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Bonadonna G, Ramilijaona OM, Raharivololona BM, Andrianarimisa A, Razafindraibe H, Freeman K, Rasambainarivo F, Wroblewski EE, Milich KM. Response of diademed sifaka ( Propithecus diadema) to fosa ( Cryptoprocta ferox) predation in the Betampona Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11248. [PMID: 38601854 PMCID: PMC11004663 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Large-bodied mammals living in fragmented habitats are at higher risk of extinction, and such risk can be influenced by ecological factors such as predator-prey system dynamics. These dynamics can be particularly complex for conservation management when one endangered species preys on another endangered species in an isolated or poor-quality habitat. Here we describe predation events observed over 19 months that involved two threatened species: the largest carnivore in Madagascar, the fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox), and three groups of diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema) in the Betampona Strict Nature Reserve. This site is a 22 km2 low-altitude rainforest that is surrounded by agricultural land and isolated from larger forest corridors. We aim to (1) assess the behavioral changes of P. diadema in response to fosa attacks and identify any antipredator strategies that they adopted, and (2) quantify the frequency of fosa attacks and the predation impact on the sifaka population. We report five direct observations of fosa predation attempts (one successful), the discovery of a dead sifaka with evidence of fosa predation, and the disappearance of three individuals. We describe the observed attacks and compare the sifaka activity budgets and movement patterns before and after the events. To escape the predator, sifakas fled short distances, hid, and remained vigilant. The impact of predation, combined with low reproductive rates and potentially high inbreeding of this isolated diademed sifaka population, could affect the survival of this species in Betampona. Given the compounding effects of habitat isolation and high hunting pressure, community-specific conservation strategies should incorporate predator-prey dynamics via longitudinal monitoring of predator and prey population densities and quantifying the predation pressure between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bonadonna
- Department of AnthropologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - O. M. Ramilijaona
- Zoology and Animal Biodiversity, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of AntananarivoAntananarivoMadagascar
| | - B. M. Raharivololona
- Department of Anthropology and Sustainable Development, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of AntananarivoAntananarivoMadagascar
| | - A. Andrianarimisa
- Zoology and Animal Biodiversity, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of AntananarivoAntananarivoMadagascar
| | - H. Razafindraibe
- Zoology and Animal Biodiversity, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of AntananarivoAntananarivoMadagascar
| | - K. Freeman
- Madagascar Fauna and Flora GroupKalinkaUK
| | - F. Rasambainarivo
- Department of BiologyEast Carolina UniversityGreenvilleNorth CarolinaUSA
- Mahaliana Labs SARLAntananarivoMadagascar
| | - E. E. Wroblewski
- Department of AnthropologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - K. M. Milich
- Department of AnthropologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
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Xie Z, Xing L, Zhao M, Zhao L, Liu J, Li Y, Gan J, Chen S, Li H. Versatile, vigilance, and gut microbiome support the priority of high-ranking hens. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1324937. [PMID: 38179328 PMCID: PMC10764595 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1324937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Dominance hierarchy exists in social animals and shows profound impacts on animals' survival, physical and mental health, and reproductive success. Aggressive interaction, as the main indicator used to calculate social hierarchy, however, is not found in some female animals. In this study, we aimed to figure out the establishment of social hierarchy in hens that almost perform aggressive behaviors and investigated the interactions of social hierarchy with production performance and gut microbiome. Forty 49-day-old Qingyuan hens were randomly divided into four groups. The social hierarchy of hens was calculated by the relative position around the feeder. The rank 1 (R1), R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 birds were determined in ascending order. Then, R1 and R2 birds (four duplicates, n = 8) were named as the high-ranking hens (HR) group, while R9 and R10 individuals were named as the low-ranking hens (LR) group (four duplicates, n = 8). The heart index (p = 0.01), number of visits per day, daily feed intake, and occupation time per day were higher in the HR group than LR group, but the LR group had a higher feed intake per visit than the HR group. The alpha diversity was significantly lower in the HR group than the LR group (p = 0.05). The relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes was higher while that of phylum Deferribacterota was lower in the HR group than LR group (p < 0.05). At the genus level, the relative abundance of Succinatimonas, Eubacterium hallii group, and Anaerostipes were higher in HR group than in LR group. The relative abundance of Bacteroides, Mucispirillum, Subdoligranulum, and Barnesiellaceae unclassified was higher in the LR group than HR group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the rank of hens could be calculated by the relative position around the feeder when they compete for food. The dominant hens have a versatile. Moreover, they are more vigilant and have priority when foraging. Low-ranking hens adopt strategies to get enough food to sustain themselves. Hens of high-rank possess beneficial bacteria that use favorable substances to maintain the balance of the gut environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijiang Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Limin Xing
