Gut microbiota composition and development in Japanese macaques

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25840170
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Physical anthropology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: SAWADA Akiko 京都大学, 野生動物研究センター, 研究員 (10646665)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 霊長類 / ニホンザル / 腸内細菌 / 採食生態 / 消化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I investigated the gut microbiota of primates under different conditions. First, I examined gut microbiota of wild Japanese macaques, whose diets significantly change along with seasons. The results showed that macaques had vegetarian-like gut microbiota patterns that is known to be associated with a high-carbohydrate diet. Another challenge in the original research plan was to evaluate the degree of similarity/difference regarding gut microbiota composition in mother-infant pairs as well as consequences of mother-infant separation using captive Japanese macaques. Due to difficulties in samplings, I modified the plan and now have been working on other primate species in a zoo.

Free Research Field

採食生態学