Feeding habits of marmosets: A case study of bark anatomy and chemical composition of Anadenanthera peregrina gum

Abstract

The bark of Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg and Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Bre-nan were characterized in relation to anatomical and chemical features. The barks were similar and included a thin conducting phloem, a largely dilated and sclerified non-conducting phloem, and a rhyridome with periderms with thin phellem interspersed by cortical tissues. Only small differences between species were observed that cannot be used alone for taxonomic purposes. The summative chemical composition of A. peregrina and A. colubrina was respectively: 8.2% and 7.7% ash; 28.8% and 29.3% extractives; 2.4% and 2.6% suberin; and 18.9% lignin. The monosaccharide composition showed the predominance of glucose (on average 82% of total neutral sugars) and of xylose (9%). The ethanol-water extracts of A. peregrina and A. colubrina barks included a high content of phenolics, respectively: total phenolics 583 and 682 mg GAE/g extract; 148 and 445 mg CE/g extract; tannins 587 and 98 mg CE/g extract. The antioxidant activity was 238 and 269 mg Trolox/g extract. The barks of the Anadenanthera species are a potential source of polar extractives that will represent an important valorization and therefore contribute to improve the overall economic potential and sustainability of A. peregrina and A. colubrina

The gut microbiome of exudivorous marmosets in the wild and captivity

“…In captive C. jacchus , species of Bifidobacteria in the gut microbiome were specific to host taxon and provided metabolic functions in line with C. jacchus ’ relatively extreme adaptation to exudivory 73 . The Bifidobacteria group is especially efficient at metabolizing carbon sources like arabinogalactan and pectin 71 , which are components of carbohydrates of plant gums consumed by marmosets 74 . The genomes of three isolates of Bifidobacterium callitrichos from a captive C. jacchus fecal sample contained predicted genes associated with galactose and arabinose metabolism, which are also major constituents of tree gums eaten by C. jacchus 75 .…”

The Gut Microbiome of Exudivorous Marmosets in the Wild and Captivity

“…The chemical composition of sugars in the marmoset diet have be most explored in Callithrix jacchus, and include beta-linked polyssachrides composed on galactose, arabinose, and rhamnose 30 . Additionally, pectin is another carbohydrate found in the bark of Anadenanthera peregrina, which is consumed by various taxa of marmosets 29 . Further, marmosets morphological adaptations for exudivory include a well-developed caecum for fermentation of plant exudates 39 and a lower-anterior dentition "tooth scraper" to perforate tree bark and lianas 40 .…”

“…The chemical composition of sugars in the marmoset diet have be most explored in Callithrix jacchus, and include beta-linked polyssachrides composed on galactose, arabinose, and rhamnose 75 . Additionally, pectin is another carbohydrate found in the bark of Anadenanthera peregrina, which is consumed by various taxa of marmosets 74 . Wild marmosets also generally exploit other nutritional sources such as fruit, fungi, and small prey 31,84 .…”

The comparative genomics of Bifidobacterium callitrichos reflects dietary carbohydrate utilization within the common marmoset gut

“…Plant gums are high in carbohydrates but lower in protein. A recent analysis of marmoset feeding habits determined the carbohydrate and protein content of gums from Anadenanthera peregrina , a food source for marmosets in Brazil, to be 38.2 and 19.0 %, respectively [ 103 ]. This may drive marmosets to supplement their protein intake with insects [ 33 ].…”