A5049367419- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Gut microbiota and health
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Biotin and Related Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Digital Imaging for Blood Diseases
- Environmental Education and Sustainability
University of Kentucky
2019-2025
Binghamton University
2025
American Museum of Natural History
2023
Association of American Universities
2019
George Washington University
2019
Stony Brook University
2019
Abstract Lemurs are a well-known example of adaptive radiation. Since colonizing Madagascar, more than 100 extant lemur species have evolved to fill the variety ecological niches on island. However, recent work suggests that lemurs do not exhibit one hallmarks radiations: explosive speciation rates decline over time. We test this idea using phylogenomic dataset with broad taxonomic sampling and their sister group, lorisiforms Asia continental Africa. find higher in Madagascar’s compared we...
This study uses a biogeographic framework to identify patterns of gut microbiome divergence in an endangered lemur species endemic Madagascar's southeastern rainforests, the Milne-Edwards's sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi). Specifically, we tested effects (1) geographic barriers, (2) habitat disturbance, and (3) distance on alpha beta diversity. We selected 10 social groups from 4 sites Ranomafana National Park with varied histories selective logging. Sites were spaced between 17 km apart...
Abstract Deforestation continues to jeopardize Malagasy primates as viable habitats become smaller, more fragmented, and disturbed. This deforestation can lead changes in diet, microhabitat, gene flow between populations of endangered species, it remains unclear how these may affect gut microbiome (GM) characteristics. The black‐and‐white ruffed lemur ( Varecia variegata ), which is among Madagascar's most threatened provides a critical model for understanding the relationships historical...
Abstract Arthropods (insects, spiders, etc.) can fulfill major nutritional requirements for primates, particularly in terms of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Yet, many primate species we know very little about the frequency importance arthropod consumption. Traditional methods prey identification, such as behavioral observations fecal dissections, offer limited taxonomic resolution and, a result, underestimate true diversity. Metabarcoding DNA from samples provides promising but...
Mammals harbor diverse gut microbiomes (GMs) that perform critical functions for host health and fitness. Identifying factors associated with GM variation can help illuminate the role of microbial symbionts in mediating ecological interactions evolutionary processes, including diversification adaptation. Many mammals demonstrate phylosymbiosis-a pattern which more closely-related species similar GMs-while others show overwhelming influences diet habitat. Here, we generated 16S rRNA sequence...
A total of 94% lemur species are currently threatened with extinction and more than 17 giant already extinct. To help prevent the Madagascar's remaining lemurs, Dr. Patricia Wright initiated conservation programs in Ranomafana region southern Madagascar 1990s. These continued expanded, 2003 were consolidated Wright's research activities when Center ValBio ("CVB") was founded 2003. CVB believes "One Health" approach understanding relationship between humans environment, one their core...
Abstract The study of the primate microbiome is critical in understanding role microbial community host organism. To be able to isolate main factors responsible for differences observed microbiomes within and between individuals, confounding due technical variations need removed. determine whether alterations preservatives outweigh such as population, species, body site, habitat, we tested three methods (no preservative, 96% ethanol, RNAlater) preserving wild chimpanzee (fecal), lemur vervet...
In recent years, it has become widely accepted that interspecific gene flow is common across the Tree of Life. Questions remain about how species boundaries can be maintained in face high levels and phylogeneticists should account for reticulation their analyses. The true lemurs Madagascar (genus Eulemur, 12 species) provide a unique opportunity to explore these questions, as they form radiation with at least five active hybrid zones. Here, we present new analyses mitochondrial dataset...
Abstract Madagascar’s high rates of endemism, paired with its escalating deforestation rates, has made it one the most important conservation priorities on planet. In southeastern Madagascar, Corridor Forestier d’Ambositra Vondrozo (COFAV) is an unprotected rainforest corridor that sustains ∼15 species lemurs, which are endangered. The COFAV connects many protected areas and therefore essential for gene flow, dispersal, long-term sustainability animal populations in area. not been surveyed...
ABSTRACT Gut prokaryotic (GP) community variation is often associated with host evolutionary and ecological variables; whether these factors drive in other gut taxa remains largely untested. We present a one-to-one comparison of GP (16S rRNA metabarcoding) microeukaryotic (GME) (18S patterning among 12 species lemurs. Lemurs were sampled from dry forests rainforests southeastern Madagascar display range phylogenetic diversity. found that while lemur GPs vary taxonomy, diet, habitat, GMEs...