1
|
Hamilton MI, Copeland SR, Nelson SV. A reanalysis of strontium isotope ratios as indicators of dispersal in South African hominins. J Hum Evol 2024; 187:103480. [PMID: 38159536 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Dispersal patterns in primates have major implications for behavior and sociality but are difficult to reconstruct for fossil species. This study applies novel strontium isotope methodologies that have reliably predicted philopatry and dispersal patterns in chimpanzees and other modern primates to previously published strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) of two South African hominins, Australopithecus africanus and Australopithecus robustus. In this study, the difference or 'offset' was calculated between the 87Sr/86Sr of each fossil tooth compared to local bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr as defined by cluster analysis of modern plant isotope ratios. Large teeth (presumably belonging to males) have low offsets from local 87Sr/86Sr proxies, while small teeth (presumably from females) have greater offsets from local 87Sr/86Sr proxies. This supports previous conclusions of male philopatry and female dispersal in both A. africanus and A. robustus. Furthermore, A. robustus shows more extreme differences between presumed males and females compared to A. africanus. This is analogous to differences seen in modern olive baboons compared to chimpanzees and suggests that A. africanus may have had a larger home range than A. robustus. Neither hominin species has 87Sr/86Sr consistent with riparian habitat preferences despite the demonstrated presence of riparian habitats in South Africa at the time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marian I Hamilton
- University of New Mexico, Department of Anthropology, MSC01-1040 1, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA; University of Northern Colorado, Department of Anthropology, Candelaria Hall 2200, Campus Box 90, Greeley, CO, 80639, USA.
| | - Sandi R Copeland
- Environmental Stewardship Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Sherry V Nelson
- University of New Mexico, Department of Anthropology, MSC01-1040 1, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kellam JO, McLuckie AM, Hartwig EJ, Papadopoulos DT. MOJAVE DESERT TORTOISE (GOPHERUS AGASSIZII) MORTALITY AND INJURY FOLLOWING THE COTTONWOOD TRAIL FIRE IN RED CLIFFS NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA, UTAH. SOUTHWEST NAT 2022. [DOI: 10.1894/0038-4909-66.4.298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John O. Kellam
- Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Bureau of Land Management, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84790 (JOK, EJH, DTP)
| | - Ann M. McLuckie
- Washington County Field Office, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 451 North SR-318, Hurricane, UT 84737 (AMM)
| | - Emily J. Hartwig
- Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Bureau of Land Management, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84790 (JOK, EJH, DTP)
| | - Demetria T. Papadopoulos
- Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Bureau of Land Management, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84790 (JOK, EJH, DTP)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Weinstein SB, Stephens WZ, Greenhalgh R, Round JL, Dearing MD. Wild herbivorous mammals (genus Neotoma) host a diverse but transient assemblage of fungi. Symbiosis 2022; 87:45-58. [PMID: 37915425 PMCID: PMC10619970 DOI: 10.1007/s13199-022-00853-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are often overlooked in microbiome research and, as a result, little is known about the mammalian mycobiome. Although frequently detected in vertebrate guts and known to contribute to digestion in some herbivores, whether these eukaryotes are a persistent part of the mammalian gut microbiome remains contentious. To address this question, we sampled fungi from wild woodrats (Neotoma spp.) collected from 25 populations across the southwestern United States. For each animal, we collected a fecal sample in the wild, and then re-sampled the same individual after a month in captivity on a controlled diet. We characterized and quantified fungi using three techniques: ITS metabarcoding, shotgun metagenomics and qPCR. Wild individuals contained diverse fungal assemblages dominated by plant pathogens, widespread molds, and coprophilous taxa primarily in Ascomycota and Mucoromycota. Fungal abundance, diversity and composition differed between individuals, and was primarily influenced by animal geographic origin. Fungal abundance and diversity significantly declined in captivity, indicating that most fungi in wild hosts came from diet and environmental exposure. While this suggests that these mammals lack a persistent gut mycobiome, natural fungal exposure may still impact fungal dispersal and animal health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara B. Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - W. Zac Stephens
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Robert Greenhalgh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - June L. Round
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - M. Denise Dearing
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Matocq MD, Ochsenrider KM, Jeffrey CS, Nielsen DP, Richards LA. Fine-Scale Differentiation in Diet and Metabolomics of Small Mammals Across a Sharp Ecological Transition. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
|
5
|
