Analysis of the hydrogenotrophic microbiota of wild and captive black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) in palenque national park, Mexico

Captive environments significantly alter the composition of intestinal hydrogenotrophic microbiota in black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), potentially impacting their energy metabolism. Research comparing wild and captive populations in Palenque National Park, Mexico, revealed that while sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) dominated over methanogens in both groups, captive monkeys exhibited reduced microbial diversity—particularly among Desulfovibrionales—likely due to dietary shifts from high-fiber leaves to more digestible fruits, vegetables, and commercial chow. The study employed PCR-DGGE fingerprinting, clone libraries, and quantitative real-time PCR to analyze fecal samples, demonstrating that captivity-induced environmental or dietary changes reshape the gut microbiota of these primates.

Nakamura, N., Amato, K. R., Garber, P., Estrada, A., Mackie, R. I., & Gaskins, H. R. (2011). Analysis of the hydrogenotrophic microbiota of wild and captive black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) in palenque national park, Mexico. American Journal of Primatology, 73(9), 909–919. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20961