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Pérez-Ortega B, Hendry AP. A meta-analysis of human disturbance effects on glucocorticoid hormones in free-ranging wild vertebrates. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1459-1471. [PMID: 37095625 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Free-ranging wild vertebrates need to cope with natural and anthropogenic stressors that cause short and/or long-term behavioural and physiological responses. In areas of high human disturbance, the use of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones as biomarkers to measure stress responses is an increasingly common tool for understanding how animals cope with human disturbance. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate how human disturbances such as habitat conversion, habitat degradation, and ecotourism influence baseline GC hormones of free-ranging wild vertebrates, and we further test the role of protected areas in reducing the impact of such disturbances on these hormones. A total of 58 studies met the inclusion criteria, providing 152 data points for comparing levels of GC hormones under disturbed and undisturbed conditions. The overall effect size suggests that human disturbance does not cause a consistent increase in levels of GC hormones (Hedges' g = 0.307, 95% CI = -0.062 to 0.677). However, when the data were analysed by disturbance type, living in unprotected areas or in areas with habitat conversion were found to increase GC hormone levels compared to living in protected or undisturbed areas. By contrast, we found no evidence that ecotourism or habitat degradation generates a consistent increase in baseline GC hormone levels. Among taxonomic groups, mammals appeared more sensitive to human disturbance than birds. We advocate the use of GC hormones for inferring major human-caused contributors to the stress levels of free-ranging wild vertebrates - although such information needs to be combined with other measures of stress and interpreted in the context of an organism's life history, behaviour, and history of interactions with human disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betzi Pérez-Ortega
- McGill University, Redpath Museum and Department of Biology, 859 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0C4, Canada
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 0843-03092, Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - Andrew P Hendry
- McGill University, Redpath Museum and Department of Biology, 859 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0C4, Canada
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2
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Gómez-Espinosa E, Dias PAD, Rangel-Negrín A. The influence of anthropogenic noise on the behavior of male mantled howler monkeys. Am J Primatol 2022; 84:e23377. [PMID: 35417046 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is increasingly disturbing natural soundscapes and affecting the physiology, behavior, and fitness of wildlife. However, our knowledge about the impact of anthropogenic noise on wild primates is scant. Here, we assess the effects of anthropogenic noise on the behavior of male mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). Specifically, we describe the types, rates, and sound pressure level (SPL) of anthropogenic noise that occurs in areas inhabited by mantled howler monkeys and determine if the behavioral responses of males to anthropogenic noise are influenced by noise attributes. For 1 year (1753 h), we characterized anthropogenic noise in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve (Veracruz, Mexico) and studied the behavior of males belonging to five groups. Anthropogenic noise was common, diverse, and varied among areas in terms of rate, type, and SPL. Males did not display behavioral responses toward most (60%) anthropogenic noises, but were more likely to respond to certain noise types (e.g., aerial traffic) and toward noise with high SPL. Group identity influenced the likelihood of displaying behavioral responses to noise. The most common behavioral responses were vocalizations and vigilance. Males vocalized in response to noise with high SPL, although this relationship depended on group identity. The effect of the number of noises on vocalizations also varied among groups. Males were more likely to display vigilance toward high SPL and infrequent noise, but, again, these relationships varied among groups. In sum, anthropogenic noise is pervasive in areas inhabited by mantled howler monkeys and influences male behavior. Experience and frequency of exposure may modulate the behavioral responses of male mantled howler monkeys to noise and explain the group differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eréndira Gómez-Espinosa
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
| | - Pedro A D Dias
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
| | - Ariadna Rangel-Negrín
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
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3
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Solórzano‐García B, Zubillaga D, Piñero D, Vázquez‐Domínguez E. Conservation implications of living in forest remnants: Inbreeding and genetic structure of the northernmost mantled howler monkeys. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Diego Zubillaga
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad. Instituto de Ecología UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria CDMX Mexico City Mexico
| | - Daniel Piñero
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva Instituto de Ecología UNAM CDMX Mexico City Mexico
| | - Ella Vázquez‐Domínguez
- Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad. Instituto de Ecología UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria CDMX Mexico City Mexico
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4
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Chowdhury S, Brown J, Swedell L. Anthropogenic effects on the physiology and behaviour of chacma baboons in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 8:coaa066. [PMID: 34336216 PMCID: PMC7428446 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