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Mengqiao Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Jinling Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Yushan Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Jiankang Gan
- Guangdong Tinoo’s Foods Group Co., Ltd., Qingyuan, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Hua Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
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Primate–Predator Interactions: Is There a Mismatch Between Laboratory and Ecological Evidence? INT J PRIMATOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-022-00331-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Berthet M, Mesbahi G, Cäsar C, Zuberbühler K. Impact of predator model presentation paradigms on titi monkey alarm sequences. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022; 76:143. [PMID: 36203497 PMCID: PMC9527189 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03250-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Predator presentation experiments are widely used to investigate animal alarm vocalizations. They usually involve presentations of predator models or playbacks of predator calls, but it remains unclear whether the two paradigms provide similar results, a major limitation when investigating animal syntactic and semantic capacities. Here, we investigate whether visual and acoustic predator cues elicit different vocal reactions in black-fronted titi monkeys (Callicebus nigrifrons). We exposed six groups of wild titi monkeys to visual models or playbacks of vocalizations of raptor or felid. We characterized each group’s vocal reactions using sequence parameters known to reliably encode predatory events in this species. We found that titi monkeys’ vocal reactions varied with the predator species but also with the experimental paradigm: while vocal reactions to raptor vocalizations and models were similar, felid vocalizations elicited heterogeneous, different reactions from that given to felid models. We argue that subjects are not familiar with felid vocalizations, because of a lack of learning opportunities due to the silent behaviour of felids. We discuss the implication of these findings for the semantic capacities of titi monkeys. We finally recommend that playbacks of predator vocalizations should not be used in isolation but in combination with visual model presentations, to allow fine-grained analyses of the communication system of prey species. Significance statement It is common to present prey species with predator models or predator calls to study their vocal reactions. The two paradigms are often used independently, but it remains unclear whether they provide similar results. Here, we studied the vocal reactions of titi monkeys to calls and models of raptors and felids. We show that titi monkeys seem to recognize the vocalizations of raptors but not those of felids. The study of the vocal reactions emitted when titi monkeys cannot clearly identify the threat allows us to draw accurate hypotheses about the meaning of titi monkeys’ alarm utterances. We argue that playbacks of predator calls should be used in conjunction with model presentations, which can allow us to better investigate the information and the structure of the alarm systems. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00265-022-03250-1.
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Rasoamazava L, Rakotomalala VF, Sefczek TM, Frasier CL, Dinsmore MP, Rasoloharijaona S, Louis EE. Feeding ecology of Lepilemur septentrionalis in the dry forest of Montagne des Français, northern Madagascar. Folia Primatol (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/14219980-20210702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The role of folivorous primates in ecosystem restoration has been largely overlooked. This may primarily be due to the lack of basic ecological information on many of these species. The northern sportive lemur (Lepilemur septentrionalis), for example, is one of the most endangered primates in the world, yet we lack baseline ecological knowledge of this lemur. This dearth only serves to exacerbate their situation as conservation initiatives do not have the fundamental information needed to properly manage conservation efforts for this species. To obtain an ecological baseline for L. septentrionalis, we used instantaneous focal animal sampling to collect behavioral data, including strata use, to investigate feeding ecology for five individuals over a 12-month period (December 2018-November 2019) in Montagne des Français. We conducted a total of 755.1 hours of observation. Our results showed that L. septentrionalis’ diet consisted of mature and young leaves, ripe and unripe fruits, flowers, and buds. Mature leaves of Tamarindus indica were the most frequently consumed resource, yet L. septentrionalis consumed 61 different species of plants from 23 families. Though mature leaves were the most frequently consumed resource overall, we only observed L. septentrionalis eating them during the cold/dry season. The most frequently used stratum during feeding was the canopy, which correlated strongly with the consumption of mature and young leaves. Though many aspects of this species’ diet are similar to other Lepilemur, there are specific ecological conditions, notably seasonal frugivory, which should be considered when developing restoration ecology programs in Montagne des Français.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucile Rasoamazava
- Faculté des Sciences, de Technologie et de l’Environnement, Université de Mahajanga, 5 rue Georges V, Mahajanga, B.P. 652, Madagascar
| | - Valérie F. Rakotomalala
- Faculté des Sciences, de Technologie et de l’Environnement, Université de Mahajanga, 5 rue Georges V, Mahajanga, B.P. 652, Madagascar
| | - Timothy M. Sefczek
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Center for Conservation and Research, Omaha, NE 68107, USA
| | - Cynthia L. Frasier
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Center for Conservation and Research, Omaha, NE 68107, USA
| | - Mary P. Dinsmore
- School of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Solofonirina Rasoloharijaona
- Faculté des Sciences, de Technologie et de l’Environnement, Université de Mahajanga, 5 rue Georges V, Mahajanga, B.P. 652, Madagascar
- École Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar
| | - Edward E. Louis
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Center for Conservation and Research, Omaha, NE 68107, USA
- Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, NGO, VO12 Bis A, Manakambahiny, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
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Nishikawa M, Suzuki M, Sprague DS. Activity synchrony and travel direction synchrony in wild female Japanese macaques. Behav Processes 2021; 191:104473. [PMID: 34363911 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The degree of behavioural synchrony of animals within a group can be considered a reflection of how individuals adjust their behaviours to manage the costs/benefits accompanying group-living. In this study, we focused on activity synchrony and travel direction synchrony as behavioural synchrony. We aimed to quantify the degree of behavioural synchrony and identify which factors can affect the synchrony in wild females of Japanese macaques. Japanese macaques live in female philopatric multi-female and multi-male groups and have a linear dominance hierarchy. The groups are characterized by changing spatio-temporal cohesiveness among group members. Two observers conducted simultaneous focal animal sampling on adult females using global positioning system devices to record locations. The overall degree of activity synchrony was positive compared with random, and the degree was highest when macaques were located within visual range of each other. Both activity synchrony and travel direction synchrony were influenced by spatial cohesion, i.e. interindividual distance, which shows that the probabilities of synchrony were higher with individuals located closer. Activity synchrony was also influenced by activity type, showing that the probabilities of synchrony were higher when individuals engaged in foraging. These results suggest that synchronized foraging may be caused by enhanced feeding with other group members when they are closer to each other. Our approach to quantitatively measure spatial dispersal while observing group members simultaneously revealed the roles of spatial cohesion and activity types for determining the degree of behavioral synchrony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Nishikawa
- Kyoto University, Kitashirakawaoiwake, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan; Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin 41-2, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan.
| | - Mariko Suzuki
- Amami Wildlife Conservation Center, Koshinohata 551, Ongachi, Yamato, Oshima, Kagoshima 894-3104, Japan
| | - David S Sprague
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Kannondai 3-1-3, Tsukuba, 305-8604, Japan
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Bishop PJ, Falisse A, De Groote F, Hutchinson JR. Predictive Simulations of Musculoskeletal Function and Jumping Performance in a Generalized Bird. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 3:obab006. [PMID: 34377939 PMCID: PMC8341896 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obab006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Jumping is a common, but demanding, behavior that many animals employ during everyday activity. In contrast to jump-specialists such as anurans and some primates, jumping biomechanics and the factors that influence performance remains little studied for generalized species that lack marked adaptations for jumping. Computational biomechanical modeling approaches offer a way of addressing this in a rigorous, mechanistic fashion. Here, optimal control theory and musculoskeletal modeling are integrated to generate predictive simulations of maximal height jumping in a small ground-dwelling bird, a tinamou. A three-dimensional musculoskeletal model with 36 actuators per leg is used, and direct collocation is employed to formulate a rapidly solvable optimal control problem involving both liftoff and landing phases. The resulting simulation raises the whole-body center of mass to over double its standing height, and key aspects of the simulated behavior qualitatively replicate empirical observations for other jumping birds. However, quantitative performance is lower, with reduced ground forces, jump heights, and muscle–tendon power. A pronounced countermovement maneuver is used during launch. The use of a countermovement is demonstrated to be critical to the achievement of greater jump heights, and this phenomenon may only need to exploit physical principles alone to be successful; amplification of muscle performance may not necessarily be a proximate reason for the use of this maneuver. Increasing muscle strength or contractile velocity above nominal values greatly improves jump performance, and interestingly has the greatest effect on more distal limb extensor muscles (i.e., those of the ankle), suggesting that the distal limb may be a critical link for jumping behavior. These results warrant a re-evaluation of previous inferences of jumping ability in some extinct species with foreshortened distal limb segments, such as dromaeosaurid dinosaurs. Simulations prédictives de la fonction musculo-squelettique et des performances de saut chez un oiseau généralisé Sauter est un comportement commun, mais exigeant, que de nombreux animaux utilisent au cours de leurs activités quotidiennes. Contrairement aux spécialistes du saut tels que