Speaker
Description
Oil palm cultivation dominates large parts of Southeast Asia and profoundly alters tropical forest ecosystems through habitat fragmentation. Some wildlife species have partly adapted to these human-modified landscapes, including southern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) which regularly forage in oil palm plantations. Previous research by our group found reduced infant survival associated with increased plantation visitation time, while ongoing studies indicate physiological changes linked to pesticide exposure, with chemical profiles derived from body odour and urine differing significantly before versus after pesticide spraying events. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Because the gastrointestinal tract is a primary site of dietary influence and toxic exposure, plantation diet and pesticides may directly alter the gut microbiome at structural and functional levels. Such disruptions can affect digestion, immune regulation, and ultimately host fitness, yet microbiome-mediated effects on wildlife remain poorly understood. This project investigates how plantation foraging and pesticide exposure influence gut microbiome structure and function in wild pig-tailed macaques. We specifically hypothesize that microbiome composition is influenced by time spent on plantation and differs before and after pesticide spraying events and we predict gut microbial diversity to be reduced after exposure to pesticides. Additionally, this study will provide the first characterization of gut microbiome variation across sex and age classes in wild Macaca nemestrina populations. We collected 287 faecal samples from 30 individuals of two habituated groups between April 2025 and April 2026 in Segari Melintang Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia, with targeted sampling conducted prior to and following pesticide (Glyphosate/Paraquat) spraying events. Microbiome composition and function will be analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Overall, this work seeks to investigate if the gut microbiome could be an understudied lens into anthropogenic influence and how supposedly beneficial behavioural flexibility in agricultural landscapes masks underlying physiological costs in wildlife.
| Status Group | Doctoral Researcher |
|---|---|
| FOR TALKS: Poster Presentation Option | Yes, I’m willing to present as a poster. |