Primate life history, social dynamics, ecology, and conservation: Contributions from long‐term research in Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Abstract

Research on non-human primates in the endangered tropical dry forest of Sector Santa Rosa (SSR), Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), was launched in 1983 and is now one of the longest running studies of primates globally. Such continuous study provides a rare opportunity to ask questions that are only answerable through decades-long monitoring of these long-lived monkeys. In turn, the mounting data generated by long-term study, including knowledge of lifetime reproductive success, familial relatedness, comprehensive behavioral and dietary repertoires, and patterns of inter-and intra-annual variation in forest productivity, provide diverse opportunities to researchers, and facilitate studies that are of shorter duration. Here, we review some of the contributions of our longitudinal research on white-faced capuchins and Geoffroy's spider monkeys, together with newer studies on mantled howler monkeys. We begin by synthesizing findings from our research on demography, dispersal, social relationships, and reproduction. These life history and social traits interact with their

The genomics of ecological flexibility, large brains, and long lives in capuchin monkeys revealed with fecalFACS

“…Similar suites of traits have arisen in other lineages, including some cetaceans, corvids and, independently, in another radiation of primates, the capuchin monkeys. Like great apes, they have diverse diets, consume and seek out high-energy resources, engage in complex extractive foraging techniques (5,6) to consume difficult-to-access invertebrates and nuts (6), and have an extended lifespan, presently recorded up to 54 y in captivity (7,8). While they do not show evidence of some traits linked with large Significance Surviving challenging environments, living long lives, and engaging in complex cognitive processes are hallmark human characteristics.…”

“…Similar suites of traits have arisen in other lineages, including some cetaceans, corvids and, independently, in another radiation of primates, the capuchin monkeys. Like great apes, they have diverse diets, consume and seek out high-energy resources, engage in complex extractive foraging techniques ( 5 , 6 ) to consume difficult-to-access invertebrates and nuts ( 6 ), and have an extended lifespan, presently recorded up to 54 y in captivity ( 7 , 8 ). While they do not show evidence of some traits linked with large brain size in humans (e.g., human-like social networks and cultural and technological transmission from older to younger groupmates), their propensity for tool use and their ecological flexibility may have contributed to their convergence with the great apes ( 9 ), offering opportunities for understanding the evolution of key traits via the comparative method ( 10 – 12 ).…”

Infant cannibalism in wild white‐faced capuchin monkeys

“…During the event, we collected data ad libitum and video data using two cell phones. Long‐term research on the Santa Rosa capuchins began in 1983 (Fedigan & Jack, 2012; Melin et al., in press) with observations of the LV group beginning in 1990. All group members were fully habituated and individually identifiable based upon physical features.…”

Activity budget and gut microbiota stability and flexibility across reproductive states in wild capuchin monkeys in a seasonal biome

“…In the hot, dry season animals contend with drought and high temperature, while in the rainier, cooler season, these forces are less present. We have observed strong effects of seasonality on ranging behaviour, activity budget, food choice, and the gut microbiota in this population (Campos et al, 2014; Campos & Fedigan, 2009; Melin et al, 2020; Orkin et al, 2019; Orkin et al, 2019). The effects of seasonality on this population of capuchins may be limiting behavioural and gut microbial responses to other factors, including reproduction.…”