Tegan Gaetano - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Tegan Gaetano
Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 2015
In many animal groups, the size of male genitalia scales shallowly with individual body size. Thi... more In many animal groups, the size of male genitalia scales shallowly with individual body size. This widespread pattern appears to admit some exceptions. For instance, steep allometries have been reported for vertebrate genitalia. This exception, however, may be due to a confounding effect arising from the continued growth of some structures during adulthood in vertebrates. Consider the possibility that genitalia continue to grow in adults while body size does not. If so, taking measurements from adults of different ages could yield steeper allometries than would be obtained from measurements of adults of the same age. We used vervet monkeys to test this hypothesis. We found that all body parts continued to grow in adult vervet monkeys, with sexual traits (including genitalia) showing faster growth rates. Traits with faster growth rates over adult ages had steeper allometries. And accounting for variation in adult age yielded shallower allometries, bringing vervet monkey genitalia in line with the predominant pattern observed in other animal groups. These results suggest that steep allometric slope estimates reported for other vertebrates may be due in part to mixing of adult ages, and reinforces one of the most consistent patterns yet detected in the study of static allometry.
Rodriguez et al BJLS vervet allometry trait types
Allometric slopes and condition dependence values by trait categor
Rodriguez etal BJLS vervet allometry data
Complete data set from which allometry was characterize
Data from: The static allometry of sexual and non-sexual traits in vervet monkeys
Sexual traits vary tremendously in static allometry. This variation may be explained in part by b... more Sexual traits vary tremendously in static allometry. This variation may be explained in part by body size-related differences in the strength of selection. We tested this hypothesis in two populations of vervet monkeys, using estimates of the level of condition dependence for different morphological traits as a proxy for body size-related variation in the strength of selection. In support of the hypothesis, we found that the steepness of allometric slopes increased with the level of condition dependence. One trait of particular interest, the penis, had shallow allometric slopes and low levels of condition dependence, in agreement with one of the most consistent patterns yet detected in the study of allometry, namely that of genitalia exhibiting shallow allometries
Causes of Variation in the Static Allometry of Morphological Structures: A Case Study with Vervet Monkeys
Savanna Monkeys, 2019
Subspecies Geographic Location Pelage Color Distinctions Green monkey Distributed from Senegal an... more Subspecies Geographic Location Pelage Color Distinctions Green monkey Distributed from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau in Sooty black framed by yellow whiskers and a bib of longer, reddish-yellow hairs. The (Ch. a. sabaeus) *° the west to west of the Volta River System in dorsal body is bicolored, greenish-brown and yellow, with a yellow tail tip and pale Ghana. The subspecies has been introduced to feet. Unlike all other members of the species, C. a. sabaeus lacks the band of Barbados and St. Kitts in the Caribbean. whitish hairs on the brow. Males have a pale blue scrotum. Tantalus monkey Ranges east of the Volta River system in Ghana Black face rimmed by long whitish hairs brushed up to conceal the ears. A white brow (Ch. a. tantalus)*° eastwards to the Sudan, Uganda, and the Lake band is separated from whiskers by a band of black hairs on the temporal bar. An Turkana District of Kenya. olive dorsal body with a white caudal tuft, pale feet and a white tail tip. Males have a sky blue scrotum. Vervet monkey Distributed from the Ethiopian Rift Valley, Grayish-yellow hairs on the dorsal body, extending to the tail, with a black tail tip.
A link between sexual skin color and secondary sexual characteristics among free ranging vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops pygerythrus)
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014
Sexual traits vary tremendously in static allometry. This variation may be explained in part by b... more Sexual traits vary tremendously in static allometry. This variation may be explained in part by body size-related differences in the strength of selection. We tested this hypothesis with in two populations of vervet monkeys, using estimates of the level of condition dependence for different morphological traits as a proxy for body size-related variation in the strength of selection. In support of the hypothesis, we found that the steepness of allometric slopes increased with the level of condition dependence. One trait of particular interest, the penis, had shallow allometric slopes and low levels of condition dependence, in agreement with one of the most consistent patterns yet detected in the study of allometry, that of genitalia exhibitting shallow allometries.
South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 2014
A growing focus of nonhuman primate conservation and management planning concerns factors affecti... more A growing focus of nonhuman primate conservation and management planning concerns factors affecting the dynamics of parasite infection and disease transmission. Here, we examine the effects of anthropogenic and environmental components of the landscape on the prevalence, richness, and species diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in wild-caught vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) in South Africa. Nematodes of the genus Trichuris and the family Strongylidae and protists of the subclass Coccidia were present in 55.13% of sampled animals (n = 43). Parasitological, geographical, demographic and climatic correlates of infection were assessed in a geographical information systems (GIS) platform. The findings of this study suggest that parasitism in South African vervets may be better predicted by environmental factors than by degree of anthropogenic contact. This research represents one of the first surveys of parasitic infection in a wild monkey species in southern Africa.
American Journal of Primatology, 2013
Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) exhibit bright blue scrotal skin which may function to medi... more Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) exhibit bright blue scrotal skin which may function to mediate social interactions by acting as a socio-sexual signal. Previous research on scrotal coloration among vervet monkeys was limited to experimental work on captive Ch. a. sabaeus, the least colorful vervet subspecies, and two field studies of the more colorful Ch. a. pygerythrus. In a study of free-ranging and captive vervet monkeys in South Africa (Ch. pygerythrus), West Africa (Ch. a. sabaeus) and the Caribbean (Ch. a. sabaeus), we examined scrotal color variation across geographically distant subspecies. We provide an exploration of how digital photographs may be used to quantify and analyze blue and green skin coloration by examining the blue-yellow opponency channel and luminance channel as color measures. We found that that at all ages the scrotal color of Ch. a. pygerythrus males was always bluer and darker than that of Ch. a. sabaeus males. Among Ch. a. pygerythrus scrotal color becomes bluer and lightens with increasing age, while the color of Ch. a. sabaeus males also lightens, but becomes less blue with increasing age. We suggest that color variation is related to maturation and may function as an age-related signal among Ch. a. pygerythrus and Ch. a. sabaeus. We also found color was related to three morphological features among adults. For Ch. a. pygerythrus, higher body weight is associated with more blue color and longer canine length is associated with lighter color. Lighter color was associated with longer body lengths among Ch. a. sabaeus. Future studies focused on color variation within age classes are needed to examine the potential signal content of color in this species. Am.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 2017
Aims The impact of gastroparesis on patients from the patient's viewpoint is needed to better add... more Aims The impact of gastroparesis on patients from the patient's viewpoint is needed to better address treatment priorities. The aims of this study were to: (1) Delineate burdens and concerns of patients with gastroparesis; (2) investigate specific symptoms contributing to impaired quality of life (QOL) in gastroparesis. Methods The International Foundation for Functional GI Disorders gastroparesis survey questionnaire was developed to describe patients' viewpoint about their experience with gastroparesis and included Patient Assessment of Upper GI Symptoms (PAGI-SYM) and SF-36 QOL survey. Results A total of 1423 adult patients with gastroparesis completed the survey. Average duration of gastroparesis symptoms was 9.3 years with time from onset to diagnosis 5.0 years. Patients felt that they receive good information regarding treatment options from physicians, the Internet, and Facebook. Patients rated their satisfaction with available treatment for their gastroparesis as dissatisfied (33%), somewhat dissatisfied (27%), neutral (14%), somewhat satisfied (15%), and satisfied (4%). Patients felt that gastroparesis symptoms that are most important to improve with treatment are nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. Overall, there was a decreased quality of life by SF-36. Physical health QOL score was negatively correlated with symptoms including nausea (r =-0.37), upper abdominal pain (r =-0.37), and early satiety (r =-0.37). Conclusions This large series of patients with gastroparesis describes their burdens, concerns, and QOL. Nausea, vomiting, early satiety, and abdominal pain are important symptoms for treatment. Many patients are not satisfied with current treatments, wanting specific treatments for their disorder. Interestingly, a large number of patients find out about treatments, not only from their physician, but also using the Internet including social media.
Gastroenterology, 2016
EGG in all CKD patients (r=-0.620, P<0.001). 3) The HF (reflecting vagal activity) or LF/ HF (sym... more EGG in all CKD patients (r=-0.620, P<0.001). 3) The HF (reflecting vagal activity) or LF/ HF (sympathovagal ratio) in the spectrum of HRV showed no notable difference among the three groups. 4) The HD group exhibited a significantly higher plasma level of ghrelin (34.1±9.5mmol/L vs. 26.8±4.1mmol/L, P<0.05) and lower plasma level of GLP-1 (20.0±7.5pmol/L vs. 29.4±12.6 pmol/L, P < 0.05) in comparison with the CKD group. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the percentage of normal slow waves in Channel 1 and the level of ghrelin (r=0.385, P=0.019) and a negative correlation (r=-0.558, P<0.001) between the percentage of normal slow waves in Channel 1 and the level of GLP-1 in all CKD patients. Conclusions: Hemodialysis improves GI symptoms and gastric slow waves in CKD patients. The improvement in gastric slow waves seems to be attributed to elevation of plasma level of ghrelin and suppression of plasma GLP-1 with hemodialysis.
Mo1578 Concerns and Burdens of Gastroparesis Patients in the Community
Gastroenterology, 2016
Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 2015
In many animal groups, the size of male genitalia scales shallowly with individual body size. Thi... more In many animal groups, the size of male genitalia scales shallowly with individual body size. This widespread pattern appears to admit some exceptions. For instance, steep allometries have been reported for vertebrate genitalia. This exception, however, may be due to a confounding effect arising from the continued growth of some structures during adulthood in vertebrates. Consider the possibility that genitalia continue to grow in adults while body size does not. If so, taking measurements from adults of different ages could yield steeper allometries than would be obtained from measurements of adults of the same age. We used vervet monkeys to test this hypothesis. We found that all body parts continued to grow in adult vervet monkeys, with sexual traits (including genitalia) showing faster growth rates. Traits with faster growth rates over adult ages had steeper allometries. And accounting for variation in adult age yielded shallower allometries, bringing vervet monkey genitalia in line with the predominant pattern observed in other animal groups. These results suggest that steep allometric slope estimates reported for other vertebrates may be due in part to mixing of adult ages, and reinforces one of the most consistent patterns yet detected in the study of static allometry.
Rodriguez et al BJLS vervet allometry trait types
Allometric slopes and condition dependence values by trait categor
Rodriguez etal BJLS vervet allometry data
Complete data set from which allometry was characterize
Data from: The static allometry of sexual and non-sexual traits in vervet monkeys
Sexual traits vary tremendously in static allometry. This variation may be explained in part by b... more Sexual traits vary tremendously in static allometry. This variation may be explained in part by body size-related differences in the strength of selection. We tested this hypothesis in two populations of vervet monkeys, using estimates of the level of condition dependence for different morphological traits as a proxy for body size-related variation in the strength of selection. In support of the hypothesis, we found that the steepness of allometric slopes increased with the level of condition dependence. One trait of particular interest, the penis, had shallow allometric slopes and low levels of condition dependence, in agreement with one of the most consistent patterns yet detected in the study of allometry, namely that of genitalia exhibiting shallow allometries
Causes of Variation in the Static Allometry of Morphological Structures: A Case Study with Vervet Monkeys
Savanna Monkeys, 2019
Subspecies Geographic Location Pelage Color Distinctions Green monkey Distributed from Senegal an... more Subspecies Geographic Location Pelage Color Distinctions Green monkey Distributed from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau in Sooty black framed by yellow whiskers and a bib of longer, reddish-yellow hairs. The (Ch. a. sabaeus) *° the west to west of the Volta River System in dorsal body is bicolored, greenish-brown and yellow, with a yellow tail tip and pale Ghana. The subspecies has been introduced to feet. Unlike all other members of the species, C. a. sabaeus lacks the band of Barbados and St. Kitts in the Caribbean. whitish hairs on the brow. Males have a pale blue scrotum. Tantalus monkey Ranges east of the Volta River system in Ghana Black face rimmed by long whitish hairs brushed up to conceal the ears. A white brow (Ch. a. tantalus)*° eastwards to the Sudan, Uganda, and the Lake band is separated from whiskers by a band of black hairs on the temporal bar. An Turkana District of Kenya. olive dorsal body with a white caudal tuft, pale feet and a white tail tip. Males have a sky blue scrotum. Vervet monkey Distributed from the Ethiopian Rift Valley, Grayish-yellow hairs on the dorsal body, extending to the tail, with a black tail tip.
A link between sexual skin color and secondary sexual characteristics among free ranging vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops pygerythrus)
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014
Sexual traits vary tremendously in static allometry. This variation may be explained in part by b... more Sexual traits vary tremendously in static allometry. This variation may be explained in part by body size-related differences in the strength of selection. We tested this hypothesis with in two populations of vervet monkeys, using estimates of the level of condition dependence for different morphological traits as a proxy for body size-related variation in the strength of selection. In support of the hypothesis, we found that the steepness of allometric slopes increased with the level of condition dependence. One trait of particular interest, the penis, had shallow allometric slopes and low levels of condition dependence, in agreement with one of the most consistent patterns yet detected in the study of allometry, that of genitalia exhibitting shallow allometries.
South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 2014
A growing focus of nonhuman primate conservation and management planning concerns factors affecti... more A growing focus of nonhuman primate conservation and management planning concerns factors affecting the dynamics of parasite infection and disease transmission. Here, we examine the effects of anthropogenic and environmental components of the landscape on the prevalence, richness, and species diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in wild-caught vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) in South Africa. Nematodes of the genus Trichuris and the family Strongylidae and protists of the subclass Coccidia were present in 55.13% of sampled animals (n = 43). Parasitological, geographical, demographic and climatic correlates of infection were assessed in a geographical information systems (GIS) platform. The findings of this study suggest that parasitism in South African vervets may be better predicted by environmental factors than by degree of anthropogenic contact. This research represents one of the first surveys of parasitic infection in a wild monkey species in southern Africa.
