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Hierarchical social networks shape gut microbial composition in wild Verreaux's sifaka.

Authors :
Perofsky, Amanda C.
Lewis, Rebecca J.
Abondano, Laura A.
Di Fiore, Anthony
Meyers, Lauren Ancel
Source :
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 12/6/2017, Vol. 284 Issue 1868, p1-10. 10p.
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

In wild primates, social behaviour influences exposure to environmentally acquired and directly transmitted microorganisms. Prior studies indicate that gut microbiota reflect pairwise social interactions among chimpanzee and baboon hosts. Here, we demonstrate that higher-order social network structure--beyond just pairwise interactions--drives gut bacterial composition in wild lemurs, which live in smaller and more cohesive groups than previously studied anthropoid species. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and social network analysis of grooming contacts, we estimate the relative impacts of hierarchical (i.e. multilevel) social structure, individual demographic traits, diet, scent-marking, and habitat overlap on bacteria acquisition in a wild population of Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) consisting of seven social groups. We show that social group membership is clearly reflected in the microbiomes of individual sifaka, and that social groups with denser grooming networks have more homogeneous gut microbial compositions. Within social groups, adults, more gregarious individuals, and individuals that scent-mark frequently harbour the greatest microbial diversity. Thus, the community structure of wild lemurs governs symbiotic relationships by constraining transmission between hosts and partitioning environmental exposure to microorganisms. This social cultivation of mutualistic gut flora may be an evolutionary benefit of tight-knit group living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
09628452
Volume :
284
Issue :
1868
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
127027615
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2274