scholarly journals Duplication and parallel evolution of the pancreatic ribonuclease gene (RNASE1) in folivorous non-colobine primates, the howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.)

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mareike C. Janiak ◽  
Andrew S. Burrell ◽  
Joseph D. Orkin ◽  
Todd R. Disotell
Keyword(s):  
Digestive Enzyme ◽  
Parallel Evolution ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Howler Monkeys ◽  
Pancreatic Ribonuclease ◽  
Colobine Monkeys ◽  
Enzyme Adaptation ◽  
The Common ◽  
Multiple Amino Acid

AbstractIn foregut-fermenting mammals (e.g., colobine monkeys, artiodactyl ruminants) the enzymes pancreatic ribonuclease (RNASE1) and lysozyme C (LYZ), originally involved in immune defense, have evolved new digestive functions. Howler monkeys are folivorous non-colobine primates that lack the multi-chambered stomachs of colobines and instead digest leaves using fermentation in the caeco-colic region. We present data on the RNASE1 and LYZ genes of four species of howler monkey (Alouatta spp.). We find that howler monkey LYZ is conserved and does not share the substitutions found in colobine and cow sequences, whereas RNASE1 was duplicated in the common ancestor of A. palliata, A. seniculus, A. sara, and A. pigra. While the parent gene (RNASE1) is conserved, the daughter gene (RNASE1B) has multiple amino acid substitutions that are parallel to those found in RNASE1B genes of colobines. The duplicated RNase in Alouatta has biochemical changes similar to those in colobines, suggesting a novel, possibly digestive function. These findings suggest that pancreatic ribonuclease has, in parallel, evolved a new role for digesting the products of microbial fermentation in both foregut- and hindgut-fermenting folivorous primates. This may be a vital digestive enzyme adaptation allowing howler monkeys to survive on leaves during periods of low fruit availability.

scholarly journals Interacting effects of forest fragmentation and howler monkey foraging on germination and disperal of fig seeds

Oryx ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Serio-Silva ◽  
Victor Rico-Gray
Keyword(s):  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Alouatta Palliata ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Howler Monkeys ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
Dispersal Distances ◽  
Alouatta Palliata Mexicana ◽  
Fragmented Forests ◽  
Individual Trees

We studied changes in germination rates and dispersal distance of seeds of Ficus perforata and F. lundelli dispersed by howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata mexicana), in a small (40 ha) ‘disturbed’ and a larger (>600 ha) ‘preserved’ tropical rainforest in southern Veracruz, Mexico. The interaction between A. p. mexicana and Ficus (Urostigma) spp. is beneficial for the interacting species and has important implications for their conservation. Howler monkeys gain from the ingestion of an important food source, germination rates of Ficus seeds are improved by passage through the monkeys' digestive tract, and the seeds are more likely to be deposited in a site suitable for germination and development. Seed dispersal distances are relatively larger in the preserved site, with both the size of the forest area and the spatial pattern of Ficus affecting the dispersal process. In a large forest fragment with ‘regularly’ distributed Ficus individuals the howler monkeys move away from the seed source, increasing the probability that the seeds are desposited on a tree other than Ficus, which is important for the germination and future development of a hemiepiphytic species. In a small forest fragment with trees distributed in clumps howlers repeatedly use the same individual trees, and faeces containing seeds may be dropped on unsuitable trees more often. These are key issues when addressing conservation policies for fragmented forests.

scholarly journals Duplication and Divergence of 2 Distinct Pancreatic Ribonuclease Genes in Leaf-Eating African and Asian Colobine Monkeys

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1465-1479 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Schienman ◽  
Robert A. Holt ◽  
Marcy R. Auerbach ◽  
Caro-Beth Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Ribonuclease ◽  
Colobine Monkeys

Southern extension of the geographic range of black-and-gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya)

Mammalia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcia M.A. Jardim ◽  
Diego Queirolo ◽  
Felipe B. Peters ◽  
Fábio D. Mazim ◽  
Marina O. Favarini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Alouatta Caraya ◽  
Howler Monkeys ◽  
Pampa Biome ◽  
New Localities ◽  
Northeastern Argentina

Abstract The black-and-gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) is widely distributed in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Despite this wide distribution, it is locally threatened in some parts of its southern range by forest loss and fragmentation, and yellow fever outbreaks. We present 14 new localities of A. caraya occurrence in the Pampa biome of southern Brazil, extending its range southwards by approximately 100 km.

