Papers by Patricia Wright
African Journal of Ecology, Jan 13, 2022
Zombitse‐Vohibasia National Park harbours a species‐rich but understudied lemur community in sout... more Zombitse‐Vohibasia National Park harbours a species‐rich but understudied lemur community in southwestern Madagascar. Local population estimates are dated or absent for its four sympatric species of Cheirogaleidae: the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), Coquerel's giant mouse lemur (Mirza coquereli), fat‐tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) and pale fork‐marked lemur (Phaner pallescens). To provide local density and encounter rate estimates for these cheirogaleids, we conducted line transect surveys in the Zombitse sector of the National Park over a three‐week period in December 2018–January 2019. We calculated densities of 37.4 Mir. coquereli individuals/km2 (95% CI = 20.4–68.6) and 230.8 C. medius individuals/km2 (95% CI = 172.6–308.6). Our results highlight the conservation importance of Zombitse‐Vohibasia as a stronghold for these restricted and threatened species. The sample sizes for Mic. murinus and P. pallescens were insufficient for generating population estimates. Considering that Microcebus spp. are typically amongst the most abundant mammals at a given site, further studies are needed to investigate and verify this apparent scarcity.
Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent), 2013
We sampled three selected zoological gardens in southwestern Nigeria with the aim of documenting ... more We sampled three selected zoological gardens in southwestern Nigeria with the aim of documenting the prevalence of helminth parasite infections in their non-human primates and assessing the risk of transmission to humans. We subjected freshly voided faecal samples of the primates to diagnostic tests, namely modified formal ether sedimentation, floatation technique and larvae faecal culture method to facilitate helminth identification. Six helminths were identified in the primates. These were Taenia sp., Strongyloides sp. , Heterodera sp. , Trichuris trichuria , Ancylostoma duodenale and Ascaris sp. We observed the highest prevalence (40%) in the primates at Oyo Themes Parks and Gardens Zoo, followed by 16.6% in the primates at the University of Ibadan Zoo, while 0% was recorded in primates at the Obafemi Awolowo University Zoo. We recorded a high prevalence in the wet season and a low one in the dry season. We also observed that the zoo setting and the number of animals housed influenced the prevalence of helminth infections in the primates.
Madagascar Conservation & Development, Sep 16, 2015
Body condition may be an important indicator for many infectious diseases and parasites, and may ... more Body condition may be an important indicator for many infectious diseases and parasites, and may ultimately affect an individual's fitness. Although some research has correlated body condition and parasite loads in other nonhuman primates, little information has been investigated in prosimian primates. In this study we compare parasitic infections and body condition in a member of the Cheirogaleidae family (Microcebus rufus: rufous mouse lemur) at Ranomafana National Park, southeast Madagascar. This species is characterized by seasonal fattening in preparation for the dry season followed by torpor, and it is important to understand the fluctuation between parasites and infections according to seasonal body condition. We trapped 72 individuals of the species inside Ranomafana National Park (RNP) after the dry season. These individuals were brought to the Centre Valbio Laboratory (CVB) and were subcutaneously micro-chipped with subdermal transponders for permanent identification. We recorded morphometric data, body condition, species richness and prevalence of ectoparasites and gastrointestinal parasites. We found that individuals that had both high number of parasite species as well as high prevalence of ectoparasites and gastrointestinal parasites had better body condition. There is some indication that being in good condition is important in controlling infections. RÉSUMÉ La condition physique peut être un indicateur important pour de nombreuses maladies infectieuses et pour les parasites, et peut finalement affecter l'aptitude d'un individu. Si certaines études ont montré la relation entre condition physique et charges parasitaires chez des primates non humains, peu d'informations étaient disponibles en ce qui concerne les prosimiens. Dans cette étude, les infections parasitaires et l'état de santé du microcèbe roux Microcebus rufus de la famille des Cheirogaleidae ont été étudiées dans le Parc National de Ranomafana, Sud-est de Madagascar. Cette espèce est caractérisée par sa capacité à accumuler des matières grasses à la base de la queue afin de se préparer à la saison sèche au cours de laquelle elle rentre en torpeur ; il est donc important de comprendre la fluctuation saisonnière entre les parasites et les infections selon l'état de santé des individus. Soixante-douze animaux de cette espèce ont été capturés à l'intérieur du Parc National de Ranomafana après la saison sèche. Les individus capturés ont été rapportés au Centre Valbio où ils ont été marqués avec une puce électronique sous-cutanée servant de transpondeur pour l'identification permanente. Nous avons collecté des données morphométriques pour documenter la condition physique, la richesse spécifique et la prévalence des ectoparasites et des parasites gastro-intestinaux. Nous avons constaté que les individus présentant à la fois un grand nombre d'espèces de parasites ainsi qu'une forte prévalence d'ectoparasites et de parasites gastro-intestinaux avaient une meilleure condition physique. Les résultats semblent indiquer qu'un bon état est important dans le contrôle des infections.
