Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41536172›Full record

ReviewEvolutionary anthropology2026

Microbial Contributions to Primate Reproduction.

Silvia Carboni, Abigail E Asangba, Amanda D Melin

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Evolutionary anthropology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Microbial Contributions to Primate Reproduction.Evolutionary anthropology · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Silvia CarboniDepartment of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6189-7061
Abigail E AsangbaDepartment of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4223-6903
Amanda D MelinDepartment of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0612-2514

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Reproduction is a complex process, and microbes play a far greater role than previously imagined. This review explores the ways that microbiomes influence the rich tapestry of reproductive processes and outcomes within the primate lineage, including pre-copulatory and post-copulatory mechanisms. We discuss microbiomes in a sexual selection framework, specifically how they might influence mate choice and sexual competition across multiple sensory modalities. We then consider how copulatory behavior and mating systems may in turn shape reproductive microbiomes. Moving to post-copulatory processes, we discuss the potential impact of microbes on cryptic choice and sperm competition and call for additional research in this area. Finally, we explore the influence of microbes on pregnancy outcomes, emphasizing evolutionary perspectives often overlooked in clinical research. Importantly, we compare human studies to those on nonhuman primates, bridging the two areas of inquiry and outlining future research directions. Our aim is to highlight the vast potential for microbes to contribute to all stages of reproduction, and to inspire creative, synthetic future research that moves forward this fascinating area of inquiry.

Indexed as

MicrobiotaPrimatesReproductionAnimalsAnthropology, PhysicalFemaleHumansMaleMating Preference, AnimalPregnancySexual Behavior, Animalcryptic choicegenital microbiomemate choicemicrobial ecologyreproductive strategiesscent gland microbiomesexual competitionsexual selection

Identifiers

PMID41536172
PMCPMC12805318

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.