The Effects of Parasites on a Free-ranging Howler Monkey Population in Panama

将对巴拿马科罗拉多岛巴罗科罗拉多岛寄生虫对咆哮猴子的影响进行试点调查。寄生虫对非人类灵长类自然种群的影响和生物成本鲜为人知，这种众所周知的、习惯性的岛屿种群是最初研究的良好选择。这个跨学科小组将对两种特定的寄生虫进行调查。将记录咆哮猴昆虫苍蝇幼虫的病理和感染率，以及咆哮疟疾寄生虫(巴西疟原虫)的病理和感染率。此外，还将尝试确定环境压力(气候、营养等)对感染率的影响。

A pilot investigation of the effects of parasites on howler monkeys on Barro Colorado Island, Panama will be conducted. The effects and biological costs of parasites on natural populations of nonhuman primates are poorly known and this well-known, habituated island population is a good choice for an initial study. Two specific parasites will be investigated by this inter-disciplinary team. The pathology and infestation rates for the howler monkey bot fly larvae will be documented as will those for the howler malarial parasite (Plasmodium brazilianum). Additionally, there will be an attempt to determine the effects of environmental stress (climatic, nutritional etc) on infestation rates.