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Whitworth A, Whittaker L, Pillco Huarcaya R, Flatt E, Morales ML, Connor D, Priego MG, Forsyth A, Beirne C. Spider Monkeys Rule the Roost: Ateline Sleeping Sites Influence Rainforest Heterogeneity. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:E1052. [PMID: 31805694 PMCID: PMC6941026 DOI: 10.3390/ani9121052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
: The sleeping site behavior of Ateline primates has been of interest since the 1980s, yet limited focus has been given to their influence upon other rainforest species. Here, we use a combination of arboreal and terrestrial camera traps, and dung beetle pitfall traps, to characterize spider monkey sleeping site use and quantify the impact of their associated latrines on terrestrial vertebrate and dung beetle activity. We also characterize the physical characteristics of the sleeping sites and the floristic and soil composition of latrines beneath them. Spider monkey activity at sleeping sites peaked at dawn and dusk and group composition varied by sex of the adults detected. The habitat-use of terrestrial fauna (vertebrates and dung beetles) differed between latrine sites and non-latrine controls, underpinned by species-specific changes in the relative abundance of several seed-dispersing species (such as paca and great curassow). Seedling density was higher in latrines than in non-latrine controls. Although most soil properties were similar between latrines and controls, potassium and manganese concentrations were different. These results suggest that spider monkey sleeping site fidelity leads to a hotspot of ecological activity in latrines and downstream impacts on rainforest floristic composition and diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Whitworth
- Osa Conservation, Conservation Science Team, Washington, DC, 20005, USA; (L.W.); (R.P.H.); (E.F.); (M.L.M.); (M.G.P.); (A.F.)
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Lawrence Whittaker
- Osa Conservation, Conservation Science Team, Washington, DC, 20005, USA; (L.W.); (R.P.H.); (E.F.); (M.L.M.); (M.G.P.); (A.F.)
- Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Ruthmery Pillco Huarcaya
- Osa Conservation, Conservation Science Team, Washington, DC, 20005, USA; (L.W.); (R.P.H.); (E.F.); (M.L.M.); (M.G.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Eleanor Flatt
- Osa Conservation, Conservation Science Team, Washington, DC, 20005, USA; (L.W.); (R.P.H.); (E.F.); (M.L.M.); (M.G.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Marvin Lopez Morales
- Osa Conservation, Conservation Science Team, Washington, DC, 20005, USA; (L.W.); (R.P.H.); (E.F.); (M.L.M.); (M.G.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Danielle Connor
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, School of Bio sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK; (D.C.); (C.B.)
| | - Marina Garrido Priego
- Osa Conservation, Conservation Science Team, Washington, DC, 20005, USA; (L.W.); (R.P.H.); (E.F.); (M.L.M.); (M.G.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Adrian Forsyth
- Osa Conservation, Conservation Science Team, Washington, DC, 20005, USA; (L.W.); (R.P.H.); (E.F.); (M.L.M.); (M.G.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Chris Beirne
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, School of Bio sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK; (D.C.); (C.B.)
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Muñoz-Delgado J, Pérez-Galicia S, Sánchez-Ferrer JC, Canales Espinosa D, Erkert HG. Diel and infradian (7-day) activity rhythms in Mexican spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) kept with and without visitor contact. Am J Primatol 2018; 80:e22933. [PMID: 30537387 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Diel activity rhythms in mammals are regulated by an endogenous (circadian) timing system which is synchronized by environmental 24-hr periodicities called zeitgebers. Additional direct responses to stochastic environmental factors ensure the fine-tuning to the actual situation and may mask the circadian time course. Following an observational study on behavioral effects of visitor activities in a group of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) kept free-ranging on a small island of Lake Catemaco, Veracruz, Mexico, we analyzed the effect of weekly varying numbers of visiting tourist boats on the monkeys' diel activity rhythm. With small accelerometer-data logger devices we recorded the monkeys' locomotor activity continuously for several months each. Then we compared the data with those from spider monkeys living without tourist contact. Neither the duration of the monkeys' activity time (α) nor its phase relationship to the 24-hr solar day did change on different weekdays in either site. However, their activity level showed a clear 7-day rhythm. The monkeys of the tourist site showed highest activity on Saturday and Sunday, when the frequency of visiting tourist boats was highest, whereas those of the non-tourist site were least active on Sunday and Monday, when human activities were lowest there. While the monkeys of the non-tourist site usually displayed a distinct bimodal activity pattern peaking in the morning and late afternoon, the pattern in those of the tourist site mostly lacked a morning peak and varied more over time. Based on our results, we suggest that circadian entrainment is not involved in the differences between the diel activity rhythms of the spider monkeys from the two keeping sites and the differing 7-day variation in their activity level. Rather, these differences seemingly reflect direct responses to the differing human activities and thus may correspond to circadian masking effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jairo Muñoz-Delgado
- Dirección de Neurociencias, Laboratorio de Cronoecología y Etología Humana, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Sergio Pérez-Galicia
- Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | | | - Domingo Canales Espinosa
- Dirección del Área Académica de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Hans G Erkert
- Department of Animal Physiology, Institute for Zoology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Pérez-Galicia S, Miranda-Anaya M, Canales-Espinosa D, Muñoz-Delgado J. Visitor effect on the behavior of a group of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) maintained at an island in Lake Catemaco, Veracruz/Mexico. Zoo Biol 2017; 36:360-366. [PMID: 29120094 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
We analyzed the effect of human visitors on the behavior of a group of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) kept on a small tourist island. Although the spider monkey is a common species in zoos, there are very few specific studies on visitor effects on these monkeys. We conducted behavioral observations on the group of spider monkeys to evaluate the effect of visitors. We also used actimetry devices to measure the variations in the spider monkeys' locomotor activity associated with human presence. With regard to the effect on behavior, we found an increase in self-directed behaviors and a decrease in vocalization, both associated with human presence. Moreover, our results suggest that when people feed monkeys, there is an increase in agonistic behaviors. On the other hand, we found that changes in activity levels in response to human presence vary among individuals. We conclude that changes in spider monkeys' behavior could provide evidence of the negative effect of visitors in our study conditions. Although we discuss the differences in activity levels due to differences in social position, further research is required this topic. Our results can be used to inform management plans for this species in captivity. Improving this relationship between humans and non-human primates through tourism education programs would benefit ecotourism and therefore species conservation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Pérez-Galicia
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, México
- Chronoecology and Human Ethology Laboratory, Depto. Etología. Dirección de Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Tlalpan, Distrito Federal, México
| | - Manuel Miranda-Anaya
- Department of Neurobiology of Development and Neurophysiology, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro, México
| | - Domingo Canales-Espinosa
- Head Office of Academic Area of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - Jairo Muñoz-Delgado
- Chronoecology and Human Ethology Laboratory, Depto. Etología. Dirección de Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Tlalpan, Distrito Federal, México
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