研究実績の概要 |
This project tested whether parasites are a selective force in primate social systems evolution. Experimental parasite removal from a subset of female Japanese macaques on Koshima, Miyazaki, showed that anthelmintic-treated high-ranking females were able to maintain higher body mass than low-ranking females and, more importantly, that birth rates in treated females were higher across the study. Previous studies by the PI, as well as simulation modeling conducted during this study, show that social relationships (networks) can influence parasite infection risk, so these results show for the first time that chronic parasitism can regulate primate populations and thereby affect primate social structure, making them a selective force in primate social systems evolution. In addition, this project formed the basis for two Master’s degrees (both completed), one PhD degree and one postdoctoral project, and there are currently six manuscripts either under review or in revision based on the results of this project.
Further research conducted in parallel in Malaysian Borneo has begun to scale up from this single-host multiple-parasite study system to investigate similar concepts using communities of primates and parasites to test whether not only social systems but also species assemblages and thus interactions between species are influenced by chronic parasitism. This work continues in collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department and Cardiff University, and formed the basis of a PhD project currently being conducted by a graduate student under my supervision.
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