Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi yucatenensis) Cope with the Negative Consequences of Hurricanes Through Changes in Diet, Activity Budget, and Fission–Fusion Dynamics

Schaffner, Colleen M.; Rebecchini, Luisa; Ramos‐Fernández, Gabriel; Vick, Laura G.; Aureli, Filippo

doi:10.1007/s10764-012-9621-4

Cited by 52 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The positive relationship between fruit abundance and subgroup size is consistent with most other studies of spider monkey grouping patterns, as well as some chimpanzee and bonobo grouping patterns (spider monkeys: Asensio et al 2008, 2009; Chapman et al 1995; Schaffner et al 2012; Symington 1990; chimpanzees and bonobos: Basabose 2004; Chapman et al 1995; Itoh and Nishida 2007; Matsumoto-Oda et al 1998; Mulavwa et al 2008). In most studies of spider monkey grouping patterns, subgroup size fluctuates in response to food availability, with larger subgroups formed when resources are more abundant (Asensio et al 2008, 2009; Chapman et al 1995; Symington 1990).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…My finding is consistent with hypotheses based on fission–fusion dynamics in chimpanzees, which predict that primates adjust subgroup size in relation to fruit abundance when it is a limiting factor (Hashimoto et al 2003). In Geoffroy’s spider monkeys coping with hurricane-induced disturbance, monkeys range in smaller subgroups to cope with lower fruit availability (Schaffner et al 2012). Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that high fission–fusion dynamics allow a rapid response to environmental changes that mediates stressors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…]: Asensio et al 2008, 2009; Chapman 1990; Chapman et al 1995; Schaffner et al 2012; Shimooka 2003; Weghorst 2007; black-and-white ruffed lemur [ Varecia variegata ]: Baden et al 2016; red-capped mangabeys [ Cercocebus torquatus ]: Dolado et al 2016). However, some chimpanzee and bonobo groups do not exhibit this relationship (Moscovice et al 2007; Wakefield 2008), or exhibit mixed results (Hashimoto et al 2003; White 1998), and the presence of females with anogenital swellings also affects subgroup size (Matsumoto-Odo et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Female Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) Cope with Anthropogenic Disturbance Through Fission–Fusion Dynamics

Rodrigues

2017

Int J Primatol

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Most primates live in habitats with some level of anthropogenic disturbance, and such disturbances have a larger impact on frugivorous primates that are more sensitive to ecological disruptions than folivores. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites provide insight into how the external environment affects internal physiological state, and thus provide information on how anthropogenic pressures become embodied. Here, I examine how subgroup size and glucocorticoids vary with high and low fruit abundance, and how fruit abundance, subgroup size, and activity budget affect fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in female spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) living in an anthropogenically disturbed habitat. I measured these variables via behavioral, ecological, and fecal sampling for 15 months in 17 female spider monkeys at El Zota Biological Field Station. Subgroup size was significantly larger during periods of high fruit abundance, but glucocorticoids did not differ between periods of low and high fruit abundance. Monthly fruit abundance predicted subgroup sizes significantly, but did not predict fecal glucocorticoid concentrations. Increased resting time and reproductive state predicted fecal glucocorticoid concentrations significantly, but travel and foraging time had no significant effect on glucocorticoid concentrations. Individual resting time over the study period correlated negatively with glucocorticoid concentrations. These results suggest that spider monkeys cope with variation in fruit abundance by adjusting subgroup size, and that these adjustments may mitigate environmental stress in this mildly seasonal environment. The large, relatively productive forest size at this site, and the availability of anthropogenic food sources, enable this population of spider monkeys to cope with human-induced habitat disturbance.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Female Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) Cope with Anthropogenic Disturbance Through Fission–Fusion Dynamics

