Landscape structure has a weak influence on the parasite richness of an arboreal folivorous–frugivorous primate in anthropogenic landscapes

Context Environmental change can affect the ecology and behavior of host and parasite species and modulate the composition of within-host parasite communities. Objectives We assessed if habitat patch size and landscape structure (forest cover, matrix permeability, patch density, and mean distance to the nearest forest fragment) influence the richness of parasite communities of brown howler monkeys ( Alouatta guariba clamitans ) inhabiting forest fragments immersed in an anthropogenic matrix using a patch-landscape approach. Methods We collected fecal samples from 60 howler monkey groups inhabiting forest fragments (one group per fragment) from January to July 2019. We used generalized linear models to assess the power of the independent variables in predicting parasite richness at the patch- and patch-landscape scales. Results We found ten parasite taxa (five basal eukaryotes, four nematodes, and one platyhelminth). Parasite richness showed weak inverse relationships with forest cover and mean distance to the nearest forest fragment. Conclusion We conclude that the howler monkeys were likely infected with several parasite taxa on the ground and that the structure of the anthropogenic landscapes played a minor role in modulating the richness of their parasite communities.