les anoures et certains primates, la biomécanique du saut et les facteurs qui influencent la performance restent peu étudiés pour les espèces généralisées qui n’ont pas d’adaptations marquées pour le saut. Les approches de modélisation biomécanique computationnelle offrent un moyen d’aborder cette question de manière rigoureuse et mécaniste. Ici, la théorie du contrôle optimal et la modélisation musculo-squelettique sont intégrées pour générer des simulations prédictives du saut en hauteur maximal chez un petit oiseau terrestre, le tinamou. Un modèle musculo-squelettique tridimensionnel avec 36 actionneurs par patte est utilisé, et une méthode numérique nommée “direct collocation” est employée pour formuler un problème de contrôle optimal rapidement résoluble impliquant les phases de décollage et d’atterrissage. La simulation qui en résulte élève le centre de masse du corps entier à plus du double de sa hauteur debout, et les aspects clés du comportement simulé reproduisent qualitativement les observations empiriques d’autres oiseaux sauteurs. Cependant, les performances quantitatives sont moindres, avec une réduction des forces au sol, des hauteurs de saut et de la puissance musculo-tendineuse. Une manœuvre de contre-mouvement prononcée est utilisée pendant le lancement. Il a été démontré que l’utilisation d’un contre-mouvement est essentielle à l’obtention de hauteurs de saut plus importantes, et il se peut que ce phénomène doive exploiter uniquement des principes physiques pour réussir; l’amplification de la performance musculaire n’est pas nécessairement une raison immédiate de l’utilisation de cette manœuvre. L’augmentation de la force musculaire ou de la vitesse de contraction au-dessus des valeurs nominales améliore grandement la performance de saut et, fait intéressant, a le plus grand effet sur les muscles extenseurs des membres plus distaux (c'est-à-dire ceux de la cheville), ce qui suggère que le membre distal peut être un lien critique pour le comportement de saut. Ces résultats justifient une réévaluation des déductions précédentes de la capacité de sauter chez certaines espèces éteintes avec des segments de membres distaux raccourcis, comme les dinosaures droméosauridés. Voorspellende simulaties van musculoskeletale functie en springprestaties bij een gegeneraliseerde vogel Springen is een veel voorkomend, maar veeleisend, gedrag dat veel dieren toepassen tijdens hun dagelijkse bezigheden. In tegenstelling tot de springspecialisten zoals de anura en sommige primaten, is de biomechanica van het springen en de factoren die de prestaties beïnvloeden nog weinig bestudeerd voor algemene soorten die geen uitgesproken adaptaties voor het springen hebben. Computationele biomechanische modelbenaderingen bieden een manier om dit op een rigoureuze, mechanistische manier aan te pakken. Hier worden optimale controle theorie en musculoskeletale modellering geïntegreerd om voorspellende simulaties te genereren van maximale hoogtesprong bij een kleine grondbewonende vogel, een tinamou. Een driedimensionaal musculoskeletaal model met 36 actuatoren per poot wordt gebruikt, en directe collocatie wordt toegepast om een snel oplosbaar optimaal controleprobleem te formuleren dat zowel de opstijg-als de landingsfase omvat. De resulterende simulatie verhoogt het lichaamszwaartepunt tot meer dan het dubbele van de stahoogte, en belangrijke aspecten van het gesimuleerde gedrag komen kwalitatief overeen met empirische waarnemingen voor andere springende vogels. De kwantitatieve prestaties zijn echter minder, met verminderde grondkrachten, spronghoogtes en spierpeeskracht. Tijdens de lancering wordt een uitgesproken tegenbewegingsmanoeuvre gebruikt. Aangetoond is dat het gebruik van een tegenbeweging van cruciaal belang is voor het bereiken van grotere spronghoogten, en dit fenomeen hoeft alleen op fysische principes te berusten om succesvol te zijn; versterking van de spierprestaties hoeft niet noodzakelijk een proximate reden te zijn voor het gebruik van deze manoeuvre. Het verhogen van de spierkracht of van de contractiesnelheid boven de nominale waarden verbetert de sprongprestatie aanzienlijk, en heeft interessant genoeg het grootste effect op de meer distale extensoren van de ledematen (d.w.z. die van de enkel), wat suggereert dat de distale ledematen een kritieke schakel kunnen zijn voor het springgedrag. Deze resultaten rechtvaardigen een herevaluatie van eerdere conclusies over springvermogen bij sommige uitgestorven soorten met voorgekorte distale ledematen, zoals dromaeosauride dinosauriërs. Prädiktive Simulationen der muskuloskelettalen Funktion und Sprungleistung bei einem generalisierten Vogel Springen ist ein übliches jedoch anstrengendes Verhalten, das viele Tiere bei ihren täglichen Aktivitäten einsetzen. Im Gegensatz zu Springspezialisten, wie Fröschen und einigen Primaten, sind bei allgemeinen Arten, welche keine ausgeprägten Anpassung für Sprungverhalten aufweisen, die Biomechanik beim Springen und die Faktoren, welche die Leistungsfähigkeit beeinflussen, noch wenig untersucht. Computergestützte biomechanische Modellierungsverfahren bieten hier eine Möglichkeit, dies in einer gründlichen, mechanistischen Weise anzugehen. In dieser Arbeit werden die optimale Steuerungstheorie und Muskel-Skelett-Modellierung zusammen eingesetzt, um die maximale Sprunghöhe eines kleinen bodenlebenden Vogels, eines Perlsteisshuhns, zu simulieren und zu prognostizieren. Es wird ein dreidimensionales Muskel-Skelett-Modell mit 36 Aktuatoren pro Bein verwendet, und durch direkte Kollokation wird ein schnell lösbares optimales Steuerungsproblem formuliert, das sowohl die Abstoss- als auch die Landephase umfasst. Die daraus folgende Simulation bringt den Ganzkörperschwerpunkt auf mehr als das Doppelte seiner Standhöhe und entscheidende Aspekte des simulierten Verhaltens entsprechen qualitativ empirischen Beobachtungen für andere springende Vögel. Allerdings ist die quantitative Leistungsfähigkeit geringer, mit reduzierten Bodenkräften, Sprunghöhen