Living in Islands of Forests: Nutritional Ecology of the Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata) at La Suerte Biological Field Station, North-Eastern Costa Rica

Occhibove, Flavia; Ferro, Claudia; Campera, Marco; Liponi, Gian Battista; Borgognini-Tarli, Silvana M.; Ganzhorn, Jörg U.; Donati, Giuseppe

doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-2208-6_22

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 60 publications

(51 reference statements)

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“…However, the evidence that folivorous primates actually select leaves with high protein content is ambiguous. Considering protein alone, some studies found positive selection by primates for high protein leaves [e.g., New World howler monkeys : Milton, 1979: Milton, , 1998Glander, 1981; Old World non-colobine monkeys: Beeson, 1989;Barton & Whiten, 1994; Old World colobines: Davies et al, 1988;Koenig et al, 1998;Mowry et al, 1996;Waterman et al, 1988;Yeager et al, 1997;Apes: Calvert, 1985;Lemurs: Ganzhorn, 1988, 2002Mutschler, 1999] but others failed to do so [e.g., New World howler monkeys: Gaulin & Gaulin, 1982;Estrada & Coates-Estrada, 1986;Occhibove et al, 2015;Old World colobines: Chapman et al, 2002;Dasilva, 1994;Kool, 1992;McKey et al, 1981;Oates et al, 1980;Waterman et al, 1988;Apes: ConklinBrittain et al, 1998;Rothman et al, 2011;Lemurs: Ganzhorn, 1988;Ganzhorn et al, 2004;Simmen et al, 2014]. Thus, we are left with the conundrum that protein is hypothesized to be an important component in primate food selection while only about half of the studies on food selection criteria demonstrate that primates actively select high protein leaves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The importance of protein in leaf selection of folivorous primates

Ganzhorn

Nelson

Carrai

et al. 2016

American J Primatol

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Protein limitation has been considered a key factor in hypotheses on the evolution of life history and animal communities, suggesting that animals should prioritize protein in their food choice. This contrasts with the limited support that food selection studies have provided for such a priority in nonhuman primates, particularly for folivores. Here, we suggest that this discrepancy can be resolved if folivores only need to select for high protein leaves when average protein concentration in the habitat is low. To test the prediction, we applied meta-analyses to analyze published and unpublished results of food selection for protein and fiber concentrations from 24 studies (some with multiple species) of folivorous primates. To counter potential methodological flaws, we differentiated between methods analyzing total nitrogen and soluble protein concentrations. We used a meta-analysis to test for the effect of protein on food selection by primates and found a significant effect of soluble protein concentrations, but a non-significant effect for total nitrogen. Furthermore, selection for soluble protein was reinforced in forests where protein was less available. Selection for low fiber content was significant but unrelated to the fiber concentrations in representative leaf samples of a given forest. There was no relationship (either negative or positive) between the concentration of protein and fiber in the food or in representative samples of leaves. Overall our study suggests that protein selection is influenced by the protein availability in the environment, explaining the sometimes contradictory results in previous studies on protein selection. Am. J. Primatol. 79:e22550, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The importance of protein in leaf selection of folivorous primates

Ganzhorn

Nelson

Carrai

et al. 2016

American J Primatol

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“…While solitary animals are generally more vulnerable to predation than group‐living animals (e.g., Bertram, 1978), they likely do not require as large a tree to conceal themselves as would a group. With resting comprising the majority of howler monkey daily activity budgets at LSBRS (Schreier et al, accepted; Occhibove et al, 2015), it makes sense for group‐living monkeys to preferentially rest in trees that are large enough to accommodate entire social groups and to therefore minimize individual chances of predation through the dilution effect (Alatalo & Helle, 1990; Bertram, 1978).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While our prediction assumed leaves to generally be a low‐quality food source for mantled howler monkeys, we did not differentiate between young and mature leaves, which vary widely in nutritive quality (di Fiore et al, 2011; Milton, 1979). Compared to mature leaves, young leaves contain more protein, less cellulose, and fewer secondary compounds that may act as irritants to monkeys (di Fiore et al, 2011; Milton, 1979; Occhibove et al, 2015), and are preferred by mantled howler monkeys along with fruit and flowers (Estrada et al, 1999; LaRose, 1996). However, previous research on young versus mature leaf consumption at LSBRS found that howler monkeys consistently fed on mature leaves throughout the forest, and when nutritive contents were examined, both leaf types contained sufficient protein to meet howler monkey nutritional needs, with more sugars present in mature leaves (Occhibove et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Compared to mature leaves, young leaves contain more protein, less cellulose, and fewer secondary compounds that may act as irritants to monkeys (di Fiore et al, 2011; Milton, 1979; Occhibove et al, 2015), and are preferred by mantled howler monkeys along with fruit and flowers (Estrada et al, 1999; LaRose, 1996). However, previous research on young versus mature leaf consumption at LSBRS found that howler monkeys consistently fed on mature leaves throughout the forest, and when nutritive contents were examined, both leaf types contained sufficient protein to meet howler monkey nutritional needs, with more sugars present in mature leaves (Occhibove et al, 2015). Lone male howler monkeys may therefore have consumed fewer leaves than expected due to both types of leaves being desirable resources at LSBRS, and group‐living monkeys generally outcompeting solitary males for large trees containing more leaves.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lone males: Solitary and group‐living male howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) behavioral ecology in a Costa Rican rainforest