American Journal of Primatology, 2013
Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) exhibit bright blue scrotal skin which may function to medi... more Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) exhibit bright blue scrotal skin which may function to mediate social interactions by acting as a socio-sexual signal. Previous research on scrotal coloration among vervet monkeys was limited to experimental work on captive Ch. a. sabaeus, the least colorful vervet subspecies, and two field studies of the more colorful Ch. a. pygerythrus. In a study of free-ranging and captive vervet monkeys in South Africa (Ch. pygerythrus), West Africa (Ch. a. sabaeus) and the Caribbean (Ch. a. sabaeus), we examined scrotal color variation across geographically distant subspecies. We provide an exploration of how digital photographs may be used to quantify and analyze blue and green skin coloration by examining the blue-yellow opponency channel and luminance channel as color measures. We found that that at all ages the scrotal color of Ch. a. pygerythrus males was always bluer and darker than that of Ch. a. sabaeus males. Among Ch. a. pygerythrus scrotal color becomes bluer and lightens with increasing age, while the color of Ch. a. sabaeus males also lightens, but becomes less blue with increasing age. We suggest that color variation is related to maturation and may function as an age-related signal among Ch. a. pygerythrus and Ch. a. sabaeus. We also found color was related to three morphological features among adults. For Ch. a. pygerythrus, higher body weight is associated with more blue color and longer canine length is associated with lighter color. Lighter color was associated with longer body lengths among Ch. a. sabaeus. Future studies focused on color variation within age classes are needed to examine the potential signal content of color in this species. Am.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 2017
Aims The impact of gastroparesis on patients from the patient's viewpoint is needed to better add... more Aims The impact of gastroparesis on patients from the patient's viewpoint is needed to better address treatment priorities. The aims of this study were to: (1) Delineate burdens and concerns of patients with gastroparesis; (2) investigate specific symptoms contributing to impaired quality of life (QOL) in gastroparesis. Methods The International Foundation for Functional GI Disorders gastroparesis survey questionnaire was developed to describe patients' viewpoint about their experience with gastroparesis and included Patient Assessment of Upper GI Symptoms (PAGI-SYM) and SF-36 QOL survey. Results A total of 1423 adult patients with gastroparesis completed the survey. Average duration of gastroparesis symptoms was 9.3 years with time from onset to diagnosis 5.0 years. Patients felt that they receive good information regarding treatment options from physicians, the Internet, and Facebook. Patients rated their satisfaction with available treatment for their gastroparesis as dissatisfied (33%), somewhat dissatisfied (27%), neutral (14%), somewhat satisfied (15%), and satisfied (4%). Patients felt that gastroparesis symptoms that are most important to improve with treatment are nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. Overall, there was a decreased quality of life by SF-36. Physical health QOL score was negatively correlated with symptoms including nausea (r =-0.37), upper abdominal pain (r =-0.37), and early satiety (r =-0.37). Conclusions This large series of patients with gastroparesis describes their burdens, concerns, and QOL. Nausea, vomiting, early satiety, and abdominal pain are important symptoms for treatment. Many patients are not satisfied with current treatments, wanting specific treatments for their disorder. Interestingly, a large number of patients find out about treatments, not only from their physician, but also using the Internet including social media.
Gastroenterology, 2016
EGG in all CKD patients (r=-0.620, P<0.001). 3) The HF (reflecting vagal activity) or LF/ HF (sym... more EGG in all CKD patients (r=-0.620, P<0.001). 3) The HF (reflecting vagal activity) or LF/ HF (sympathovagal ratio) in the spectrum of HRV showed no notable difference among the three groups. 4) The HD group exhibited a significantly higher plasma level of ghrelin (34.1±9.5mmol/L vs. 26.8±4.1mmol/L, P<0.05) and lower plasma level of GLP-1 (20.0±7.5pmol/L vs. 29.4±12.6 pmol/L, P < 0.05) in comparison with the CKD group. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the percentage of normal slow waves in Channel 1 and the level of ghrelin (r=0.385, P=0.019) and a negative correlation (r=-0.558, P<0.001) between the percentage of normal slow waves in Channel 1 and the level of GLP-1 in all CKD patients. Conclusions: Hemodialysis improves GI symptoms and gastric slow waves in CKD patients. The improvement in gastric slow waves seems to be attributed to elevation of plasma level of ghrelin and suppression of plasma GLP-1 with hemodialysis.
Mo1578 Concerns and Burdens of Gastroparesis Patients in the Community
Gastroenterology, 2016