The faecal metabolome of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) varies in response to seasonal dietary changes.

ABSTRACT: Mammals rely on the metabolic functions of their gut microbiota to meet their energetic needs and digest potentially toxic components in their diet. The gut microbiome plastically responds to shifts in host diet and may buffer variation in energy and nutrient availability. However, it is unclear how seasonal differences in the gut microbiome influence microbial metabolism and nutrients available to hosts. In this study, we examine seasonal variation in the gut metabolome of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) to determine whether those variations are associated with differences in gut microbiome composition and nutrient intake, and if plasticity in the gut microbiome buffers shortfalls in energy or nutrient intake. We integrated data on the metabolome of 81 faecal samples from 16 individ

SUBMITTER: Mallott EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9543302 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature