Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University "Microbial perspectives on primate ecology and evolution"
Gut microbes have diverse influences on host physiology and behavior, which are likely to impact host survival and reproductive output. Therefore, a better understanding of host-gut microbe interactions can inform existing frameworks of host ecology and evolution. Here I discuss my research exploring patterns of gut microbial variation in non-human primates at both proximate and evolutionary scales and discuss its relevance for understanding microbial effects on host adaptation in multiple contexts. Specifically, I focus on exploring potential gut microbial contributions to host energy budgets and the consequences for host physiology and behavior. Additionally, I use a comparative approach to complement our current understanding of the human gut microbiome and its potential role in shaping human ecology and evolution. This research provides an important foundation for ongoing projects testing specific hypotheses about primate-microbe interactions and their importance for shaping host phenotypes.