Comparative study of gut microbiota reveals the adaptive strategies of gibbons living in suboptimal habitats

npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Feb. 14, 2025

Abstract Wild animals face numerous challenges in less ideal habitats, including the lack of food as well changes diet. Understanding how gut microbiomes wild adapt to resources within suboptimal habitats is critical for their survival. Therefore, we conducted a longitudinal sampling three gibbon species living high-quality ( Nomascus hainanus ) and concolor Hoolock tianxing address dynamics microbiome assembly over one year. The exhibited significantly different microbial diversity composition. N. showed lowest alpha highest nestedness, suggesting more specialized potentially stable community terms composition, while H. displayed high turnover low reflecting dynamic ecosystem, which may indicate greater sensitivity environmental or flexible response habitat variability. was influenced by homogeneous selection deterministic process, primarily driven Prevotellaceae. In contrast, communities were dispersal limitation stochastic Acholeplasmataceae Fibrobacterota, respectively. Further, patterns leaf feeding differed from those other two species. conclusion, this first cross-species comparative study provides initial insights into ecological adaptive strategies point assembly, could contribute long-term conservation primates.

Language: Английский

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What's going to be on the menu with global environmental changes?

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(20), P. 5744 - 5759

Published: July 17, 2023

Ongoing anthropogenic change is altering the planet at an unprecedented rate, threatening biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning. Species are responding to abiotic pressures both individual population levels, with changes affecting trophic interactions through consumptive pathways. Collectively, these impacts alter goods services that natural ecosystems will provide society, as well persistence of all species. Here, we describe physiological behavioral responses species global on levels result in detectable diet across terrestrial marine ecosystems. We illustrate shifts dynamics food webs implications for animal communities. Additionally, highlight myriad tools available researchers investigate consumption patterns interactions, arguing data a crucial component ecological studies change. suggest holistic approach integrating complexities choice environmental drivers may be more robust resolving trends predicting web responses, potentially identifying early warning signs diversity loss. Ultimately, despite growing body long-term datasets, there remains dearth ecology temporal scales, shortcoming must resolved elucidate vulnerabilities changing biophysical conditions.

Language: Английский

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The Development of Feeding Competence in Rehabilitant Orphaned Orangutans and How to Measure It

Animals, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(13), P. 2111 - 2111

Published: June 26, 2023

For critically endangered species, restorative conservation becomes increasingly important. Successful re-introduction of rescued wild orangutan orphans requires rehabilitation mimicking maternal rearing in the wild. Feeding competence-what to eat, where and when find food-needs be learned before re-introduction. We observed seven (2-10 years old) for a period 3 during their at Yayasan Jejak Pulang forest school. Of 111 plant genera eaten by orphans, 92 percent were known food plants. Five all over 90 months within observation period. The Fruit Availability Index (FAI) was used predict which parts consumed orphans. found that ate primarily fruit FAI high, but more young leaves, cambium, pith low. Thus, exhibited choices very similar mature orangutans appropriate productivity. orphans' acquisition feeding competence facilitated immersion into natural environment combination with possibilities observational learning from conspecifics as well caregivers modelling processing consumption.

Language: Английский

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Picking pithy plants: Pith selectivity by wild white‐faced capuchin monkeys, Cebus imitator

American Journal of Primatology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 10, 2023

Understanding diet selectivity is a longstanding goal in primate ecology. Deciphering when and why primates consume different resources can provide insights into their nutritional ecology as well adaptations to food scarcity. Plant pith, the spongy interior of plant stems, occasionally eaten by primates, but context poorly understood. We examine ecological, mechanical, chemical, basis pith selection wild, frugivorous-omnivorous (Cebus imitator). test hypothesis that fallback food, is, consumed fruit less abundant, for differences between species from which versus avoided. collected 3.5 years capuchin consumption data document dietary analyzed "pith patch visits" relation availability, visits patches, climatic seasonality. non-dietary relative quantity, mechanical hardness, odor composition, macronutrient concentrations. Capuchins ate 11 ~300 common dry forest, most commonly Bursera simaruba. find not directly related availability or foraging occurs frequently (84% visits) during months seasonal transition. Relative species, have relatively higher softer outer branches contain more terpenoids, class bioactive compounds notable widespread medicinal properties. Our results suggest greater lower complex, terpenoid-rich profile contribute selectivity; further, likely be consistently available throughout year, seasonality may point zoopharmacognosy, transitions typically introduce new parasites pathogens. study furthers our understanding how impacts behavior sheds light on choice an omnivorous primate.

Language: Английский

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Diets of white‐headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) inhabiting limestone forests: The effects of habitat fragmentation and implication for conservation

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Information about wildlife diets is crucial for comprehending how species adapt to varying environments in fragmented habitats and developing effective conservation strategies. White‐headed langurs ( Trachypithecus leucocephalus ) are exclusively found limestone forests southwestern China. To investigate the effects of habitat fragmentation on langurs' diets, we collected published dietary data relevant environmental factors spanning from 1996 2021 at two regions with different degrees (Banli > Bapen), 10 studies (three Banli seven Bapen). The results demonstrated that white‐headed were significantly influenced by factors, including fragmentation, annual rainfall, mean temperature. Food item diversity index was positively affected index, higher suffered, more diverse food items they consumed. Besides, fruit consumption negatively rainfall other Notably, although there no significant differences feeding proportions or indices observed between Bapen groups, groups extensively consumed ground‐supported kudzu Pueraria montana var. lobata ), a plant rarely recorded preferences implying large plants likely lacking forests. Our findings provide evidence major impact composition langurs, highlighting need considering possibility have all undergone extreme inferring efforts should prioritize protecting native vegetation reducing human disturbance.

Language: Английский

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