Associations between ecological attributes, the gut microbiome, intestinal inflammation and their impact of the welfare of mantled howlers in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico

The continuous conversion of natural habitats to agricultural fields and pasturelands creates fragments and patches that isolate animals forcing them to adjust to new environments with different resources. Quantifying the impact change in habitat quality has on host health and survivability is central to understanding the ecology of these individuals. Here, I propose to determine the effect of differing levels of habitat degradation on host physiology and welfare of the mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. I will assess physiology using non-invasive tools for the gut microbiome and intestinal inflammation. The intestine plays an important role in the origin of diseases as the shared intersection of nutrients, immune response, and the gut microbiome (Ma et al., 2018). In humans, shifts in the gut microbiome is a common marker of intestinal-related diseases and gastrointestinal inflammation. However, there is currently no data on the relationship between the gut microbiome and inflammation in wild non-human primates. I will address this gap by investigating the association between biomarkers, how they are impacted by habitat quality, and the resulting implications it has on host welfare. Overall, this proposal will develop methodologies that efficiently monitor non-human primate health to better inform conservation strategy and promote welfare