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1. Building a Knowledge Model of Cayo Santiago Rhesus Macaques: Engaging Undergraduate Students in Developing Graphical User Interfaces for NSF Funded Research Project

   https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35308-6_29  

   Zhao, Martin Q.; Widener, Ethan R.; Francis, George; and Wang, Qian (June 2023, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Innovations in Computing Research (ICR’23). Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 721. Springer, Cham.)

   Daimi, K.; and Sadoon, A. Al (Ed.)

   In this paper, we introduce an NSF funded project that aims to develop a database that integrates genetic, environmental and age-related information to study their effects on health conditions of a rhesus monkey colony at Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico, which has been founded since 1938. In this project, we will combine the osteology data with the rich genealogy and demographic information into a searchable and computer-interoperable knowledge model accessible through user-friendly interfaces. Backed by the integrated database, this system will provide researchers and the public information from the Cayo Santiago rhesus colony and the derived skeletal collection, a powerful non-human model for datamining to study human disease. Undergraduate and graduate students from diverse communities have been incorporated into research and development activities. Related materials are used as case studies in relevant classes at Mercer University to help train these undergraduate students into problem solvers. 

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2. Broad host use and frequent polyandry in the facultative dulotic species Formica aserva (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

   https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saae020  

   Scarparo, Giulia; West, Mari; Brelsford, Alan; Purcell, Jessica; Knolhoff, ed., Lisa (August 2024, Annals of the Entomological Society of America)

   Abstract The study of social parasitism faces numerous challenges arising from the intricate and intranidal host–parasite interactions and the rarity of parasites compared to their free-living counterparts. As a result, our understanding of the ecology and evolution of most social parasites remains limited. Using whole-genome and reduced-representation sequence data, we conducted a study to fill knowledge gaps on host use, colony social structure, and population genetics of the facultative dulotic ant Formica aserva Forel. Our study reveals the remarkable ability of F. aserva to exploit at least 20 different host species across its wide geographic distribution. In some cases, one social parasite colony exploits multiple hosts simultaneously, suggesting a high degree of generalization even at a local spatial scale. Approximately 80% of the colonies were monogyne (with a single queen), with many exhibiting higher rates of polyandry compared to most Formica ants. Although we identified a supergene on chromosome 3, its association with colony structure remains uncertain due to the rarity of polygyny in our sample. Population genetic analyses reveal substantial geographic population structure, with the greatest divergence between California populations and those from the rest of the range. Mitochondrial population structure differs from structure inferred from the nuclear genome on a broad geographic scale, suggesting a possible role of adaptive introgression or genetic drift. This study provides valuable insights into the ecology and evolution of F. aserva, underscoring the need for further research to decipher the complexities of host interactions and the genetic mechanisms that regulate social structure. 

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3. Conceptual Design and Prototyping for a Primate Health History Model

   Zhao, Martin Q; Maldonado, Elizabeth; Kensler, Terry B; Kohn, Luci AP; Guatelli-Steinberg, Debbie; Wang, Q. (January 2021, Transactions on computational science and computational intelligence)

   Arabnia, Hamid R.; Deligiannidis, Leonidas; Tinetti, Fernando G.; Tran, Quoc-Nam (Ed.)

   Primate models are important for understanding human conditions, especially in studies of ageing, pathology, adaptation, and evolution. However, how to integrate data from multiple disciplines and render them compatible with each other for datamining and in-depth study is always challenging. In a long-term project, we have started a collaborative research endeavor to examine the health history of a free-ranging rhesus macaque colony at Cayo Santiago, and build a knowledge model for anthropological and biomedical/translational studies of the effects of environment and genetics on bone development, aging, and pathologies. This paper discusses the conceptual design as well as the prototyping of this model and related graphical user interfaces, and how these will help future scientific queries and studies. 

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4. Conceptual Design and Prototyping for a Primate Health History Model

   https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71051-4_40  

   Zhao, Martin Q; Maldonado, Elizabeth; Kensler, Terry B; Kohn, Luci AP; Guatelli-Steinberg, Debbie; Wang, Q. (January 2021, Transactions on computational science and computational intelligence)

   Arabnia, Hamid R.; Deligiannidis, Leonidas; Tinetti, Fernando G.; Tran, Quoc-Nam (Ed.)

   Primate models are important for understanding human conditions, especially in studies of ageing, pathology, adaptation, and evolution. However, how to integrate data from multiple disciplines and render them compatible with each other for datamining and in-depth study is always challenging. In a long-term project, we have started a collaborative research endeavor to examine the health history of a free-ranging rhesus macaque colony at Cayo Santiago, and build a knowledge model for anthropological and biomedical/translational studies of the effects of environment and genetics on bone development, aging, and pathologies. This paper discusses the conceptual design as well as the prototyping of this model and related graphical user interfaces, and how these will help future scientific queries and studies. 

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5. Coming to the Caribbean: Eighty‐five years of rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) at Cayo Santiago—A rare nonhuman primate model for the studies of adaptation, diseases, genetics, natural disasters, and resilience

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23659  

   Wang, Qian; Francis, George (July 2024, American Journal of Primatology)

   Bales, Karen (Ed.)

   Abstract The Cayo Santiago rhesus macaque colony represents one of the most important nonhuman primate resources since their introduction to the Caribbean area in 1938. The 85 years of continuing existence along with the comprehensive database of the rhesus colony and the derived skeletal collections have provided and will continue to provide a powerful tool to test hypotheses about adaptive and evolutionary mechanisms in both biology and medicine. 

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