Rodrigues

2017

Int J Primatol

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“…Although we did not measure food availability, it has been reported that there is a reduction in the number of fruiting trees (a preferred food resource for this primate species) during the dry season in the forests of the Yucatan Peninsula [51], suggesting that black howler monkeys may face reduced food availability during this period. Also, fruit availability is typically reduced in forest fragments compared to continuous forests [52], [53].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primates Living Outside Protected Habitats Are More Stressed: The Case of Black Howler Monkeys in the Yucatán Peninsula

et al. 2014

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The non-invasive monitoring of glucocorticoid hormones allows for the assessment of the physiological effects of anthropogenic disturbances on wildlife. Variation in glucocorticoid levels of the same species between protected and unprotect areas seldom has been measured, and the available evidence suggests that this relationship may depend on species-specific habitat requirements and biology. In the present study we focused on black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), a canopy-dwelling primate species, as a case study to evaluate the physiological consequences of living in unprotected areas, and relate them with intragroup competition and competition with extragroup individuals. From February 2006 to September 2007 we collected 371 fecal samples from 21 adults belonging to five groups (two from protected and three from unprotected areas) in Campeche, Mexico. We recorded agonistic interactions within groups and encounters with other groups (1,200 h of behavioral observations), and determined fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations with radioimmunoassays. We used linear mixed models and Akaike's information criterion to choose the best model explaining variation in FGM concentrations between protected and unprotected areas calculated from five categorical variables: habitat type (protected vs. unprotected), participation in agonistic interactions, intergroup encounters, sex and female reproductive state, and season. The best model included habitat type, the interaction between habitat type and agonism, and the interaction between habitat type and season. FGM concentrations were higher in unprotected habitats, particularly when individuals were involved in agonistic interactions; seasonal variation in FGM concentrations was only detected in protected habitats. High FGM concentrations in black howler monkeys living in unprotected habitats are associated with increased within-group food competition and probably associated with exposure to anthropogenic stressors and overall food scarcity. Because persistent high GC levels can be detrimental to health and fitness, populations living in disturbed unprotected areas may not be viable in the long-term.

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“…Larger groups can suffer from increased feeding competition (Janson 1988(Janson , 1992, and/or increased conspicuousness to predators (Stephens and Krebs 1986) or increased risk from infanticidal males (Borries 1997;Crockett and Janson 2000). Thus, the ability or tendency for large groups to fission under particular social or ecological conditions may therefore allow certain species more flexibility in their social organization across sites (e.g., ruffed lemurs : Vasey 2003) and also within sites across seasons or interannually (e.g., Schaffner et al 2012). Confidently identifying the mechanisms shaping spatiotemporal patterns in group cohesion is difficult to ascertain without quality data related to predation risk and resource availability.…”

Section: Predicting Social Organization Flexibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

What drives flexibility in primate social organization?

Kamilar

Baden

2014

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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The importance of behavioral flexibility for understanding primate ecology and evolutionary diversity is becoming increasingly apparent, and yet despite the abundance of long-term studies across diverse sampling localities, we still do not understand the myriad factors responsible for amongsite variation in species' social organization. The goals of our study were to address this question via three main objectives: to quantify social organization flexibility (i.e., across-site intraspecific variation) of well-studied primate species, test the idea that closely related species exhibit similar levels of flexibility, and test hypotheses explaining variation in social organization flexibility among primate species. We obtained data for a total of 175 study sites from 32 primate species representing all major primate clades. We employed phylogenetic principal components analysis to quantify social organization flexibility for each species. We quantified the phylogenetic signal in social organization flexibility and then evaluated the best predictors of flexibility. We found that mean group size was positively related to social organization flexibility. Large social groups may be more flexible because the foraging costs and predation risk associated with adding or subtracting individuals are lower compared to small social groups. There was some support that absolute brain size and the presence of fission-fusion dynamics were also related to high levels of social organization flexibility, suggesting that cognitive ability and/or within-site behavioral flexibility may also lead to increased variation across sites. Our results serve as an early step in understanding the patterns and processes related to social organization flexibility in primates and other social mammals.

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Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi yucatenensis) Cope with the Negative Consequences of Hurricanes Through Changes in Diet, Activity Budget, and Fission–Fusion Dynamics

Cited by 52 publications

References 43 publications

Female Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) Cope with Anthropogenic Disturbance Through Fission–Fusion Dynamics

Female Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) Cope with Anthropogenic Disturbance Through Fission–Fusion Dynamics

Primates Living Outside Protected Habitats Are More Stressed: The Case of Black Howler Monkeys in the Yucatán Peninsula

What drives flexibility in primate social organization?

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