Toxicity Studies of Blockal, a Dietary Supplement Containing Phase 2 Starch Neutralizer (Phase 2), a Standardized Extract of the Common White Kidney Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 361-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilip Chokshi
Keyword(s):  
Phaseolus Vulgaris ◽  
Dietary Supplement ◽  
Digestive Enzyme ◽  
Kidney Bean ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Main Ingredient ◽  
Oral Toxicity ◽  
Toxicity Studies ◽  
Effect Level ◽  
The Common

The number of available dietary supplements containing “starch blockers” intended for weight loss has risen dramatically in recent years. These supplements are believed to reduce carbohydrate-derived calories by interfering with α-amylase, the digestive enzyme responsible for conversion of complex carbohydrates to simple absorbable sugars. The present paper reports the findings of single- and multiple-dose (4-week) oral toxicity studies in rats of the marketed dietary supplement Blockal. Blockal contains as its main ingredient Phase 2 Starch Neutralizer (Phase 2 or Phaseolamin 2250), a standardized extract derived from the common white kidney bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris) that has been shown to have α-amylase-inhibiting activity. The Blockal acute oral LD50 exceeded the highest dose tested (3 g/kg body weight [bw]), which provided a single dose of 1668 mg/kg bw of Phase 2 white kidney bean extract. The no-observed-effect level (NOEL) seen in the 4-week study was equivalent to the highest Blockal dose tested (2 g/kg bw/day), which provided 1112 mg/kg/day of Phase 2 white kidney bean extract. The results of these studies support and are consistent with the safety of the marketed dietary supplement Blockal, and indirectly, the safety of its main ingredient, Phase 2 Starch Neutralizer (Phase 2 or Phaseolamin 2250), a standardized extract derived from the common white kidney bean.

scholarly journals Cognitive maps in the wild: revealing the use of metric information in black howler monkey route navigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 224 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel de Guinea ◽  
Alejandro Estrada ◽  
K. Anne-Isola Nekaris ◽  
Sarie Van Belle
Keyword(s):  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Cognitive Maps ◽  
Cognitive Map ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Spatial Skills ◽  
Howler Monkeys ◽  
Black Howler ◽  
Black Howler Monkeys ◽  
Route Navigation ◽  
Metric Information

ABSTRACT When navigating, wild animals rely on internal representations of the external world – called ‘cognitive maps’ – to take movement decisions. Generally, flexible navigation is hypothesized to be supported by sophisticated spatial skills (i.e. Euclidean cognitive maps); however, constrained movements along habitual routes are the most commonly reported navigation strategy. Even though incorporating metric information (i.e. distances and angles between locations) in route-based cognitive maps would likely enhance an animal's navigation efficiency, there has been no evidence of this strategy reported for non-human animals to date. Here, we examined the properties of the cognitive map used by a wild population of primates by testing a series of cognitive hypotheses against spatially explicit movement simulations. We collected 3104 h of ranging and behavioural data on five groups of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) at Palenque National Park, Mexico, from September 2016 through August 2017. We simulated correlated random walks mimicking the ranging behaviour of the study subjects and tested for differences between observed and simulated movement patterns. Our results indicated that black howler monkeys engaged in constrained movement patterns characterized by a high path recursion tendency, which limited their capacity to travel in straight lines and approach feeding trees from multiple directions. In addition, we found that the structure of observed route networks was more complex and efficient than simulated route networks, suggesting that black howler monkeys incorporate metric information into their cognitive map. Our findings not only expand the use of metric information during route navigation to non-human animals, but also highlight the importance of considering efficient route-based navigation as a cognitively demanding mechanism.

scholarly journals A ten-year demographic history of a population of howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) living in a fragmented landscape in Mexico

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jurgi Cristóbal Azkarate ◽  
Jacob Charles Dunn ◽  
Cristina Domingo Balcells ◽  
Joaquim Veà Baró
Keyword(s):  
Demographic History ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Alouatta Palliata ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
Howler Monkeys ◽  
Mantled Howler ◽  
Mantled Howler Monkey

Long-term field studies of primates are critical for our understanding of life history and the processes driving changes in demography. Here, we present the first long-term demographic data for the northernmost population of the mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata). We followed 10 groups of howler monkeys living in a highly fragmented landscape between 2000 and 2011. Forest fragmentation did not seem to play a major role in the dynamics of our population, as the population size remained relatively stable over the 10-year study period, and birth rates and inter-birth intervals were comparable to those of howler monkeys at other sites. Moreover, dispersal events were commonplace, particularly secondary dispersal (individuals emigrating from groups that they had previously immigrated into), which supports the suggestion that this may be an important component of the reproductive strategy of the mantled howler monkey. Finally, we found a marked effect of seasonality on the population dynamics of our study population. In particular, the period of lowest temperatures and resource scarcity between November and March was associated with higher mortality and reproductive inhibition, while the period of resource abundance between April and May was associated with the majority of conceptions and weaning of offspring. This, in turn, could be influencing dispersal patterns in our study area, as male howler monkeys seem to time some of their immigrations into new groups to coincide with the start of the period of higher fertility, while females preferentially joined new groups several months before the onset of this period.

