Harpy Eagle-Primate Interactions in the Central Amazon

Lenz, Bryan B.; Reis, Alaercio Marajó dos

doi:10.1676/10-171.1

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Increase in alarmcalling to potential aerial predators after the birth of infants has been recorded for S. mystax and S. fuscicollis [Heymann, 1990]. As conspecifics play an important role in the development of antipredator behaviour in primates and other taxa [Griffin, 2004;Meno et al, 2013], we believe that such extended reactions to the presence of true predators [Barnett et al, 2011;Lenz and dos Reis, 2011;Mourthé, 2011] may function as a form of social reinforcement in primates to ensure the young in the group learn from such very rare events.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Crying Tapir: The Functionality of Errors and Accuracy in Predator Recognition in Two Neotropical High-Canopy Primates

Mourthé¹,

Barnett²

2015

IJFP

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Predation is often considered to be a prime driver in primate evolution, but, as predation is rarely observed in nature, little is known of primate antipredator responses. Time-limited primates should be highly discerning when responding to predators, since time spent in vigilance and avoidance behaviour may supplant other activities. We present data from two independent studies describing and quantifying the frequency, nature and duration of predator-linked behaviours in 2 high-canopy primates, Ateles belzebuth and Cacajao ouakary. We introduce the concept of ‘pseudopredators' (harmless species whose appearance is sufficiently similar to that of predators to elicit antipredator responses) and predict that changes in behaviour should increase with risk posed by a perceived predator. We studied primate group encounters with non-primate vertebrates across 14 (Ateles) and 19 (Cacajao) months in 2 undisturbed Amazonian forests. Although preliminary, data on both primates revealed that they distinguished the potential predation capacities of other species, as predicted. They appeared to differentiate predators from non-predators and distinguished when potential predators were not an immediate threat, although they reacted erroneously to pseudopredators, on average in about 20% of the responses given toward other vertebrates. Reacting to pseudopredators would be interesting since, in predation, one error can be fatal to the prey.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Crying Tapir: The Functionality of Errors and Accuracy in Predator Recognition in Two Neotropical High-Canopy Primates

Mourthé¹,

Barnett²

2015

IJFP

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“…Harpy eagle Harpia harpyja prey ordered by importance in terms of frequency and biomass with data taken from food habit studies (data for individual studies show frequency, %). Rettig (1978) and Izor (1985) were considered as a single replicate as they include data from the same nest in different years Aguiar-Silva et al (2014) Muñiz-Lópz, (2008) Alvarez- Cordero (1996) Alvarez-Cordero (1996) Piana (2007) Rettig ( Lenz & dos Reis 2011). This defensive behavior may be the reason why capuchins and howlers are the most common primate prey, underscoring the difficulties for harpy eagles to successfully capture agile prey.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation implications of harpy eagle Harpia harpyja predation patterns

Miranda¹

2015

Endang. Species. Res.

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Knowledge of the food habits of threatened taxa is key for their effective conservation, especially in top predators where prey species are frequently also hunted by humans. The harpy eagle Harpia harpyja is the largest living eagle, and is considered Near Threatened by the IUCN. Its main threats are persecution by humans and habitat loss. Predation patterns of this species have been the subject of several descriptive studies, each reflecting the idiosyncrasies of the study area. Systematizing these data permits a transition from descriptive treatments of harpy food habits to a predictive focus, based on defensive prey strategies and foraging theory. This generates information that can enhance management and conservation decisions. Literature data were summarized and standardized, allowing comparison between studies. Results indicate that harpy eagles feed mainly on sloths and other prey with passive antipredator strategies, with sloths accounting for 50% of prey items and biomass consumed. Large monkeys such as howlers (Alouatta spp.) and capuchins (Sapajus and Cebus spp.) are the next most important prey, but combined, primates form only ~20% of the consumed prey biomass. Predation seldom occurs on animals weighing more than 5 kg. This is positive from a conservation point of view, since sloths are not game species, precluding competition between harpy eagles and subsistence hunting.

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“…Most of the studies (188/222) used direct observation of subjects that were tolerant of human presence (~85%) but the proportion using direct observation declined over time (Figure ). Several recent studies used alternative methods including GPS data from collared primates and/or their predators (Adams & Kitchen, ; Bidner, Matsumoto‐Oda, & Isbell, ; Isbell & Bidner, ; Isbell, Bidner, van Cleave, Matsumoto‐Oda, & Crofoot, ), camera traps (Boyer‐Ontl & Pruetz, ; Farris et al, ; Isbell & Bidner, ), or predator scats for dietary analysis (Dollar, Ganzhorn, & Goodman, ; Irwin et al, ; Jooste, Pitman, van Hoven, & Swanepoel, ; Lenz & dos Reis, ; McGraw, Cooke, & Shultz, ; Shultz & Dunbar, ; Shultz, Noë, McGraw, & Dunbar, ). For example, Isbell et al () were able to identify encounters between GPS‐collared predators and primates without human interference using predator and prey spatial coordinates to determine when and where species interacted.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic influences on primate antipredator behavior and implications for research and conservation

LaBarge

Hill

Berman

et al. 2020

American J Primatol

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Predation risk affects prey species' behavior, even in the absence of a direct threat, but human‐induced environmental change may disturb ecologically significant predator–prey interactions. Here, we propose various ways in which knowledge of antipredator tactics, behavioral risk effects, and primate–predator interactions could assist in identifying human‐caused disruption to natural systems. Using behavior to evaluate primate responses to the ongoing environmental change should be a potentially effective way to make species conservation more predictive by identifying issues before a more dramatic population declines. A key challenge here is that studies of predation on primates often use data collected via direct observations of habituated animals and human presence can deter carnivores and influence subjects' perception of risk. Hence, we also review various indirect data collection methods to evaluate their effectiveness in identifying where environmental change threatens wild species, while also minimizing observer bias.

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Harpy Eagle-Primate Interactions in the Central Amazon

Cited by 15 publications

References 23 publications

Crying Tapir: The Functionality of Errors and Accuracy in Predator Recognition in Two Neotropical High-Canopy Primates

Crying Tapir: The Functionality of Errors and Accuracy in Predator Recognition in Two Neotropical High-Canopy Primates

Conservation implications of harpy eagle Harpia harpyja predation patterns

Anthropogenic influences on primate antipredator behavior and implications for research and conservation

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