Host age, social group and habitat type influence the gut microbiota of wild, ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta)

The gut microbiota contributes to host health by maintaining homeostasis, increasing digestive efficiency, and facilitating the development of the immune system. The composition of the gut microbiota can change dramatically within and between individuals of a species as a result of diet, age, or habitat. Therefore, understanding the factors determining gut microbiota diversity and composition can contribute to our knowledge of host ecology as well as to conservation efforts. Here we use high-throughput sequencing to describe variation in the gut microbiota of the endangered ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) at the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve (BMSR) in southwestern Madagascar. Specifically, we measured the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota in relation to social group, age, sex, tooth wear and loss, and habitat disturbance. The results indicate that the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota was influenced by social group, age, and habitat disturbance. However, no significant variation in the diversity of ring-tailed lemur gut microbiota in response to any variable tested. Because few individual microbial taxa were responsible for the observed patterns and effect sizes were small, particularly for habitat disturbance, it appears that these factors may not impact the lemur gut microbiota as strongly as they impact the gut microbiota of other primate species. These patterns highlight the importance of host ecology and physiology on host-gut microbe relationships.