Kohl KD, Oakeson KF, Orr TJ, Miller AW, Forbey JS, Phillips CD, Dale C, Weiss RB, Dearing MD. Metagenomic sequencing provides insights into microbial detoxification in the guts of small mammalian herbivores (Neotoma spp.). FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2019; 94:5092587. [PMID: 30202961 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial detoxification of plant toxins influences the use of plants as food sources by herbivores. Stephen's woodrats (Neotoma stephensi) specialize on juniper, which is defended by oxalate, phenolics and monoterpenes, while closely related N. albigula specialize on cactus, which only contains oxalate. Woodrats maintain two gut chambers harboring dense microbial communities: a foregut chamber proximal to the major site of toxin absorption, and a cecal chamber in their hindgut. We performed several experiments to investigate the location and nature of microbial detoxification in the woodrat gut. First, we measured toxin concentrations across gut chambers of N. stephensi. Compared to food material, oxalate concentrations were immediately lower in the foregut, while concentrations of terpenes remained high in the foregut, and were lowest in the cecal chamber. We conducted metagenomic sequencing of the foregut chambers of both woodrat species and cecal chambers of N. stephensi to compare microbial functions. We found that most genes associated with detoxification were more abundant in the cecal chambers of N. stephensi. However, some genes associated with degradation of oxalate and phenolic compounds were more abundant in the foregut chambers. Thus, microbial detoxification may take place in various chambers depending on the class of chemical compound.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Kelly F Oakeson
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Teri J Orr
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Aaron W Miller
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.,Departments of Urology and Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jennifer Sorensen Forbey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, 83725 USA
| | - Caleb D Phillips
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2901 Main Street, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Colin Dale
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Robert B Weiss
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, 15 North 2030 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - M Denise Dearing
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dearing MD, Kohl KD. Beyond Fermentation: Other Important Services Provided to Endothermic Herbivores by their Gut Microbiota. Integr Comp Biol 2018; 57:723-731. [PMID: 28662572 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icx020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, comparative biologists have recognized the importance of microbial partners in facilitating herbivory as a successful feeding strategy. Most of this success is attributed to the ability of gut microbes to digest recalcitrant dietary fiber and provides usable nutrients to their hosts. Gut microbes can also provide numerous other functions, such as vitamin synthesis, nitrogen recycling, and the detoxification of plant secondary compounds. Here, we review these microbial functions in herbivorous mammals and birds, highlighting studies that utilize recently developed metagenomic techniques. Several of these studies emphasize that microbial services are the product of interactions and exchanges within a complex microbial community, rather than the product of an individual member. Additionally, a number of these microbial functions are interdependent. For example, levels of dietary nitrogen or plant toxins can influence fiber digestibility. Further studies into the variety of microbial services provided to herbivorous hosts, and how these services might interact will broaden our understanding of host-microbe interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Denise Dearing
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kohl KD, Dearing MD. The Woodrat Gut Microbiota as an Experimental System for Understanding Microbial Metabolism of Dietary Toxins. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1165. [PMID: 27516760 PMCID: PMC4963388 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbial communities inhabiting the alimentary tracts of mammals, particularly those of herbivores, are estimated to be one of the densest microbial reservoirs on Earth. The significance of these gut microbes in influencing the physiology, ecology and evolution of their hosts is only beginning to be realized. To understand the microbiome of herbivores with a focus on nutritional ecology, while evaluating the roles of host evolution and environment in sculpting microbial diversity, we have developed an experimental system consisting of the microbial communities of several species of herbivorous woodrats (genus Neotoma) that naturally feed on a variety of dietary toxins. We designed this system to investigate the long-standing, but experimentally neglected hypothesis that ingestion of toxic diets by herbivores is facilitated by the gut microbiota. Like several other rodent species, the woodrat stomach has a sacculated, non-gastric foregut portion. We have documented a dense and diverse community of microbes in the woodrat foregut, with several genera potentially capable of degrading dietary toxins and/or playing a role in stimulating hepatic detoxification enzymes of the host. The biodiversity of these gut microbes appears to be a function of host evolution, ecological experience and diet, such that dietary toxins increase microbial diversity in hosts with experience with these toxins while novel toxins depress microbial diversity. These microbial communities are critical to the ingestion of a toxic diet as reducing the microbial community with antibiotics impairs the host's ability to feed on dietary toxins. Furthermore, the detoxification capacity of gut microbes can be transferred from Neotoma both intra and interspecifically to naïve animals that lack ecological and evolutionary history with these toxins. In addition to advancing our knowledge of complex host-microbes interactions, this system holds promise for identifying microbes that could be useful in the treatment of diseases in humans and domestic animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D. Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, NashvilleTN, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Malenke JR, Milash B, Miller AW, Dearing MD. Transcriptome sequencing and microarray development for the woodrat (Neotoma spp.): custom genetic tools for exploring herbivore ecology. Mol Ecol Resour 2013; 13:674-87. [PMID: 23496907 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 01/31/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Massively parallel sequencing has enabled the creation of novel, in-depth genetic tools for nonmodel, ecologically important organisms. We present the de novo transcriptome sequencing, analysis and microarray development for a vertebrate herbivore, the woodrat (Neotoma spp.). This genus is of ecological and evolutionary interest, especially with respect to ingestion and hepatic metabolism of potentially toxic plant secondary compounds. We generated a liver transcriptome of the desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida) using the Roche 454 platform. The assembled contigs were well annotated using rodent references (99.7% annotation), and biotransformation function was reflected in the gene ontology. The transcriptome was used to develop a custom microarray (eArray, Agilent). We tested the microarray with three experiments: one across species with similar habitat (thus, dietary) niches, one across species with different habitat niches and one across populations within a species. The resulting one-colour arrays had high technical and biological quality. Probes designed from the woodrat transcriptome performed significantly better than functionally similar probes from the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus). There were a multitude of expression differences across the woodrat treatments, many of which related to biotransformation processes and activities. The pattern and function of the differences indicate shared ecological pressures, and not merely phylogenetic distance, play an important role in shaping gene expression profiles of woodrat species and populations. The quality and functionality of the woodrat transcriptome and custom microarray suggest these tools will be valuable for expanding the scope of herbivore biology, as well as the exploration of conceptual topics in ecology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J R Malenke
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wöll S, Kim SH, Greten HJ, Efferth T. Animal plant warfare and secondary metabolite evolution. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2013; 3. [PMCID: PMC4131614 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-013-0004-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Abstract The long-lasting discussion, why plants produce secondary metabolites, which are pharmacologically and toxicologically active towards mammals traces back to the eminent role of medicinal plants in the millennia-old history of manhood. In recent years, the concept of an animal plant warfare emerged, which focused on the co-evolution between plants and herbivores. As a reaction to herbivory, plants developed mechanical defenses such as thorns and hard shells, which paved the way for adapted animal physiques. Plants evolved further defense systems by producing chemicals that exert toxic effects on the animals that ingest them. As a result of this selective pressure, animals developed special enzymes, e.g. cytochrome P450 monooxigenases (CYP450) that metabolize xenobiotic phytochemicals. As a next step in the evolutionary competition between plants and animals, plants evolved to produce non-toxic pro-drugs, which become toxic only after ingestion by animals through metabolization by enzymes such as CYP450. Because these sequestered evolutionary developments call to mind an arms race, the term animal plant warfare has been coined. The evolutionary competition between plants and animals may help to better understand the modes of action of medicinal plants and to foster the efficient and safe use of phytotherapy nowadays. Graphical abstract ![]()
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Wöll
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sun Hee Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Henry Johannes Greten
- Heidelberg School of Chinese Medicine, Karlsruher Straße 12, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany
- Biomedical Sciences Institute Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Skopec MM, Hale A, Torregrossa AM, Dearing MD. Biotransformation enzyme expression in the nasal epithelium of woodrats. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2013; 157:72-9. [PMID: 23058987 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2012.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2012] [Revised: 10/02/2012] [Accepted: 10/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
