5,586 research outputs found
Rates of agonism among female primates: a cross-taxon perspective
No full textAgonism is common in group-living animals, shaping dominance relationships and ultimately impacting individual tness. Rates of agonism vary considerably among taxa, however, and explaining this variation has been central in ecological models of female social relationships in primates. Early iterations of these models posited a link to diet, with more frequent agonism predicted in frugivorous species due to the presumed greater contestability of fruits relative to other food types. Although some more recent studies have suggested that dietary categories may be poor predictors of contest competition among primates, to date there have been no broad, cross-taxa comparisons of rates of female–female agonism in relation to diet. This study tests whether dietary variables do indeed pre- dict rates of female agonism and further investigates the role of group size (i.e., number of competitors) and substrate use (i.e., degree of arboreality) on the frequency of agonism. Data from 44 wild, unprovisioned groups, including 3 strepsirhine species, 3 platyrrhines, 5 colobines, 10 cercopithecines, and 2 hominoids were analyzed using phylogenetically controlled and uncontrolled methods. Results indicate that diet does not predict agonistic rates, with trends actually being in the opposite direction than predicted for all taxa except cercopithecines. In contrast, agonistic rates are positively associated with group size and possibly degree of terrestriality. Competitor density and perhaps the risk of ghting, thus, appear more important than general diet in predicting agonism among female primates. We discuss the implications of these results for socio-ecological hypotheses
The evolution of primate short-term memory
No full text* Correspondence should be addressed to Manuel Bohn (manyprimates@gmai l.com).Short-term memory is implicated in a range of cognitive abilities and is critical for understanding primate cognitive evolution. To investigate the effects of phylogeny, ecology and sociality on short-term memory, we tested the largest and most diverse primate sample to date (421 non-human primates across 41 species) in an experimental delayed-response task. Our results confirm previous findings that longer delays decrease memory performance across species and taxa. Our analyses demonstrate a considerable contribution of phylogeny over ecological and social factors on the distribution of short-term memory performance in primates; closely related species had more similar short-term memory abilities. Overall, individuals in the branch of Hominoidea performed better compared to Cercopithecoidea, who in turn performed above Platyrrhini and Strepsirrhini. Interdependencies between phylogeny and socioecology of a given species presented an obstacle to disentangling the effects of each of these factors on the evolution of short-term memory capacity. However, this study offers an important step forward in understanding the interspecies and individual variation in short-term memory ability by providing the first phylogenetic reconstruction of this trait’s evolutionary history. The dataset constitutes a unique resource for studying the evolution of primate cognition and the role of short-term memory in other cognitive abilities.Peer reviewe
Primates and conservation priorities in Madagascar
No full textMadagascar's conservation problems are many, but the Malagasy Government is working towards solutions, having recently passed into law a strategy that links development with the conservation of natural resources. The protection of the country's remaining forests is a key concern, both for the human population and for the non-human primates. The author is a primatologist and has a research background in behavioural ecology, reproduction and conservation, especially with prosimians. This article was first presented at the joint Primate Society of Great Britain/FFPS meeting on primate conservation in December 1985. © 1986, Fauna and Flora International. All rights reserved
An updated taxonomy and conservation status review of Asian primates
No full textThe present paper summarises and updates information on the taxonomy and status of Asian non-human primates from a new multi-author synthesis. For each species we include taxonomic authority, species type locality, subspecies, current distribution and conservation status. Including taxa described since the synthesis was published, the Asian non-human primate fauna comprises 119 species and 183 taxa, in 22 Asian countries. We give a breakdown of species by country, by conservation status category, and the number of species per status category in each family and genus. Of the 113 Asian primate species
that have been assessed, 17 (15%) are Critically Endangered, 45 (40%) are Endangered and 25 (22%) are Vulnerable. The most endangered genera are Rhinopithecus, Pygathrix, Nasalis, Simias, Hylobates, Nomascus, Symphalangus and Pongo.link_to_OA_fulltex
The impact of cognitive testing on the welfare of group housed primates
No full textProviding cognitive challenges to zoo-housed animals may provide enriching effects and subsequently enhance their welfare. Primates may benefit most from such challenges as they often face complex problems in their natural environment and can be observed to seek problem solving opportunities in captivity. However, the extent to which welfare benefits can be achieved through programmes developed primarily for cognitive research is unknown. We tested the impact of voluntary participation cognitive testing on the welfare of a socially housed group of crested macaques (Macaca nigra) at the Macaque Study Centre (Marwell Zoo). First, we compared the rate of self-directed and social behaviours on testing and non-testing days, and between conditions within testing days. Minimal differences in behaviour were found when comparing testing and non-testing days, suggesting that there was no negative impact on welfare as a result of cognitive testing. Lipsmacking behaviours were found to increase and aggressive interaction was found to decrease in the group as a result of testing. Second, social network analysis was used to assess the effect of testing on associations and interactions between individuals. The social networks showed that testing subjects increased their association with others during testing days. One interpretation of this finding could be that providing socially housed primates with an opportunity for individuals to separate from the group for short periods could help mimic natural patterns of sub-group formation and reunion in captivity. The findings suggest, therefore, that the welfare of captive primates can be improved through the use of cognitive testing in zoo environments