As animals increasingly occupy habitats in proximity to humans, with home ranges a mosaic of natural and anthropogenic landscapes, it becomes imperative from a conservation perspective to understand the impacts of human activities on wildlife. Many non-human primates share habitats with humans, an ability stemming largely from shared ecological needs due to our close evolutionary relationship. Such proximity, however, is often accompanied by direct conflict between humans and wildlife, leading to higher stress levels, injuries, mortality and behavioural changes, with detrimental effects on long-term health and fitness. Glucocorticoid (GC) hormones, which are released in response to ecological and social challenges, are increasingly employed to understand responses to anthropogenic disturbance. Here we investigate physiological and behavioural responses of female chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) to variation in spatial overlap and conflict with humans in their natural home range. The baboons resided in the Tokai Section of Table Mountain National Park in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa, where their home range included four types of habitats: protected, suburban, agricultural and mosaic areas. We studied the largest group of baboons in Tokai (70 individuals) and examined the effects of ranging in these different habitats on the faecal GCs and behaviour of all adult females in the troop (N = 16). We found time spent ranging in more anthropogenic habitats to be associated with higher levels of GCs, more aggression, less time socializing and shorter grooming bouts. Self-directed behaviour, however, varied and did not necessarily reflect physiological measures of stress. Taken together, the results of this study highlight the risks associated with ranging in anthropogenic environments and point to the need for a multifaceted approach to studying the negative impacts of human activities on animals so as to better inform conservation practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrina Chowdhury
- Department of Anthropology, Brooklyn College, CUNY, 2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
- Anthropology Program, Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, NY 10016, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, NY 10016, USA
- Corresponding author: Department of Anthropology, Brooklyn College—CUNY, 2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA. Tel: 1-718-951-5000 x.2136.
| | - Janine Brown
- Endocrinology Laboratory, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Larissa Swedell
- Anthropology Program, Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, NY 10016, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Queens College, CUNY, Flushing, NY 11367, USA
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
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5
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Prox L, Farine D. A framework for conceptualizing dimensions of social organization in mammals. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:791-807. [PMID: 32015844 PMCID: PMC6988527 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian societies represent many different types of social systems. While some aspects of social systems have been extensively studied, there is little consensus on how to conceptualize social organization across species. Here, we present a framework describing eight dimensions of social organization to capture its diversity across mammalian societies. The framework uses simple information that is clearly separated from the three other aspects of social systems: social structure, care system, and mating system. By applying our framework across 208 species of all mammalian taxa, we find a rich multidimensional landscape of social organization. Correlation analysis reveals that the dimensions have relatively high independence, suggesting that social systems are able to evolve different aspects of social behavior without being tied to particular traits. Applying a clustering algorithm allows us to identify the relative importance of key dimensions on patterns of social organization. Finally, mapping mating system onto these clusters shows that social organization represents a distinct aspect of social systems. In the future, this framework will aid reporting on important aspects of natural history in species and facilitate comparative analyses, which ultimately will provide the ability to generate new insights into the primary drivers of social patterns and evolution of sociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Prox
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Department of Sociobiology/AnthropologyUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology UnitGerman Primate CenterGöttingenGermany
| | - Damien Farine
- Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Department of Collective BehaviourMax Planck Institute for Animal BehaviorKonstanzGermany
- Center for the Advanced Study of Collective BehaviourUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
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6
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Cañadas Santiago S, Dias PAD, Garau S, Coyohua Fuentes A, Chavira Ramírez DR, Canales Espinosa D, Rangel Negrín A. Behavioral and physiological stress responses to local spatial disturbance and human activities by howler monkeys at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. Anim Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Cañadas Santiago
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab Instituto de Neuroetología Universidad Veracruzana Xalapa México
- Posgrado en Neuroetología Instituto de Neuroetología Universidad Veracruzana Xalapa México
| | - P. A. D. Dias
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab Instituto de Neuroetología Universidad Veracruzana Xalapa México
| | - S. Garau
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab Instituto de Neuroetología Universidad Veracruzana Xalapa México
- Posgrado en Neuroetología Instituto de Neuroetología Universidad Veracruzana Xalapa México
| | - A. Coyohua Fuentes
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab Instituto de Neuroetología Universidad Veracruzana Xalapa México
| | - D. R. Chavira Ramírez
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán Ciudad de México México
| | - D. Canales Espinosa
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab Instituto de Neuroetología Universidad Veracruzana Xalapa México
| | - A. Rangel Negrín
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab Instituto de Neuroetología Universidad Veracruzana Xalapa México