und Muskel-Sehnen-Kräften. Beim Abstossen wird ein ausgeprägtes Gegenbewegungsmanöver durchgeführt. Die Durchführung einer Gegenbewegung ist nachweislich entscheidend für das Erreichen grösserer Sprunghöhen, wobei dieses Phänomen möglicherweise nur physikalische Prinzipien auszuschöpfen braucht, um erfolgreich zu sein. Die Verstärkung der Muskelleistung ist daher möglicherweise nicht zwingend ein unmittelbarer Grund für die Verwendung dieses Manövers. Eine Erhöhung der Muskelkraft oder der Kontraktionsgeschwindigkeit über die Nominalwerte hinaus führt zu einer erheblichen Zunahme der Sprungleistung und hat interessanterweise den grössten Effekt bei den weiter distal gelegenen Streckmuskeln der Beine (d.h. bei denjenigen des Sprunggelenks), was darauf hindeutet, dass die distale Gliedmasse ein entscheidendes Element für das Sprungverhalten sein könnte. Diese Ergebnisse geben Anlass zur Überprüfung früherer Schlussfolgerungen hinsichtlich der Sprungfähigkeit einiger ausgestorbener Arten mit verkürzten distalen Gliedmassen, wie beispielsweise bei dromaeosauriden Dinosauriern.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Bishop
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK.,Geosciences Program, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia.,Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - A Falisse
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - F De Groote
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - J R Hutchinson
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
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Wheatley R, Pavlic TP, Levy O, Wilson RS. Habitat features and performance interact to determine the outcomes of terrestrial predator–prey pursuits. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2958-2971. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Wheatley
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart TAS Australia
- School of Biological Sciences University of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Theodore P. Pavlic
- School of Computing, Informatics and Decision Systems Engineering Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
- School of Sustainability Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
| | - Ofir Levy
- School of Zoology Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Aviv Israel
| | - Robbie S. Wilson
- School of Biological Sciences University of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
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Jucá T, Boyle S, Cavalcanti G, Cavalcante T, Tomanek P, Clemente S, de Oliveira T, Barnett AA. Being hunted high and low: do differences in nocturnal sleeping and diurnal resting sites of howler monkeys (Alouatta nigerrima and Alouatta discolor) reflect safety from attack by different types of predator? Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Predation risk is important in influencing animal behaviour. We investigated how the choice of nocturnal sleeping and diurnal resting sites by two species of primates was influenced by the most likely forms of attack (diurnal raptors and nocturnal felids). We recorded vertical and horizontal patterns of occupancy for 47 sleeping and 31 resting sites, as well as the presence of lianas or vines on trees. We compared the heights of trees used as resting or sleeping sites by the monkeys with those of 200 forest trees that the monkeys did not use. Trees used as nocturnal sleeping sites were taller than those used as diurnal resting sites, and taller than trees that the monkeys did not use. However, while trees used as diurnal resting sites were not significantly taller than non-used trees, diurnal resting sites were located on branches closer to the ground, closer to the main trunk of the tree and in trees with more lianas/vines than nocturnal sleeping sites. The differences in site location can be explained by the type of predator most likely to attack at a particular time: raptors in the day and felids at night.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thays Jucá
- Amazonian Mammals Research Group, National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Sarah Boyle
- Department of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Gitana Cavalcanti
- Department of Ecology, Conservation and Wildlife Management, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thiago Cavalcante
- Amazonian Mammals Research Group, National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Pavel Tomanek
- Department of Animal Science and Ethology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Salatiel Clemente
- Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Federal University of Acre (UFAC), Acre, Brazil
| | - Tadeu de Oliveira
- Department of Biology, Maranhão State University (UEMA), São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Adrian A Barnett
- Amazonian Mammals Research Group, National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Zoology Department, Amazonas Federal University (UFAM), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Centre for Research in Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Roehampton, London, UK
- Department of Zoology, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Adams DB, Kitchen DM. Model vs. playback experiments: The impact of sensory mode on predator‐specific escape responses in saki monkeys. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dara B. Adams
- Department of Anthropology The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
- Department of Anthropology Humboldt State University Arcata CA USA
| | - Dawn M. Kitchen
- Department of Anthropology The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
- Department of Anthropology The Ohio State University Mansfield OH USA
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11
