2016 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Primate and parasite community assemblages as indicators of a transitioning environment
| Project/Area Number |
16H06181
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
MacIntosh Andrew 京都大学, 野生動物研究センター, 特定准教授 (30623136)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
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| Keywords | primatology / parasitology / ecology / epidemiology / conservation |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In FY2016, this project intensively surveyed primates and collected biological (fecal) samples from them across 4 riverine forest plots in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, and 1 inland forest plot at Gomantong Caves, in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Over 500 fecal samples and thousands of nematode larvae are now available for parasitological analysis. Microscopy of material collected in previous years was completed for 8 primate species (~400 samples), as was molecular work for cultured nematode larvae from 6 primate species (~100 larvae). Molecular analyses discovered cryptic diversity in parasite infection (paper forthcoming, work presented by Liesbeth Frias at numerous scientific meetings). Finally, I could expand my network in Sabah and set a capacity building strategy in motion.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Because this project aims to assess primate-parasite community structure in Malaysian Borneo, the primary methods involve non-invasive fecal sampling in areas with high primate biodiversity and molecular and microscopic analyses to identify parasite fauna. Two factors have slowed down the progress of this work significantly: (1) governments around the world (including Japan) have imposed a travel advisory (level 3 - no non-essential travel) on North-Eastern parts of Sabah, because of pirate activity originating in the Southern Philippines, which affects access to the areas targeted in this study; (2) the Malaysian government has tightened its restrictions on export of biological samples, and I am currently unable to get material back to the lab in Japan.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
During FY2017, major activities are: (1) laboratory parasitological analyses (microscopic/molecular) of materials gathered in FY2018; (2) incorporation of primate survey data from FY2018 to investigate primate community structure and infection; (3) implementation of habitat structure, connectivity, and human disturbance in assessing primate-parasite communities. I will support and train a graduate student from the University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to join this project. PhD student Liesbeth Frias continues on this project. I will also support RA's to help work in Sabah, the lab, and with GIS analyses. I will also work with parasites of other primates (especially Japanese macaques) to refine parasitological protocols and laboratory workflow, and better understand primate-parasite systems.
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[Journal Article] Testing for links between face color and age, dominance status, parity, weight, and intestinal nematode infection in a sample of female Japanese macaques2016
Author(s)
Rigaill L, MacIntosh AJJ, Higham JP, Winters S, Shimizu K, Mouri K, Suzumura T, Furuichi T, Garcia C
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Journal Title
Primates
Volume: 58
Pages: 83-91
DOI
Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
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