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Carpenter JK, O'Donnell CFJ, Moltchanova E, Kelly D. Long seed dispersal distances by an inquisitive flightless rail ( Gallirallus australis) are reduced by interaction with humans. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:190397. [PMID: 31598239 PMCID: PMC6731707 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Human presence is becoming increasingly ubiquitous, but the influence this has on the seed dispersal services performed by frugivorous animals is largely unknown. The New Zealand weka (Gallirallus australis) is an inquisitive flightless rail that frequently congregates in areas of high human use. Weka are important seed dispersers, yet the seed dispersal services they provide are still poorly understood. We estimated seed dispersal distances of weka for two plant species (Prumnopitys ferruginea and Elaeocarpus dentatus) and tested how human interaction affected these dispersal distances. We estimated weka seed dispersal distances by combining GPS data from 39 weka over three sites with weka seed retention time data in a mechanistic model. The mean seed retention times were extremely long (38-125 h). Weka were highly effective dispersers, dispersing 93-96% of seeds away from parent canopies, and 1% of seeds over 1 km. However, we found evidence of a significant human impact on the seed dispersal distances of weka, with birds occupying areas of high human use performing 34.8-40.9% shorter distances than their more remote counterparts. This represents an example of cryptic function loss, where although weka are still present in the ecosystem, their seed dispersal services are impaired by human interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna K. Carpenter
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Private Bag 1930, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | | | - Elena Moltchanova
- Department of Math and Statistics, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 4800, New Zealand
| | - Dave Kelly
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
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Sheehan RL, Papworth S. Human speech reduces pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) feeding and resting at a Peruvian tourist site, with louder volumes decreasing visibility. Am J Primatol 2019; 81:e22967. [PMID: 30924189 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Although potentially beneficial in terms of raising awareness and conservation funding, tourist visitation of wild primates can have negative impacts on visited groups. Tourism-generated noise is a relatively understudied facet of ecotourism research, and the effects of tourist-generated speech on free-ranging, wild primates has never been explored previously. This study investigates the behavioral responses of 10 groups of pygmy marmosets (Cebuella pygmaea) to human speech. Through the use of an experimental playback study using recorded human speech, we show that pygmy marmosets within the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve, Peru, are significantly less visible, and often move completely out of sight after louder playbacks. Although no consistent differences were found in other behaviors with playback duration and volume, playbacks of human speech tended to increase the amount of time individuals were alert and decrease feeding and resting behaviors. Our results demonstrate that human speech can alter the behavior of visited primates, and identifies a decrease in primate visibility within the increasing volume. As all trials in this study took place near a marmoset group's feeding tree, moving out of sight from the visible study area is a particularly energetically costly behavior, and also has a negative effect on visitor enjoyment as it limits the time that they are able to view the target species. This response was not observed (nor was any other consistent behavior change) in control trials where the marmosets were exposed to human presence but not to speech, suggesting that negative tourist impacts can be reduced by encouraging tourists to refrain from speaking in the presence of visited primate groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Sheehan
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, England
| | - Sarah Papworth
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, England
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9
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10
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Dias PAD, Coyohua-Fuentes A, Canales-Espinosa D, Chavira-Ramírez R, Rangel-Negrín A. Hormonal correlates of energetic condition in mantled howler monkeys. Horm Behav 2017; 94:13-20. [PMID: 28602941 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Hormones have a key role in energy allocation, so their study allows understanding individual metabolic strategies. Because different hormones convey different information on the responses of individuals to energetic demands, a simultaneous analysis of variation in multiple hormones may offer a more reliable picture of metabolic strategies than single hormone assessments. In this study we focused on determining which factors were related to variation in fecal glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone metabolites in wild mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). Over 12months, we determined fecal glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone metabolite levels of 11 adults belonging to two groups, and examined the relationship between hormone metabolites and a variety of behavioral, physiological, and ecological factors (e.g., food intake, sex/reproductive state, activity, participation in agonistic interactions). We found that glucocorticoids were elevated in gestating and lactating females compared to males and cycling females, and were also higher when individuals were more active and participated in agonistic interactions. Thyroid hormone levels were also related to sex/reproductive state and activity, but were additionally positively related to fruit intake and negatively related to young leaf intake. Our study demonstrates that the non-invasive measurement of glucocorticoid and thyroid hormones of howler monkeys allows assessing different underlying physiological processes. By combining different biomarkers, which has seldom been done with wildlife, we could also parse the influence of psychological vs. metabolic challenges for individual energetic condition, which may be instrumental for deciding which factors should be accounted for when studying different hormone-behavior interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Américo D Dias
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
| | - Alejandro Coyohua-Fuentes
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Domingo Canales-Espinosa
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | | | - Ariadna Rangel-Negrín
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
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11
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The Influence of Spatial Attributes on Fragment Occupancy and Population Structure in the Mexican Mantled Howler (Alouatta palliata mexicana). INT J PRIMATOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-016-9930-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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12