Social networks in primates : smart and tolerant species have more efficient networks
No full textE.W., A.W. and the vervet monkeys data were funded Sinergia grant (CRSI33_133040) from the Swiss National Science Foundation to R. Bshary, C. P. van Schaik, and A.W. L.H. and S.F.B. were supported by NSF CAREER Award 0847351 to S.F.B. Date of Acceptance: 03/12/2014Network optimality has been described in genes, proteins and human communicative networks. In the latter, optimality leads to the efficient transmission of information with a minimum number of connections. Whilst studies show that differences in centrality exist in animal networks with central individuals having higher fitness, network efficiency has never been studied in animal groups. Here we studied 78 groups of primates (24 species). We found that group size and neocortex ratio were correlated with network efficiency. Centralisation (whether several individuals are central in the group) and modularity (how a group is clustered) had opposing effects on network efficiency, showing that tolerant species have more efficient networks. Such network properties affecting individual fitness could be shaped by natural selection. Our results are in accordance with the social brain and cultural intelligence hypotheses, which suggest that the importance of network efficiency and information flow through social learning relates to cognitive abilities.Peer reviewe
Mobile DNA and the TE-Thrust Hypothesis: Supporting Evidence from the Primates
No full textTransposable elements (TEs) are increasingly being recognized as powerful facilitators of evolution. We propose the TE-Thrust hypothesis to encompass TE-facilitated processes by which genomes self-engineer coding, regulatory, karyotypic or other genetic changes. Although TEs are occasionally harmful to some individuals, genomic dynamism caused by TEs can be very beneficial to lineages. This can result in differential survival and differential fecundity of lineages. Lineages with an abundant and suitable repertoire of TEs have enhanced evolutionary potential and, if all else is equal, tend to be fecund, resulting in species-rich adaptive radiations, and/or they tend to undergo major evolutionary transitions. Many other mechanisms of genomic change are also important in evolution, and whether the evolutionary potential of TE-Thrust is realized is heavily dependent on environmental and ecological factors. The large contribution of TEs to evolutionary innovation is particularly well documented in the primate lineage. In this paper, we review numerous cases of beneficial TE-caused modifications to the genomes of higher primates, which strongly support our TE-Thrust hypothesis
Advancing conservation of threatened primates
No full textOur closest living relatives—the non-human primates—are in trouble. Approximately 64% of the 536 currently recognized species are included in one of the threatened categories of the IUCN Red List, with 16% categorized as Critically Endangered. How did this happen? Many factors combine to threaten primates: deforestation and habitat fragmentation reduce resources and restrict dispersal and gene flow; encroachment and urban expansion into primate habitats extend the human–wildlife interface, heightening the potential for conflicts and pathogen transmission; and extraction of primates for biomedicine, consumption and the pet and wildlife trade (notably for rituals and so-called medicine) reduces populations and affects demography. These threats drive mortality, decrease adaptability and lead to local extinctions, with profound—and potentially irreversible—effects on primates and the ecosystems they inhabit.Fil: Oklander, Luciana Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Ang, Andie. Mandai Nature; SingapurFil: Ikemeh, Rachel Ashegbofe. Sw/niger Delta Forest Project; Nigeri
Should I store, or should I sync?: the breeding strategy of two small neotropical primates under predictable resource availability
No full textPrimates employ many strategies to deal with the costs of reproduction. While income breeders exploit the food available in their environment during lactation, the most costly phase of reproduction, capital breeders tend to store energy for use in the period. We analyzed the relationship between resource availability and lactation in Callicebus coimbrai (n=2 groups) and Callicebus nigrifrons (n=2 groups) in four Brazilian Atlantic forest remnants, to assess their breeding strategy. We recorded the occurrence of births and breastfeeding events to assess birth seasonality and lactation period and length while monitoring monthly fruit availability. We recorded 11 births (five for C. coimbrai, and six for C. nigrifrons), all restricted to the end of the lean season and the beginning of the rich season. Lactation coincided with periods of increased fruit availability. We suggest that the breeding pattern of Callicebus coimbrai and C. nigrifrons is compatible with an income-based breeding strategy602113118CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal e Nível SuperiorDAAD - Deutscher Akademischer AustauschdienstFAPESP – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa Do Estado De São Paulonão temnão tem2010/04034-9; 2008/05127-0; 2009/12124-
Line transect sampling of primates : can animal-to-observer distance methods work?
No full textAn erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10764-010-9469-4Line transect sampling is widely used for estimating abundance of primate populations. Animal-to-observer distances (AODs) are commonly used in analysis, in preference to perpendicular distances from the line. This is in marked contrast with standard practice for other applications of line transect sampling. We formalize the mathematical shortcomings of approaches based on AODs, and show that they are likely to give strongly biased estimates of density. We review papers that claim good performance for the method, and explore this performance through simulations. These confirm strong bias in estimates of density using AODs. We conclude that AOD methods are conceptually flawed, and that they cannot in general provide valid estimates of density.Peer reviewe
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