Journal of Applied Ecology, Sep 14, 2017
This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Condition... more This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
BMC Ecology, 2012
Background: Studies of host-parasite interactions have the potential to provide insights into the... more Background: Studies of host-parasite interactions have the potential to provide insights into the ecology of both organisms involved. We monitored the movement of sucking lice (Lemurpediculus verruculosus), parasites that require direct host-host contact to be transferred, in their host population of wild mouse lemurs (Microcebus rufus). These lemurs live in the rainforests of Madagascar, are small (40 g), arboreal, nocturnal, solitary foraging primates for which data on population-wide interactions are difficult to obtain. We developed a simple, cost effective method exploiting the intimate relationship between louse and lemur, whereby individual lice were marked, without removal from their host, with an individualized code, and tracked throughout the lemur population. We then tested the hypotheses that 1) the frequency of louse transfers, and thus interactions, would decrease with increasing distance between paired individual lemurs; 2) due to host polygynandry, social interactions and hence louse transfers would increase during the onset of the breeding season; and 3) individual mouse lemurs would vary in their contributions to the spread of lice. Results: We show that louse transfers involved 43.75% of the studied lemur population, exclusively males. Louse transfers peaked during the breeding season, perhaps due to increased social interactions between lemurs. Although trap-based individual lemur ranging patterns are restricted, louse transfer rate does not correlate with the distance between lemur trapping locales, indicating wider host ranging behavior and a greater risk of rapid population-wide pathogen transmission than predicted by standard trapping data alone. Furthermore, relatively few lemur individuals contributed disproportionately to the rapid spread of lice throughout the population. Conclusions: Using a simple method, we were able to visualize exchanges of lice in a population of cryptic wild primates. This method not only provided insight into the previously unseen parasite movement between lemurs, but also allowed us to infer social interactions between them. As lice are known pathogen vectors, our method also allowed us to identify the lemurs most likely to facilitate louse-mediated epidemics. Our approach demonstrates the potential to uncover otherwise inaccessible parasite-host, and host social interaction data in any trappable species parasitized by sucking lice.
Different lemur species have clear geographical distribution. Others can be found in each provinc... more Different lemur species have clear geographical distribution. Others can be found in each province in Madagascar. Therefore, I propose that lemurs should be used to teach in school at different levels. In primary school: Students should learn about the different species of lemurs including subfossils occurring in each province and different habitat types (rainforest, dry forest, spiny desert, marsh) and their conservation. In secondary school: Students should learn about behavior, diet, locomotion, and social organization of the different lemurs. In high school: Students should learn about the phylogeny of lemurs and also the other non-human primates in Asia, Africa, and South America. The initiation of the concept of Anthropology should start at that level. At the university: The different aspects of primates in general and lemurs in particular listed above should be learned more deeply in the different departments within the University. A Conservation Biology Department should be created. And more importantly, students and faculty should be encouraged to write and publish scientific papers furthermore collaboration between departments must be promoted.
Journal of Mammalogy, Jun 1, 2004
Latrine behavior, or the preferential, repeated use of 1 or more specific defecation sites, is we... more Latrine behavior, or the preferential, repeated use of 1 or more specific defecation sites, is well known among mammals and believed to function in olfactory communication among individuals or groups in many circumstances. Primates have reduced their capacity for olfaction in favor of more developed visual systems; however, several prosimian primates regularly use olfactory communication for transmission of social signals, most often using scent gland secretions and urine. Latrine behaviors have been described rarely in primates and have traditionally not been included in reviews of primate olfactory communication, yet we found ample evidence that certain primate species habitually use latrine sites for defecation. Here we review the previous evidence for latrine use in primates and report new and more extensive observations of latrine use in 2 lemuriform primates (Lepilemur sp. and Hapalemur griseus). Based on these new observations, we present and evaluate 4 available hypotheses for the function of latrines (advertisement of sexual cycling, predation avoidance, intragroup spacing, and intergroup resource defense) in lemur taxa for which sufficient evidence of latrine use exists. In all cases, intergroup resource defense is the function most consistent with available observations.