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Cronin KA, Jacobson SL, Bonnie KE, Hopper LM. Studying primate cognition in a social setting to improve validity and welfare: a literature review highlighting successful approaches. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3649. [PMID: 28791199 PMCID: PMC5545107 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studying animal cognition in a social setting is associated with practical and statistical challenges. However, conducting cognitive research without disturbing species-typical social groups can increase ecological validity, minimize distress, and improve animal welfare. Here, we review the existing literature on cognitive research run with primates in a social setting in order to determine how widespread such testing is and highlight approaches that may guide future research planning. SURVEY METHODOLOGY Using Google Scholar to search the terms "primate" "cognition" "experiment" and "social group," we conducted a systematic literature search covering 16 years (2000-2015 inclusive). We then conducted two supplemental searches within each journal that contained a publication meeting our criteria in the original search, using the terms "primate" and "playback" in one search and the terms "primate" "cognition" and "social group" in the second. The results were used to assess how frequently nonhuman primate cognition has been studied in a social setting (>3 individuals), to gain perspective on the species and topics that have been studied, and to extract successful approaches for social testing. RESULTS Our search revealed 248 unique publications in 43 journals encompassing 71 species. The absolute number of publications has increased over years, suggesting viable strategies for studying cognition in social settings. While a wide range of species were studied they were not equally represented, with 19% of the publications reporting data for chimpanzees. Field sites were the most common environment for experiments run in social groups of primates, accounting for more than half of the results. Approaches to mitigating the practical and statistical challenges were identified. DISCUSSION This analysis has revealed that the study of primate cognition in a social setting is increasing and taking place across a range of environments. This literature review calls attention to examples that may provide valuable models for researchers wishing to overcome potential practical and statistical challenges to studying cognition in a social setting, ultimately increasing validity and improving the welfare of the primates we study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Cronin
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Sarah L. Jacobson
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Kristin E. Bonnie
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, Beloit College, Beloit, WI, United States of America
| | - Lydia M. Hopper
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, United States of America
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Rakotomalala EJ, Rakotondraparany F, Perofsky AC, Lewis RJ. Characterization of the Tree Holes Used by Lepilemur ruficaudatus in the Dry, Deciduous Forest of Kirindy Mitea National Park. Folia Primatol (Basel) 2017; 88:28-41. [PMID: 28407630 DOI: 10.1159/000464406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of the key resources for a species is critical for developing an effective conservation strategy. Kirindy Mitea National Park is an important refuge for the red-tailed sportive lemur (Lepilemur ruficaudatus), a nocturnal folivorous lemur endemic to the dry deciduous forest of western Madagascar. Because L. ruficaudatus sleeps in tree holes during the day, sleeping trees may be an important resource for this species. Our goal was to characterize the sleeping sites used by L. ruficaudatus at the Ankoatsifaka Research Station in Kirindy Mitea National Park. In July and August 2012, tree characteristics were recorded for 60 L. ruficaudatus sleeping sites. Intact and alive trees, particularly Strychnos madagascariensis, were preferred by L. ruficaudatus. Sleeping holes were generally located in taller trees (median hole height = 4 m) and in trees with large girths (median = 20.5 cm). Greater protection from predators and thermal shifts may be provided by intact trees and concealed tree holes. Because tree characteristics can influence the presence and abundance of forest-living primates, the availability and characteristics of particular trees as potential sleeping shelters in a habitat must be taken into account in conservation strategies for L. ruficaudatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis J Rakotomalala
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
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13
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Barnett AA, Silla JM, de Oliveira T, Boyle SA, Bezerra BM, Spironello WR, Setz EZF, da Silva RFS, de Albuquerque Teixeira S, Todd LM, Pinto LP. Run, hide, or fight: anti-predation strategies in endangered red-nosed cuxiú (Chiropotes albinasus, Pitheciidae) in southeastern Amazonia. Primates 2017; 58:353-360. [DOI: 10.1007/s10329-017-0596-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Dröscher I, Kappeler PM. Competition for food in a solitarily foraging folivorous primate (Lepilemur leucopus)? Am J Primatol 2014; 76:842-54. [PMID: 24677259 PMCID: PMC4229058 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2013] [Revised: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Group-living folivorous primates can experience competition for food, and feeding competition has also been documented for solitarily foraging gummivorous and omnivorous primates. However, little is known about the types and consequences of feeding competition in solitary folivorous foragers. We conducted this study in the spiny forest of Berenty Reserve, southern Madagascar, to characterize the competitive regime of the nocturnal solitarily foraging white-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus), a species that lives in dispersed pairs. We analyzed 1,213 hr of behavioral