William D. Helenbrook

State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry | SUNY-ESF · Department of Environmental Biology

The black-headed night monkey, Aotus nigriceps, has one of the largest distribution ranges of the 11 night monkey species found across Central and South America. Yet, only three studies have focused on their ecology, describing considerable variation in habitat, group composition, and population density. Therefore, we analyzed habitat use, group co...

The study of intestinal parasite communities is an important aspect of conservation biology, disease ecology, and wildlife health. Researchers can use the presence of select micro-and macro-parasites as an indicator of host health. Only two studies have sampled intestinal parasites in free-ranging Aotus monkeys despite their wide geographic distrib...

Purpose: Blastocystis species are widely distributed micro-eukaryote parasites found in both human and nonhuman primates. Despite having a global distribution, descriptions of Blastocystis subtype diversity in neotropical primates is largely limited to captive animals. The aim of this study was to molecularly characterize the presence of Blastocys...

Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon have been steadily increasing since 2007. Recent government policy, the projected growth of agriculture, and the expansion of the cattle industry are expected to further pressure primates within the Amazon basin. In this study, we examined the anthropogenic impact on the widely distributed black-headed ni...

We quantitatively tested the riverine barrier hypothesis and its influence on biogeographical distributions and molecular variation in New World monkeys (Parvorder: Platyrrhini). Using mitochondrial markers (cytochrome oxidase subunit II and cytochrome b), we analyzed taxonomic differences and the effects of geographical barriers on molecular patte...

NCBI submission: Aotus nigriceps and Aotus azarai boliviensis cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII), (mitochondrion) partial cds

Partial cytochrome b sequence obtained from Canis latrans (coyote) in Alligator River National Wildlife River area.

Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon have been steadily increasing since 2007. Recent government policy, projected growth of agriculture, and expansion of the cattle industry is expected to further pressure primates within the Amazon basin. In this study, we examined the anthropogenic impact on the widely distributed black-headed night monke...

Deposited data for: Helenbrook et al. 2020 Intestinal parasitism in free-ranging black-headed night monkeys, Aotus nigriceps, of southeastern Peru. International Journal of Primatology

The study of wild black-headed night monkey ( Aotus nigriceps ) ecology is limited to a single field station, despite the species being found across a vast distributional range in the Amazon. We studied several aspects of their ecology, specifically habitat use, group size, population density, and diet. All sampled groups were found in secondary tr...

Quantitative acoustic analysis has been used to decipher individual differences, population structure, and taxonomic diversity in numerous primate species. We previously described three distinct call types in wild Aotus nigriceps, and now assess acoustic differences in two of these call types between social groups and spatially distinct populations...

Forest disturbance and human encroachment have the potential to influence intestinal parasite communities in animal hosts by modifying nutritional health, physiological stress, host densities, contact rates, and ranging patterns. Anthropogenic disturbances also have the ability to affect the ecological landscape of parasitic disease, potentially im...

Genotyping analysis using DNA obtained through non-invasively collected fecal samples can provide valuable information on most wildlife species. However, genotyping errors including allelic drop-out are common when fecal samples yield lower quantity and quality DNA. Several studies have produced conflicting or inconsistent results across fecal DNA...

This study characterizes Blastocystis species infections in humans and mantled howler monkeys, Alouatta palliata aequatorialis, living in close proximity to one another in northwestern Ecuador. Blastocystis species were identified from 58 of 96 (60.4 %) mantled howler monkey fecal samples, and 44 of 55 human fecal samples (81.5 %) by polymerase cha...

A gastrointestinal parasite analysis of Ecuadorian mantled howler monkeys, Alouatta palliata aequatorialis, was conducted based on parasites from fecal samples examined using fecal smears, flotations and sedimentations. At least one type of parasite was detected in 97% of the 96 fecal samples screened across 19 howler monkey groups using a combinat...

Understanding the relationship between anthropogenic disturbances and wildlife gastrointestinal parasite communities is important to both human health and conservation efforts. Forest logging and fragmentation, burgeoning human population growth, wildlife extraction, and expansion of livestock into formerly undisturbed landscapes can affect and com...

Gastrointestinal parasites affect nearly half a billion people worldwide, significantly impairing their ability to live healthy, productive lives. Ideally, access to clean water, proper sanitation, and anti-parasitic drugs would limit infectious disease; however, the resources aren’t always available, especially in poor, rural communities. This stu...

Dissertation Defense. SUNY ESF 2014

Understanding the relationship between anthropogenic disturbances and wildlife gastrointestinal parasite communities is important to both human health and conservation efforts. Forest logging and fragmentation, burgeoning human population growth, wildlife extraction, and expansion of livestock into formerly undisturbed landscapes can affect and com...

Background/Question/Methods In response to rapidly changing climates, animal and plant populations must shift their geographic distribution, adapt in situ, or face extinction. For species that may face imminent extinction, the conservation community is exploring the costs and benefits of an interventionist approach. One approach is assisted colon...

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Thesis (M.A.) -- State University College at Buffalo, 2006. Includes bibliographical references : leaves 44-51.