Bolt

Cavanaugh

Schreier

2020

American J Phys Anthropol

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Objectives: Many group-living primate species have evolved the capacity for some individuals to live alone for part of their lives, but this solitary life stage has rarely been the subject of focused research. The mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) is a social primate species with bisexual dispersal that lives in mixed-sex groups with low male-to-female sex ratios. Consequently, males often spend a long period of their lives as solitary individuals. This study compares the tree use, feeding, and long-distance vocalization behavior of solitary and group-living mantled howler monkey males living within a fragmented rainforest in Costa Rica, La Suerte Biological Research Station. Based on differences in competitive ability between solitary and group-living males, we predicted that lone males would be found in significantly smaller feeding and resting trees, consume more low-quality foods, and produce shorter howling bouts made at lower rates than group-living males. Materials and methods: We collected data on tree use and feeding during 30-min focal samples on male focal animals, recording data at 2-min intervals. We measured the trees in which the monkeys fed and rested for two or more intervals, and recorded the plant parts consumed. We recorded howling behavior using all-occurrences sampling. Results: Lone males used significantly smaller feeding and resting trees, consumed more low-quality foods, and howled at lower rates but had longer howling bouts triggered by anthropogenic noise more than group-living males. Discussion: Our results demonstrate that lone males differ in their behavioral ecology compared to group-living males, thus improving understanding of the solitary male life stage in primates. K E Y W O R D S DBH, fallback food, feeding ecology, loud call, male life history 1 | INTRODUCTION "As solitaries, they are secretive and do nothing to attract attention." (Glander, 1992, p. 424) In some group-living primate species, individuals have the capacity to spend part of their lives alone. Solitary males, for example, are especially prevalent in species with one-male, multi-female (i.e., polygynous) mating or social structures, where young adult males typically disperse from natal groups at sexual maturity but are not yet physically capable of securing membership in a new mixed-sex group (e.g., langur [Semnopithecus spp.], Steenbeek, Sterck, de Vries, & van Hoof, 2000; blue monkey [Cercopithecus mitis], Roberts &

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“…Research done at MRC sites is regularly cited in the Spanish‐language scientific literature and has been incorporated in Costa Rican governmental reports related to species and landscape conservation (e.g., Castro‐Avendãno et al, 2021; Román et al, 2021), demonstrating the research impact of MRC's work. Several MRC Primate Behavior and Ecology course instructors have conducted research projects at LSBRS and OBRS and have included student contributions in published research (e.g., Bezanson et al, 2013; Occhibove et al, 2015; Pruetz & Leasor, 2002); however, this article will primarily focus on the authors' research collaborations with MRC students. Amy L. Schreier began teaching MRC courses in 2009, while Laura M. Bolt began in 2014.…”

Section: Student Involvement In Long‐term Research Projects At Lsbrsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Student research collaboration as conservation education: A case study from the primate field school at Maderas Rainforest Conservancy

Bolt

Schreier

2022

American J Primatol

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Maderas Rainforest Conservancy (MRC) is a conservation-focused non-profit organization that is devoted to protecting the tropical forests they manage in Costa Rica and Nicaragua and to providing conservation education for international university students through biological field schools. The MRC Primate Behavior and Ecology course is their most frequent course offering and is aimed at developing students to be independent field researchers. This course involves classroom lectures, training in primate identification and field methods, and the execution of independent research projects that students design, collect data for, and write up as scientific papers. Student development as conservationists is facilitated through the research experience provided by this field course as well as through co-and extracurricular research opportunities available to students at the sites that MRC manages: La Suerte Biological Research Station in Costa Rica, and Ometepe Biological Research Station in Nicaragua. In tandem with their participation in the MRC primate field course, we (Laura M. Bolt and Amy L. Schreier) consistently offer students research opportunities in our ongoing project examining the impact of forest fragmentation on primate behavioral ecology. MRC student course evaluations indicate that this co-and extracurricular research participation substantially contributes to student academic development and conservation awareness. Student research collaboration, therefore, greatly benefits students as well as furthers MRC's conservation goals as a non-profit organization. In future MRC primate field school sessions, we will continue to offer research collaboration opportunities to students and will also endeavor to improve conservation education at MRC by involving more local community members in MRC's academic programs.

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Living in Islands of Forests: Nutritional Ecology of the Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata) at La Suerte Biological Field Station, North-Eastern Costa Rica

Cited by 6 publications

References 60 publications

The importance of protein in leaf selection of folivorous primates

The importance of protein in leaf selection of folivorous primates

Lone males: Solitary and group‐living male howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) behavioral ecology in a Costa Rican rainforest

Student research collaboration as conservation education: A case study from the primate field school at Maderas Rainforest Conservancy

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