Habituating primates: processes, techniques, variables and ethics

Williamson, Elizabeth A.; Feistner, Anna T. C.

doi:10.1017/cbo9780511921643.004

Cited by 106 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Jack et al (2008) also noted evidence of continued habituation, in the form of decreasing cortisol levels, of a group of capuchins in Costa Rica after the conclusion of an 18 month behavioural study. Thus, although large-scale behavioural changes may occur fairly quickly, less overtly noticeable indicators of habituation (e.g., cortisol, SDB) may decrease over a longer period than previously estimated (Williamson and Feistner 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Much scientific research on the behaviour of wild animals, particularly with primates, requires habituation of subjects before recording observational data (Williamson and Feistner 2003). Habituation is the reduction of a response to a repeated stimulus that is neither aversive nor beneficial (Bejder et al 2009;Thorpe 1963;Whittaker and Knight 1998) and it is implemented in observational studies such that natural behaviour may be recorded with minimum effect of the observer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is passive observation of habituated animals truly passive?

McDougall

2011

J Ethol

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The term ''habituated'' is sometimes used to imply that animals no longer respond to the presence of a human observer. There is an accumulating body of evidence, however, suggesting that habituated animals that no longer perceive humans as a direct threat nevertheless continue to respond to their presence in other ways. Data were collected from a troop of free-ranging vervet monkeys in the Klein Karoo of South Africa for months 5-12 of their habituation period to determine how self-directed behaviour (SDB) was affected by human presence across time. SDB decreased across the 8 month period, indicating that habituation was ongoing. The human observer's location in relation to the focal animal had a significant effect on SDB. Furthermore, when the habituation period was divided into an early and a late phase this pattern did not arise until the later habituation period (9-12 months). This evidence suggests that animals continue to respond to human presence as they become habituated, although the observed responses change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is passive observation of habituated animals truly passive?

McDougall

2011

J Ethol

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“…We were able to contact several groups regularly and in short succession, effectively shortening the period of habituation as it has been reported for spider (Ateles geoffroyi) and capuchins (Cebus capucinus, Campbell and Sussman 1994). Even when we were able to habituate numerous owl monkey groups, we must indicate that the process of habituating primates is a complex one, and procedures that have been successful with one taxon may prove inefficient with others (Williamson and Feistner 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Costs and Benefits of Radio-collaring on the Behavior, Demography, and Conservation of Owl Monkeys (Aotus azarai) in Formosa, Argentina

Juárez

Rotundo²,

Berg³

et al. 2010

Int J Primatol

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The benefits to researchers of capturing and collaring free-ranging primates are numerous, but so are the actual and potential costs to the individuals. We aimed to 1) evaluate quantitatively the possible demographic long-term costs of radio-collaring a free-ranging primate species, and 2) evaluate qualitatively the costs to the subjects and the overall benefits to the research program that results from monitoring a large number of groups with collared individuals during many years. Between 2000 and 2009, we captured, recaptured, and radio-collared 146 owl monkeys (Aotus azarai) to study the behavior, demography, and genetics of the species. To evaluate the potential long-term costs of the collaring procedures on the population, we compared the demographic composition of groups (n=20) in our core study area with those of undisturbed groups (n=20) in a control area within the same forest. Groups in both areas ranged in size between 2 and 5 individuals. Surprisingly, group size tended to be larger among the study groups owing to more infants and juveniles in those groups than in the control groups. The benefits to the research program have included, among others, the reliable identification of individuals, increased sample sizes, the recovery of specimens, studies of dispersal, outreach activities, and conservation education. Still, some of the benefits will become tangible only when the project persists on time; is fully approved and supported by local authorities; and has broad community participation, as well as Int J Primatol (2011) 32:69-82

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“…In addition, habituation may not be desirable for populations experiencing hunting pressure in the absence of effective law enforcement. Wild apes offer a particular challenge because they typically take years to habituate to human observation (Blom et al 2004;Doran-Sheehy et al 2007;Tutin and Fernandez 1991;Williamson and Feistner 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%