Activity budget and gut microbiota across reproductive states in wild, female capuchin monkeys in a seasonal dry forest

Abstract

ABSTRACTEnergy demands associated with pregnancy and lactation are significant forces in mammalian evolution. To mitigate increased energy costs associated with reproduction, female mammals have evolved behavioral and physiological responses. Some species alter activity to conserve energy during pregnancy and lactation, while others experience changes in metabolism and fat deposition. Restructuring of gut microbiota with shifting reproductive states may also help females increase energy harvest from foods, especially during pregnancy. Here, we combine life history data with >13,000 behavioral scans and >300 fecal samples collected longitudinally across multiple years from 33 white-faced capuchin monkey females to examine the relationships among behavior, gut microbiota composition, and reproductive state. We used 16S- based amplicon sequencing and the DADA2 pipeline to analyze microbial diversity and putative functions. Reproductive state explained some variation in activity, but overall resting and foraging behaviours were relatively stable across the reproductive cycle. We found evidence for increases in biotin synthesis pathways among microbes in lactating females, and that microbial community dissimilarity among the states was small but significant. Otherwise, gut microbiota structure and estimated functions were not substantially different among reproductive states. These data contribute to a broader understanding of plasticity in response to physiological shifts associated with mammalian reproduction.