10543. [PMID: 31624565 PMCID: PMC6787828 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant species with fleshy fruits offer animals rewards such as sugar, protein, and fat, to feed on their fruits and disperse their seeds. They have also evolved visual and olfactory signals indicating their presence and ripeness.In some systems, fruit color serves as a reliable visual signal of nutrient content. Yet even though many volatile chemicals used as olfactory signals derive from nutrients animals seek, it is still unknown whether fruit scent encodes information regarding nutrient content in wild fruits.We examine the relationship between olfactory signals and nutrient rewards in 28 fruiting plant species in Madagascar. We measured the relative amounts of four chemical classes in fruit scent using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, as well as the relative amounts of sugar and protein in fruit pulp.We found that protein levels are not associated with elevated amounts of chemically related volatile compounds in fruit scent. In contrast, sugar content is strongly associated with the chemical composition of fruit scent.To our knowledge, this is the first research to explore the connection between fruit chemical signals and nutrient rewards. Our results imply that in the case of sugar, fruit scent is predictive of nutrient content and hence an honest signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer Nevo
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation GenomicsUlm UniversityUlmGermany
| | - Diary Razafimandimby
- Faculty of Sciences, Zoology and Animal BiodiversityUniversity of AntananarivoAntananarivoMadagascar
| | - Kim Valenta
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | - Juan Antonio James Jeffrey
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation GenomicsUlm UniversityUlmGermany
- Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsCTUSA
| | - Christoph Reisdorff
- Institute of Plant Science and MicrobiologyUniversity of HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Colin A. Chapman
- Department of AnthropologyMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
- School of Life ScienceUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalScottsvilleSouth Africa
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China of Ministry of EducationCollege of Life ScienceNorthwest UniversityXianChina
| | - Jörg U. Ganzhorn
- Animal Ecology and ConservationUniversity of HamburgHamburgGermany
| | - Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation GenomicsUlm UniversityUlmGermany
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22
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Tecot SR, Irwin MT, Raharison JL. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite profiles in diademed sifakas increase during seasonal fruit scarcity with interactive effects of age/sex class and habitat degradation. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 7:coz001. [PMID: 30746150 PMCID: PMC6364291 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are metabolic byproducts of animals' physiological responses to ecological or social challenges and are thought to represent an adaptive response allowing beneficial responses to short-term challenges. Glucocorticoid metabolites (GCs) can be assayed non-invasively through faeces and therefore can be a useful tool to gauge the health of populations experiencing natural and/or anthropogenic stressors. However, the response of GCs to anthropogenic stressors varies, with both higher and lower GC levels reported. Here, we describe variation in GC secretion within eight diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema) groups across 1 year. These groups span a gradient of anthropogenic habitat disturbance, including groups in continuous forest ('CONT') and disturbed fragments ('FRAG'), and indicators of health suggest that FRAG groups are negatively impacted by habitat disturbance. We monitored phenology, used focal animal follows to quantify diet and collected faeces (n = 547) from which we quantified GC content using enzyme immunoassay. All groups showed elevated lean-season GCs, but with a single, brief peak. GCs were inversely correlated with feeding time. No overall effect of habitat (CONT vs. FRAG) was found, but the lean-season peak was significantly higher in CONT groups. There was a significant season*age-sex interaction; adult females had an attenuated lean-season response compared with groupmates. The observed lean-season 'challenge' is consistent with previous lemur studies, as well as mammals in general. Low and largely invariable GC levels in FRAG, within the context of observed health and nutritional declines, suggest that FRAG groups employ a strategy whereby the adrenal response to stressors is downregulated. More research is needed to contextualize our observations of GC variation and health on an individual level, both in terms of corroborating evidence for ecological and social stressors, and longer-term quantification of reproductive success and fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey R Tecot
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ, USA
- Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ, USA
- Co-first authors
| | - Mitchell T Irwin
- Department of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb IL, USA
- Co-first authors
| | - Jean-Luc Raharison
- NGO Sadabe, Lot AB64bis, Ankadindravola, Ivato Firaisana, 105 Antananarivo, Madagascar
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