Journal of Mammalogy, Sep 6, 2015
Mouse lemurs (Microcebus) are solitary, experience heavy predation, and use torpor to conserve en... more Mouse lemurs (Microcebus) are solitary, experience heavy predation, and use torpor to conserve energy, so an individual's choice of daytime sleeping site can have a major impact on its fitness. Sharing a sleeping site may strengthen social bonds or insulate against fluctuating ambient temperatures. Changing sites often may prevent tracking by predators. Choosing a site in a hole in an old, thick tree may allow for longer and deeper torpor. The aim of this paper is to provide a preliminary characterization of sleeping site selection and use in Microcebus rufus, the brown mouse lemur. We trapped mouse lemurs in disturbed forests in the peripheral zone of Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, and tracked 7 individuals using temperature-sensitive radiocollars. Radiotracked individuals shared sleeping sites concurrently and serially and slept in same-sex and mixed-sex groups. They slept in tree holes as well as in piles of leaves on branches. Radiotracked individuals tended to use higher-diameter at breast height trees, and in one site, tall trees were also used more often. Preference for and reuse of well-insulated sleeping sites suggests that thermoregulation is a primary concern for winter sleeping site selection in M. rufus. If such sites are of limited availability in disturbed sites, the ability for M. rufus to maintain torpor during the winter may also be limited. Conservation efforts must include preservation of older trees in order to maintain thermoregulatory refuges in disturbed habitats that support lasting mouse lemur populations.
American Journal of Primatology, Apr 24, 2023
ABSTRACTGut prokaryotic (GP) community variation is often associated with host evolutionary and e... more ABSTRACTGut prokaryotic (GP) community variation is often associated with host evolutionary and ecological variables; whether these factors drive variation in other gut taxa remains largely untested. We present a one-to-one comparison of GP (16S rRNA metabarcoding) and microeukaryotic (GME) (18S rRNA metabarcoding) community patterning among 12 species of lemurs. Lemurs were sampled from dry forests and rainforests of southeastern Madagascar and display a range of phylogenetic and ecological diversity. We found that while lemur GPs vary with host taxonomy, diet, and habitat, GMEs have no association with these factors. As a mechanism, we suggest purifying selection purges microbes with negative and commensal associations, while positive selection promotes the persistence of beneficial microbes. It is therefore likely that a greater proportion of GMEs comprise taxa with commensal, transient, and parasitic symbioses compared with GPs, many of which are mutualists. Our study reveals di...
Nature Computational Science
The rapid emergence of large-scale atlas-level single-cell RNA-seq datasets presents remarkable o... more The rapid emergence of large-scale atlas-level single-cell RNA-seq datasets presents remarkable opportunities for broad and deep biological investigations through integrative analyses. However, harmonizing such datasets requires integration approaches to be not only computationally scalable, but also capable of preserving a wide range of fine-grained cell populations. We created Portal, a unified framework of adversarial domain translation to learn harmonized representations of datasets. With innovation in model and algorithm designs, Portal achieves superior performance in preserving biological variation during integration, while achieving integration of millions of cells in minutes with low memory consumption. We show that Portal is widely applicable to integrating datasets across samples, platforms and data types (including * These authors contributed to this work equally.
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Background Infections with the tapeworm Taenia solium (taeniosis and cysticercosis) are Neglected... more Background Infections with the tapeworm Taenia solium (taeniosis and cysticercosis) are Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) highly endemic in Madagascar. These infections are however underdiagnosed, underreported and their burden at the community level remains unknown especially in rural remote settings. This study aims at assessing the prevalence of T. solium infections and associated risk factors in twelve remote villages surrounding Ranomafana National Park (RNP), Ifanadiana District, Madagascar. Methodology A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in June 2016. Stool and serum samples were collected from participants. Tapeworm carriers were identified by stool examination. Taenia species and T. solium genotypes were characterised by PCR and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. Detection of specific anti-cysticercal antibodies (IgG) or circulating cysticercal antigens was performed by ELISA or EITB/Western blot assays. Principal ...
