Are Primates Ecosystem Engineers?

Impending extinction crisis of the world’s primates: Why primates matter

“…Their evolution, feeding ecology, and geographic distribution are closely linked to the diversification of angiosperms, a principal source of food (pollen, nectar, fruits, and seeds) ( 91 ) for many animals and humans ( 92 – 94 ). Many primates have been identified or suspected as important pollinators due to their opportunistic nondestructive feeding on flowers and nectar ( 94 , 95 ). As consumers of different plant parts (for example, fruits, flowers, seeds, gums, and leaves), primates can affect plant propagule dissemination, cause tree mortality, and may negatively affect the reproductive investment of some plants ( 95 ).…”

Climate oscillations and conservation measures regulate white-faced capuchin population growth and demography in a regenerating tropical dry forest in Costa Rica

“…These studies indicate that primate populations in widely separated locations may suffer simultaneous negative consequences from greater frequency and/or amplitude of large-scale climate oscillations. Primates often make up a major proportion of the vertebrate biomass in their ecosystems (Kamilar and Beaudrot, 2013) and may play key roles in structuring plant communities via seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and folivory (Chapman et al, 2013). Therefore, conservation strategies that promote the survival of primates are likely to be beneficial for many other members of the ecological community.…”

“…Most studies of long-lived nonhuman primates have not been lengthy enough to investigate these important questions, and consequently, there have been few studies on the long-term dynamics of primate populations in relation to quantitative data on ecosystem change (for some notable exceptions, see chapters in Kappeler and Watts, 2012). Nonetheless, primate taxa may be particularly useful for quickly gauging conservation risks and establishing conservation priorities because primates are often abundant and easily censused compared to many other vertebrates in tropical habitats, and they may play key roles in ecological communities as ecosystem engineers (Chapman et al, 2013). Conservation approaches focused on primates are therefore likely to confer protection to many other sympatric organisms and their ecological dependencies (Lambert, 2011).…”

Ecology and Epidemiology of Nematode Infection in Japanese Macaques:

“…What has not yet been demonstrated or perhaps even addressed in the primate literature, however, is the extent to which parasites might mediate the various functional roles that primates do play within their respective ecosystems. For example, Chapman et al (2013) explore the likelihood that primates are ecosystem engineers; organisms with the ability to modify the physical environment by changing, maintaining, and/or creating new habitats. Numerous organisms fall into this category, with a classic example being that of dam construction by beavers and its cascading effects (Jones et al 1994).…”