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Habitat degradation impacts black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) gastrointestinal microbiomes

Katherine R Amato1, Carl J Yeoman, Angela Kent

  • 1Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.

The ISME Journal
|March 15, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The gut microbiome of Mexican black howler monkeys varies with habitat and diet. Suboptimal habitats lead to less diverse microbiomes and reduced beneficial genes, potentially impacting monkey health.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Ecology
  • Primate Biology

Background:

  • The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome plays a crucial role in host health and nutrition.
  • Understanding the interplay between GI microbes, host species, and their macrohabitats is essential.
  • Mexican black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) serve as a model to investigate these relationships across diverse environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how habitat variation influences the GI microbiome composition and function in Mexican black howler monkeys.
  • To explore the relationship between diet, habitat quality, and gut microbial diversity.
  • To assess the impact of habitat on microbial genes critical for host health, such as those involved in butyrate production and hydrogen metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • High-throughput microbial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was employed to analyze gut microbiome diversity, richness, and composition.
  • Quantitative real-time PCR was used to quantify specific microbial genes related to metabolic functions.
  • Six groups of howler monkeys across different habitats (rainforest, fragment, semi-deciduous forest, captivity) were studied.

Main Results:

  • Significant variations in GI microbiome diversity, richness, and composition were observed across different host habitats.
  • Howler monkeys in suboptimal habitats exhibited less diverse diets and, consequently, less diverse gut microbiomes.
  • A reduction in genes associated with butyrate production and hydrogen metabolism was detected in the microbiomes of monkeys from suboptimal habitats.

Conclusions:

  • Host habitat is a significant determinant of GI microbiome structure and function in Mexican black howler monkeys.
  • Dietary shifts in response to habitat quality directly impact gut microbiome diversity.
  • Reduced abundance of key metabolic genes in suboptimal habitats may have implications for host gastrointestinal health and overall well-being.

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