When herbivores come in contact with volatile plant secondary compounds (PSC) that enter the nasal passages the only barrier between the nasal cavity and the brain is the nasal epithelium and the biotransformation enzymes present there. The expression of two biotransformation enzymes Cytochrome P450 2B (CYP2B) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was investigated in the nasal epithelia and livers of three populations of woodrats. One population of Neotoma albigula was fed juniper that contains volatile terpenes. Juniper caused upregulation of CYP2B and GST in the nasal epithelium and the expression of CYP2B and GST in the nasal epithelium was correlated to liver expression, showing that the nasal epithelia responds to PSC and the response is similar to the liver. Two populations of Neotoma bryanti were fed creosote that contains less volatile phenolics. The creosote naive animals upregulated CYP2B in their nasal epithelia while the creosote experienced animals upregulated GST. There was no correlation between CYP2B and GST expression in the nasal epithelia and livers of either population. The response of the nasal epithelium to PSC seems to be an evolved response that is PSC and experience dependent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michele M Skopec
- Department of Zoology, Weber State University, Ogden, UT 84408, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kohl KD, Dearing MD. Induced and constitutive responses of digestive enzymes to plant toxins in an herbivorous mammal. J Exp Biol 2011; 214:4133-40. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.062356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
SUMMARY
Many plants produce plant secondary compounds (PSCs) that bind and inhibit the digestive enzymes of herbivores, thus limiting digestibility for the herbivore. Herbivorous insects employ several physiological responses to overcome the anti-nutritive effects of PSCs. However, studies in vertebrates have not shown such responses, perhaps stemming from the fact that previously studied vertebrates were not herbivorous. The responses of the digestive system to dietary PSCs in populations of Bryant's woodrat (Neotoma bryanti) that vary in their ecological and evolutionary experience with the PSCs in creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) were compared. Individuals from naïve and experienced populations were fed diets with and without added creosote resin. Animals fed diets with creosote resin had higher activities of pancreatic amylase, as well as luminal amylase and chymotrypsin, regardless of prior experience with creosote. The experienced population showed constitutively higher activities of intestinal maltase and sucrase. Additionally, the naïve population produced an aminopeptidase-N enzyme that was less inhibited by creosote resin when feeding on the creosote resin diet, whereas the experienced population constitutively expressed this form of aminopeptidase-N. Thus, the digestive system of an herbivorous vertebrate responds significantly to dietary PSCs, which may be important for allowing herbivorous vertebrates to feed on PSC-rich diets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D. Kohl
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - M. Denise Dearing
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S. 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Norscia I, Ramanamanjato JB, Ganzhorn JU. Feeding Patterns and Dietary Profile of Nocturnal Southern Woolly Lemurs (Avahi meridionalis) in Southeast Madagascar. INT J PRIMATOL 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-011-9562-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
|
13
|
Diversity and novelty of the gut microbial community of an herbivorous rodent (Neotoma bryanti). Symbiosis 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-011-0125-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
14
|
Rezsutek MJ, Cameron GN. Diet selection and plant nutritional quality in Attwater's pocket gopher (Geomys attwateri). Mamm Biol 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2010.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
15
|
Hanya G, Ménard N, Qarro M, Ibn Tattou M, Fuse M, Vallet D, Yamada A, Go M, Takafumi H, Tsujino R, Agetsuma N, Wada K. Dietary adaptations of temperate primates: comparisons of Japanese and Barbary macaques. Primates 2011; 52:187-98. [PMID: 21340696 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-011-0239-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2010] [Accepted: 01/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Habitat, diet and leaf chemistry are compared between Japanese and Barbary macaques to reveal the similarities and differences in dietary adaptations of temperate primates living at the eastern and western extremes of the genus Macaca. Tree species diversity and proportion of fleshy-fruited species are much higher in Japan than in North Africa. Both species spend considerable annual feeding time on leaves. Japanese macaques prefer fruits and seeds over leaves, and Barbary macaques prefer seeds. These characteristics are adaptive in temperate regions where fruit availability varies considerably with season, since animals can survive during the lean period by relying on leaf and other vegetative foods. The two species are different with respect to the higher consumption of herbs by Barbary macaques, and the leaves consumed contain high condensed and hydrolysable tannin for Barbary but not for Japanese macaques. Barbary macaques supplement less diverse tree foods with herbs. Because of the low species diversity and high tannin content of the dominant tree species, Barbary macaques may have developed the capacity to cope with tannin. This supports the idea that digestion of leaves is indispensable to survive in temperate regions where fruit and seed foods are not available for a prolonged period during each year.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Goro Hanya
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin 41-2, Inuyama, Aichi, 484-8506, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Shipley LA, Forbey JS, Moore BD. Revisiting the dietary niche: When is a mammalian herbivore a specialist? Integr Comp Biol 2009; 49:274-90. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icp051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|