ISME Communications
Mammals harbor diverse gut microbiomes (GMs) that perform critical functions for host health and ... more Mammals harbor diverse gut microbiomes (GMs) that perform critical functions for host health and fitness. Identifying factors associated with GM variation can help illuminate the role of microbial symbionts in mediating host ecological interactions and evolutionary processes, including diversification and adaptation. Many mammals demonstrate phylosymbiosis—a pattern in which more closely-related species harbor more similar GMs—while others show overwhelming influences of diet and habitat. Here, we generated 16S rRNA sequence data from fecal samples of 15 species of wild lemurs across southern Madagascar to (1) test a hypothesis of phylosymbiosis, and (2) test trait correlations between dietary guild, habitat, and GM diversity. Our results provide strong evidence of phylosymbiosis, though some closely-related species with substantial ecological niche overlap exhibited greater GM similarity than expected under Brownian motion. Phylogenetic regressions also showed a significant correla...
American Journal of Primatology, 2021
Arthropods (insects, spiders, etc.) can fulfill major nutritional requirements for primates, part... more Arthropods (insects, spiders, etc.) can fulfill major nutritional requirements for primates, particularly in terms of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Yet, for many primate species we know very little about the frequency and importance of arthropod consumption. Traditional methods for arthropod prey identification, such as behavioral observations and fecal dissections, offer limited taxonomic resolution and, as a result, underestimate true diversity. Metabarcoding arthropod DNA from primate fecal samples provides a promising but underused alternative. Here, we inventoried arthropod prey diversity in wild lemurs by sequencing two regions of the CO1 gene. Samples were collected opportunistically from 10 species of lemurs inhabiting three national parks in southern Madagascar using a combination of focal animal follows and live trapping. In total, we detected arthropod DNA in 98 of the 170 fecal samples analyzed. Although all lemur species included in these analyses showed evide...
Both host phylogenetic placement and feeding strategy influence the structure of the gut microbio... more Both host phylogenetic placement and feeding strategy influence the structure of the gut microbiome (GMB); however, parsing their relative contributions presents a challenge. To meet this challenge, we compared GMB structure in two genera of lemurs characterized by different dietary specializations, the frugivorous brown lemurs (<i>Eulemur</i> spp.) and the folivorous sifakas (<i>Propithecus</i> spp.). These genera sympatrically occupy similar habitats (dry forests and rainforests) and diverged over similar evolutionary timescales. We collected fresh faeces from 12 species (six per host genus), at seven sites across Madagascar, and sequenced the 16S rRNA gene to determine GMB membership, diversity and variability. The lemurs' GMBs clustered predominantly by host genus; nevertheless, within genera, host relatedness did not predict GMB distance between species. The GMBs of brown lemurs had greater evenness and diversity, but were more homogeneous across species, whereas the GMBs of sifakas were differentiated between habitats. Thus, over relatively shallow timescales, environmental factors can override the influence of host phylogenetic placement on GMB phylogenetic composition. Moreover, feeding strategy can underlie the relative strength of host–microbiome coadaptation, with Madagascar's folivores perhaps requiring locally adapted GMBs to facilitate their highly specialized diets.
Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 2020
Globally, Giardia duodenalis is probably the most common intestinal protozoan parasite infecting ... more Globally, Giardia duodenalis is probably the most common intestinal protozoan parasite infecting humans and it appears also to be common in some zoo-housed primates. Infected zoo animals present a risk for potential spill-over of zoonotic pathogens to co-residing animals, staff and visitors. Using quantitative PCR, this study compared Giardia spp. prevalence and infection intensity in wild and zoo-housed ring-tailed lemurs Lemur catta. Infection intensity of zoo-housed ring-tailed lemurs (prevalence=88.6%, median Ct value=31.1, IQR=27.1–34.5) was significantly higher (P>0.01) than in wild ring-tailed lemurs (prevalence=20.0%, median Ct value=37.7, IQR=37.5–38.7), where little or no Giardia was found. Comparison of the enclosure designs showed both a higher prevalence and significantly higher intensity (P>0.005) of Giardia infections in zoos with walk-through enclosures (prevalence=89%, median Ct value=28.6, IQR=26.5–32.3) compared to traditional enclosures (prevalence=65%, med...
