Ecological and Anthropogenic Influences on a Sentinel Species' Gut Microbiome

<p>Central and South American primates face augmented challenges due to increased rates of forest fragmentation. Among these challenges are implications on the nonhuman primate gut microbiome. Wild Argentine black and gold howler monkeys (<em>Alouatta caraya</em>) are listed as “least concern” with a population that is decreasing. Despite their propensity to occupy habitats with varying degrees of degradation and disturbance, they are not immune from the stressors that forest fragmentation places on them. Their increased exposure to humans and livestock leaves them vulnerable to cross-species transmission of emerging infectious diseases and pathogens. Therefore, their role as sentinels of ecosystems, as well as a greater comprehension of what aspects of habitat are driving the gut microbiome, merits conservation and research. I seek to add to our understanding of what habitat factors are driving a sentinel species’ health via the gut microbiome. Here I examine fragment size, the subsequent exigency of ground movement, and overlapping home ranges to determine whether there is variation in the gut microbiome of Argentine black and gold howler monkeys due to these factors.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Primate Behavior

Year dc:date.available

2021

Author dc:creator

• Black, Carson E

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jessica A. Mayhew
• April K. Binder
• Katherine R. Amato

• Gut microbiome
• fragmentation
• Alouatta
• black and gold howler monkeys
• Bioinformatics
• Biological and Physical Anthropology
• Environmental Health
• Microbiology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1515

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-2540