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Carlitz EHD, Miller R, Kirschbaum C, Gao W, Hänni DC, van Schaik CP. Measuring Hair Cortisol Concentrations to Assess the Effect of Anthropogenic Impacts on Wild Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151870. [PMID: 27050418 PMCID: PMC4822880 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-human primates face major environmental changes due to increased human impacts all over the world. Although some species are able to survive in certain landscapes with anthropogenic impact, their long-term viability and fitness may be decreased due to chronic stress. Here we assessed long-term stress levels through cortisol analysis in chimpanzee hair obtained from sleeping nests in northwestern Uganda, in order to estimate welfare in the context of ecotourism, forest fragmentation with human-wildlife conflicts, and illegal logging with hunting activity (albeit not of primates), compared with a control without human contact or conflict. Concerning methodological issues, season [F(2,129) = 37.4, p < 0.0001, r2 = 0.18] and the age of nests [F(2,178) = 20.3, p < 0.0001, r2 = 0.11] significantly predicted hair cortisol concentrations (HCC). With regard to effects of anthropogenic impacts, our results neither showed elevation of HCC due to ecotourism, nor due to illegal logging compared to their control groups. We did, however, find significantly increased HCC in the fragment group compared to chimpanzees living in a nearby intact forest [F(1,88) = 5.0, p = 0.03, r2 = 0.20]. In conclusion, our results suggest that hair cortisol analysis is a powerful tool that can help understanding the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on chimpanzee well-being and could be applied to other great ape species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther H. D. Carlitz
- Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- The Jane Goodall Institute Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Robert Miller
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniel C. Hänni
- Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- The Jane Goodall Institute Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carel P. van Schaik
- Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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13
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The loss of behavioral diversity as a consequence of anthropogenic habitat disturbance: the social interactions of black howler monkeys. Primates 2015; 57:9-15. [DOI: 10.1007/s10329-015-0503-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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14
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Gómez-Espinosa E, Rangel-Negrín A, Chavira R, Canales-Espinosa D, Dias PAD. The effect of energetic and psychosocial stressors on glucocorticoids in mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). Am J Primatol 2013; 76:362-73. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Revised: 11/06/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Roberto Chavira
- Instituto de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán; Mexico City Federal District Mexico
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15
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Rimbach R, Link A, Heistermann M, Gómez-Posada C, Galvis N, Heymann EW. Effects of logging, hunting, and forest fragment size on physiological stress levels of two sympatric ateline primates in Colombia. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 1:cot031. [PMID: 27293615 PMCID: PMC4806612 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cot031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2013] [Revised: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/05/2013] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbances are of major concern to the conservation of endangered species because of their potentially negative impact on animal populations. Both processes can impose physiological stress (i.e. increased glucocorticoid output) on animals, and chronically elevated stress levels can have detrimental effects on the long-term viability of animal populations. Here, we investigated the effect of fragment size and human impact (logging and hunting pressure) on glucocorticoid levels of two sympatric Neotropical primates, the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) and the critically endangered brown spider monkey (Ateles hybridus). These two species have been reported to contrast strongly in their ability to cope with anthropogenic disturbances. We collected faecal samples from eight spider monkey groups and 31 howler monkey groups, living in seven and 10 different forest fragments in Colombia, respectively. We measured faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGCM) levels in both species using previously validated methods. Surprisingly, fragment size did not influence FGCM levels in either species. Spider monkeys showed elevated FGCMs in fragments with the highest level of human impact, whereas we did not find this effect in howler monkeys. This suggests that the two species differ in their physiological responsiveness to anthropogenic changes, further emphasizing why brown spider monkeys are at higher extinction risk than red howler monkeys. If these anthropogenic disturbances persist in the long term, elevated FGCM levels can potentially lead to a state of chronic stress, which might limit the future viability of populations. We propose that FGCM measurements should be used as a tool to monitor populations living in disturbed areas and to assess the success of conservation strategies, such as corridors connecting forest fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Rimbach
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Fundación Proyecto Primates, Cra. 11a No. 91-55, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrés Link
- Fundación Proyecto Primates, Cra. 11a No. 91-55, Bogotá, Colombia
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Cra. 1 No. 18a-12, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carolina Gómez-Posada
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, 106 Kincaid, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Nelson Galvis
- Fundación Proyecto Primates, Cra. 11a No. 91-55, Bogotá, Colombia
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Los Andes, Cra. 1 No. 18a-12, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Eckhard W. Heymann
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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