Basic and Applied Herpetology, 2018
The diversity of Anuran parasites is poorly surveyed, despite arguably being one of the most impo... more The diversity of Anuran parasites is poorly surveyed, despite arguably being one of the most important threats to anuran populations worldwide. Additionally, parasites also interact with a number of other stressors, such as invasive species, pollution, sedimentation and changing light conditions, caused by anthropogenic disturbance in natural habitats. We aimed to explore the use of metabarcoding, a new, non-invasive tool to survey the parasite assemblages in frogs in different environments facing different levels of anthropogenic pressure. We collected fecal samples from frogs across three different transects in Ranomafana National Park, located in southeastern Madagascar, and then used the 18S metabarcoding technique to identify nematode species from the collected fecal samples. We were able to find four different putative species, which were all identified to the genus level. In comparison to the literature on previous surveys done with traditional methods, the metabarcoding appr...
Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 2020
Pathogens are threatening crops worldwide, but little attention has been given to the threat to t... more Pathogens are threatening crops worldwide, but little attention has been given to the threat to tree species in undisturbed rainforest. This communication reports the first case of a tree die off caused by a "wilt" in Madagascar. In 2016 while monitoring monthly tree phenology of Ranomafana National Park (RNP), the Centre ValBio research station observed that many Calophyllum adult trees had brown wilted leaves. There are three species of Calophyllum in this rainforest, C. paniculatum, C. drouhardii, and C. milvum, and all three have contracted this pathogen. Our goal was to document the spead of this suspected wilt in Calophyllum trees and determine if site, elevation and DBH had an influence on tree mortality. In 2019 we conducted an inventory of all Calophyllum trees in RNP and 42% of the observed trees were dead. The species with the highest mortality was C. paniculatum, with 53% of trees dead, followed by C. milvum with 18%, and C. drouhardii with only 2% of surveyed trees dead. Bark beetle traces were observed in all dead Calophyllum trees. Tree death caused by this suspected fungal pathogen has spread across a major river in the area and has been found at mid and high elevations. Our results show that C. paniculatum trees with a larger DBH have a higher mortality risk. Our report highlights the importance of fighting invasive pathogens that threaten protected ecosystems.
International Journal of Primatology, 2019
For arboreal primates, ground use may increase dispersal opportunities, tolerance to habitat chan... more For arboreal primates, ground use may increase dispersal opportunities, tolerance to habitat change, access to ground-based resources, and resilience to human disturbances, and so has conservation implications. We collated published and unpublished data from 86 studies across 65 localities to assess titi monkey (Callicebinae) terrestriality. We examined whether the frequency of terrestrial activity correlated with study duration (a proxy for sampling effort), rainfall level (a proxy for food availability seasonality), and forest height (a proxy for vertical niche dimension). Terrestrial activity was recorded frequently for Callicebus and Plecturocebus spp., but rarely for Cheracebus spp. Terrestrial resting, anti-predator behavior, geophagy, and playing frequencies in Callicebus and Plecturocebus spp., but feeding and moving differed. Callicebus spp. often ate or searched for new leaves terrestrially. Plecturocebus spp. descended primarily to ingest terrestrial invertebrates and soil. Study duration correlated positively and rainfall level negatively with terrestrial activity. Though differences in sampling effort and methods limited comparisons and interpretation, overall, titi monkeys commonly engaged in a variety of terrestrial activities. Terrestrial behavior in Callicebus and Plecturocebus capacities may bolster resistance to habitat fragmentation. However, it is uncertain if the low frequency of terrestriality recorded for Cheracebus spp. is a genus-specific trait associated with a more basal phylogenetic position, or because studies of this genus occurred in pristine habitats. Observations of terrestrial behavior increased with increasing sampling effort and decreasing food availability. Overall, we found a high frequency of terrestrial behavior in titi monkeys, unlike that observed in other pitheciids.
Journal of Biogeography, 2018
AimSpecies’ distributions and abundances are primarily determined by the suitability of environme... more AimSpecies’ distributions and abundances are primarily determined by the suitability of environmental conditions, including climate and interactions with sympatric species, but also increasingly by human activities. Modelling tools can help in assessing the extinction risk of affected species. By combining species distribution modelling of abiotic and biotic niches with population size modelling, we estimated the abundance of 19 lemur taxa in three regions, especially focusing on 10 species that are considered Endangered or Critically Endangered.LocationMadagascar.TaxaLemurs (Primates) and angiosperm trees.MethodsWe used climate data, field samples, and published occurrence data on trees to construct species distribution models (SDM) for lemur food tree species. We then inferred the SDMs for lemurs based on the probability of occurrence of their food trees as well as climate. Finally, we used tree SDMs, topography, distance to the forest edge, and field estimates of lemur population...
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Papers by Patricia Wright