scholarly journals Seadragon genome analysis provides insights into its phenotype and sex determination locus

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (34) ◽  
pp. eabg5196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Qu ◽  
Yali Liu ◽  
Yanhong Zhang ◽  
Shiming Wan ◽  
Vydianathan Ravi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Repair ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Evolutionary Novelty ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Transcription Profiles ◽  
Pharyngeal Teeth ◽  
The Common ◽  
Male Specific ◽  
Fin Development

The iconic phenotype of seadragons includes leaf-like appendages, a toothless tubular mouth, and male pregnancy involving incubation of fertilized eggs on an open “brood patch.” We de novo–sequenced male and female genomes of the common seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) and its closely related species, the alligator pipefish (Syngnathoides biaculeatus). Transcription profiles from an evolutionary novelty, the leaf-like appendages, show that a set of genes typically involved in fin development have been co-opted as well as an enrichment of transcripts for potential tissue repair and immune defense genes. The zebrafish mutants for scpp5, which is lost in all syngnathids, were found to lack or have deformed pharyngeal teeth, supporting the hypothesis that the loss of scpp5 has contributed to the loss of teeth in syngnathids. A putative sex–determining locus encoding a male-specific amhr2y gene shared by common seadragon and alligator pipefish was identified.

Comparative Stress Response of Black and Gold Howler Monkey (Alouatta caraya) in Urban and Rural Environments of Northern Argentina

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Julieta Fernández ◽  
Marina F. Ponzio ◽  
Verónica I. Cantarelli ◽  
Julie A. Clennon ◽  
María Sol Gennuso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Alouatta Caraya ◽  
Howler Monkeys ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Rural Environments ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

The expansion of human populations associated with urbanization results in extensive modification of natural habitats. While many species cannot persist in these highly modified environments, some species adopt new strategies, which contribute to their survival. Several primate species have persisted in altered habitats, including members of the genus <i>Alouatta</i>. To improve our understanding of this interplay, we compared glucocorticoid (GCC) levels in male and female black and gold howler monkeys (<i>Alouatta caraya</i>) in urban and rural areas in northeastern Argentina. Fecal samples (<i>n</i> = 60) were collected from adults and hormone extracts were analyzed by enzyme immunoassays (EIA). Monkeys living in urban areas (females: 109.15 ± 18.83; males: 106.15 ± 10.48) had lower GCC<i></i>levels than monkeys living in rural areas (females: 152.01 ± 19.50; males:139,82 ± 10.85). Interestingly, males living in urban areas had lower GCC levels compared to those living in rural areas, whereas no differences were observed in GCC levels between females living in urban and rural areas. While these results suggest that urban areas may provide a release from intergroup competition for male howler monkeys, future work is needed to better understand the dynamics of this association to best inform management and conservation of this vulnerable species.

scholarly journals Anotaciones de la ecología alimentaria de monos aulladores negros en un fragmento con condiciones de hacinamiento (Balancán, Tabasco, México)

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Aristizábal-Borja ◽  
Gilberto Pozo-Montuy ◽  
Jairo Pérez-Torres ◽  
Juan Serio-Silva
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Alouatta Pigra ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Feeding Time ◽  
Howler Monkeys ◽  
Fragmented Habitat ◽  
Black Howler Monkey ◽  
Black Howler ◽  
Black Howler Monkeys

<p><strong></strong>We described the feeding behavior of Central-American black howler monkey (<em>Alouatta pigra</em>) in a fragment of less than one hectare of humid evergreen forest surrounded by grassland for livestock use, isolated trees and mango orchards, in the region of Balancán (Tabasco, México). <strong>Objective:</strong> To record the diet and activity of black howler monkeys in crowded conditions during the wettest month in Balancán (Tabasco, México). <strong>Methods:</strong> The behavioral observations (81 h) were made using the focal animal methodology with an <em>A. pigra</em> troop made up of three individuals (1 adult male, 1 adult female and 1 infant). <strong>Results:</strong> Feeding time represented 15.97%, rest 78% and locomotion 4.57% of total time. In the study area we recorded 14 plant species, with 10 being consumed by howler monkeys. 55% of feeding time was devoted to the consumption of fruits, 27% to leaves, 17% to stems, and 1% to sprouts. <em>Spondias mombin</em> was the tree species most consumed, with 61% of the time invested on it. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Like other studies, we confirmed the frugivore-folivore feeding tendency of the genus <em>Alouatta</em>. We provide information on the black howler monkey flexibility to live and maintain themselves in extreme perturbation conditions, where their habitat is 0.1 ha with few tree species to use, forcing individuals to move around the ground.</p> <p><strong>Key words: </strong><em>Alouatta pigra</em>, diet, pattern of activity, frugivory, fragmented habitat</p><br />

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