Why we know so little: the challenges of fieldwork on the Pitheciids

Pinto, Liliam Patrícia; Barnett, Adrian A.; Bezerra, Bruna M.; Boubli, Jean Philippe; Bowler, Mark; Cardoso, Nayara de Alcântara; Caselli, Christini B.; Rodríguez, Maria Juliana Ospina; Santos, Ricardo Rodrigues dos; Setz, Eleonore Zulnara Freire; Veiga, Liza M.

doi:10.1017/cbo9781139034210.019

Cited by 64 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Predation by eagles has been observed [Barnett et al, 2011], and predator avoidance appears to structure terrestrial foraging activity [Barnett et al, 2012a] and sleeping tree choice [Barnett et al, 2012b]. As with other pitheciines, uacaris are difficult to study, being timid and often requiring up to a year of contact before studies can be conducted [Pinto et al, 2013]. Both Chiropotes and uacaris also have an unusual foraging strategy: combining a very large home range [Norconk, 2011] with highly focussed foraging in a small area for several days, where several large food trees are sequentially and repeatedly revisited [Pinto, 2008;Barnett, 2010].…”

Section: Cacajaomentioning

confidence: 99%

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: Cacajaomentioning

confidence: 99%

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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“…nigrifrons: Caselli et al, 2014]. The shy behavior of these primates, which hinders careful and continuous observation in the field [Bicca-Marques & Heymann, 2013;Pinto et al, 2013], is probably the cause of the scarcity of studies on the function of titi monkey loud calls. The few studies conducted so far suggest that coordinated loud calls serve to defend territories or mates [Kinzey & Robinson, 1983;Mason, 1968;Robinson, 1979aRobinson, , 1981.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Playback responses of socially monogamous black‐fronted titi monkeys to simulated solitary and paired intruders

Caselli

Mennill

Gestich

et al. 2015

American J Primatol

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Many birds and primates use loud vocalizations to mediate agonistic interactions with conspecifics, either as solos by males or females, or as coordinated duets. The extensive variation in duet complexity, the contribution of each sex, and the context in which duets are produced suggest that duets may serve several functions, including territory and mate defense. Titi monkeys (Callicebus spp.) are believed to defend their home range via solo loud calls or coordinated duets. Yet there are remarkably few experimental studies assessing the function of these calls. Observations of interactions between wild established groups and solitary individuals are rare and, therefore, controlled experiments are required to simulate such situations and evaluate the mate and joint territorial defense hypotheses. We conducted playback experiments with three free-ranging groups of habituated black-fronted titi monkeys (Callicebus nigrifrons) to test these hypotheses. We found that titi monkeys responded to the three conspecific playback treatments (duets, female solos, and male solos) and did not respond to the heterospecific control treatment. The monkeys did not show sex-specific responses to solos (N = 12 trials). Partners started to duet together in 79% of their responses to playback-simulated rivals (N = 14 calls in response to playback). Males started to approach the loudspeaker before females regardless of the type of stimulus. The strength of the response of mated pairs to all three conspecific treatments was similar. Overall, our results are consistent with the idea that black-fronted titi monkeys use their loud calls in intergroup communication as a mechanism of joint territorial defense.

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“…Most pitheciid studies addressing habitat loss and fragmentation have concentrated on population estimates, with limited data on behavioral and ecological changes (Table ). Therefore, although it is known that some species are capable of residing in habitat fragments for the short‐term, there is still little known about the geographic distribution, ecology, and behavior of many pitheciid species [Martinez and Wallace, ; Pinto et al, ; Silva Júnior et al, ]. Callicebus pallescens occurs in the Paraguayan Chaco, but to date there are no behavioral studies of these primates in Paraguay [Porter et al, ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pitheciids in fragmented habitats: Land cover change and its implications for conservation

Boyle

2014

American J Primatol

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Pitheciids (Cacajao, Callicebus, Chiropotes, and Pithecia) have experienced habitat loss and fragmentation across their geographic range in South America. Some populations living in habitat fragments live in smaller groups, travel shorter distances, and consume items that are not regularly found in the diets of populations living in continuous habitat; however, these patterns are not consistent across species. I used the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to delineate the geographic range and conservation status of 43 pitheciid species. I calculated the amount of modified land cover within the range of each species, as well as the extent to which the remaining habitat exists in small fragments and the amount of forest lost from 2000 to 2012. Mean forest fragment size ranged from 12 to 12,027 ha, and mean forest loss from 2000 to 2012 ranged from 10.7% for Chiropotes to 0.9% for Pithecia. Critically Endangered and Endangered species represented 20.9% of the pitheciid species, and 46.5% of these species had population trends documented as decreasing. Total modified land cover was greatest for Callicebus species (18.0% of geographic range), followed by Chiropotes (13.8%), Pithecia (4.4%), and Cacajao (1.1%). Species of greater conservation concern had smaller geographic ranges, and a greater percentage of their range consisting of modified land cover than species of lower conservation concern. Species of greater conservation concern also had a greater percentage of forest lost from 2000 to 2012 and a smaller percentage of the remaining forest being protected. Most studies of pitheciids in fragments have concentrated on census data; the behavior of pitheciids in fragments has been examined for only 9 of the 43 species. Increased data on the responses of pitheciid species to forest loss and fragmentation are necessary in order to address pitheciid conservation, especially in areas undergoing severe habitat loss.

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Why we know so little: the challenges of fieldwork on the Pitheciids

Cited by 64 publications

References 11 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

Playback responses of socially monogamous black‐fronted titi monkeys to simulated solitary and paired intruders

Pitheciids in fragmented habitats: Land cover change and its implications for conservation

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