observations recorded simultaneously for the male and female of each of seven social units and recorded seasonal changes in food availability over a complete annual cycle. Lepilemur leucopus exhibited low selectivity in its dietary choice and mainly included the most abundant plant species in its diet. Contrary to our predictions, we did not find evidence for increased rates of contest (i.e., displacement from food trees) or scramble competition (i.e., shared use of food patches) during the lean season, neither within nor between social units. Instead, conflict rates were low throughout the year, and, during these observations, any feeding stress may have been more related to food quality than quantity. The resource defense hypotheses may not explain pair-living in this species as there was no indication that males defend food resources for their female pair-partners. The observed lack of feeding competition may indicate that a cryptic anti-predator strategy is a better predictor of spatial avoidance of pair-partners than conflict over food. While anti-predator benefits of crypsis may explain, at least partly, female-female avoidance, studies on the relationship between territory size/quality and reproductive success are required to understand whether feeding competition reduces the potential for female association in L. leucopus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Dröscher
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate CenterGöttingen, Germany
| | - Peter M Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate CenterGöttingen, Germany
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology & Anthropology, University of GöttingenGöttingen, Germany
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15
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Thuppil V, Coss RG. Wild Asian elephants distinguish aggressive tiger and leopard growls according to perceived danger. Biol Lett 2013; 9:20130518. [PMID: 24026347 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.0518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prey species exhibit antipredator behaviours such as alertness, aggression and flight, among others, in response to predators. The nature of this response is variable, with animals reacting more strongly in situations of increased vulnerability. Our research described here is the first formal study to investigate night-time antipredator behaviour in any species of elephants, Asian or African. We examined the provocative effects of elephant-triggered tiger and leopard growls while elephants attempted to crop-raid. Tigers opportunistically prey on elephant calves, whereas leopards pose no threat; therefore, we predicted that the elephant response would be reflective of this difference. Elephants reacted similarly cautiously to the simulated presence of felids of both species by eventually moving away, but differed markedly in their more immediate behavioural responses. Elephants retreated silently to tiger-growl playbacks, whereas they responded with aggressive vocalizations, such as trumpets and grunts, to leopard-growl playbacks. Elephants also lingered in the area and displayed alert or investigative behaviours in response to leopard growls when compared with tiger growls. We anticipate that the methods outlined here will promote further study of elephant antipredator behaviour in a naturalistic context, with applications for conservation efforts as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Thuppil
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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Seiler M, Schwitzer C, Gamba M, Holderied MW. Interspecific semantic alarm call recognition in the solitary Sahamalaza sportive lemur, Lepilemur sahamalazensis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67397. [PMID: 23825658 PMCID: PMC3692490 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As alarm calls indicate the presence of predators, the correct interpretation of alarm calls, including those of other species, is essential for predator avoidance. Conversely, communication calls of other species might indicate the perceived absence of a predator and hence allow a reduction in vigilance. This "eavesdropping" was demonstrated in birds and mammals, including lemur species. Interspecific communication between taxonomic groups has so far been reported in some reptiles and mammals, including three primate species. So far, neither semantic nor interspecific communication has been tested in a solitary and nocturnal lemur species. The aim of this study was to investigate if the nocturnal and solitary Sahamalaza sportive lemur, Lepilemur sahamalazensis, is able to access semantic information of sympatric species. During the day, this species faces the risk of falling prey to aerial and terrestrial predators and therefore shows high levels of vigilance. We presented alarm calls of the crested coua, the Madagascar magpie-robin and aerial, terrestrial and agitation alarm calls of the blue-eyed black lemur to 19 individual Sahamalaza sportive lemurs resting in tree holes. Songs of both bird species' and contact calls of the blue-eyed black lemur were used as a control. After alarm calls of crested coua, Madagascar magpie-robin and aerial alarm of the blue-eyed black lemur, the lemurs scanned up and their vigilance increased significantly. After presentation of terrestrial alarm and agitation calls of the blue-eyed black lemur, the animals did not show significant changes in scanning direction or in the duration of vigilance. Sportive lemur vigilance decreased after playbacks of songs of the bird species and contact calls of blue-eyed black lemurs. Our results indicate that the Sahamalaza sportive lemur is capable of using information on predator presence as well as predator type of different sympatric species, using their referential signals to detect predators early, and that the lemurs' reactions are based on experience and learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Seiler
- Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation, c/o Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph Schwitzer
- Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation, c/o Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Gamba
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Marc W. Holderied
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Acoustic characterization of ultrasonic vocalizations by a nocturnal primate Tarsius syrichta. Primates 2013; 54:293-9. [PMID: 23549838 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-013-0349-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
This preliminary study characterizes the ultrasonic vocalizations produced by Philippine tarsiers, Tarsius syrichta. Data were collected at the Philippine Tarsier Foundation Sanctuary in Corella, Bohol, Philippines, from July through October 2010. Recordings were made on a Wildlife Acoustics Ultrasonic Song Meter 2 BAT from 29 wild, free-living adult resident T. syrichta (23 females and six males). A total of 10,309 USVs were recorded. These vocalizations fell into three main categories: chirps, twitters, and whistles. Chirps were the most frequent, followed by twitters and whistles. Whereas chirps and twitters were emitted by both male and female Philippine tarsiers, whistles were only emitted by adult males. Given that vocalizations reported in this study were exclusively recorded during capture and handling, it is very likely that these vocalizations function as distress calls. However, as the long whistle was only given by adult males who were captured at the same time as the female or the group's infant, the function of the long whistle might be slightly different than the function of the other relatively lower-frequency USVs.
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18
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Nijman V, Nekaris K. Loud Calls, Startle Behaviour, Social Organisation and Predator Avoidance in Arboreal Langurs (Cercopithecidae: Presbytis). Folia Primatol (Basel) 2013; 83:274-87. [DOI: 10.1159/000339647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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19
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Burnham D, Bearder SK, Cheyne SM, Dunbar RIM, Macdonald DW. Predation by mammalian carnivores on nocturnal primates: is the lack of evidence support for the effectiveness of nocturnality as an antipredator strategy? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 83:236-51. [PMID: 23363586 DOI: 10.1159/000343716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The apparent paucity of accounts of predation, particularly by felids, on nocturnal primates is confirmed by a quasi-systematic review of 1,939 publications which revealed just 1 case of a felid eating a nocturnal primate. This instance was amongst only 51 direct reports of predation by vertebrates on nocturnal primates (90% were on Madagascar, where 56% of approx. 110 nocturnal primate species occur), of which 41% were by birds of prey. These findings prompt discussion of two possibilities: (a) nocturnality is, in part, an effective antipredator adaptation, and (b) knowledge of nocturnal primates is so biased by their elusiveness and, for predation, underreporting (e.g. inadequate mechanisms to publish opportunistic observations) that understanding of their biology urgently necessitates both the collation of field observations and innovative research. Interspecific comparisons facilitate deductions about the role of predation in the evolution of primate nocturnality and associated traits, but intraspecific comparisons of changing activity rhythms in response to different levels of predation risk offer the most compelling insights into the functional significance of these adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Burnham
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney, UK
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20
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Crofoot MC. Why mob? Reassessing the costs and benefits of primate predator harassment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 83:252-73. [PMID: 23363587 DOI: 10.1159/000343072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
While some primate species attempt to avoid predators by fleeing, hiding or producing alarm calls, others actually approach, harass and sometimes attack potential threats, a behavior known as 'mobbing'. Why individuals risk their safety to mob potential predators remains poorly understood. Here, I review reports of predator harassment by primates to (1) determine the distribution of this behavior across taxa, (2) assess what is known about the costs of mobbing, and (3) evaluate hypotheses about its function. Mobbing is taxonomically widespread and is used against a wide range of predator species. However, inconsistent use of the term 'mobbing' within the primate literature, the lack of systematic studies of primate mobbing, and the likelihood of systematic biases in the existing data pose significant obstacles to understanding this puzzling behavior. Although difficult to quantify, the costs associated with harassing predators appear nontrivial. Many benefits that have been proposed to explain mobbing in birds may also be important in primate systems. There are puzzling aspects of primate mobbing, however, that existing hypotheses cannot explain. Future research should consider the within-group signaling potential of this costly behavior, as well as the ability of behavioral syndromes to explain the distribution of mobbing in primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret C Crofoot
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamá, República de Panamá. crofootm @ si.edu
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21
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Hilgartner R, Fichtel C, Kappeler PM, Zinner D. Determinants of Pair-Living in Red-Tailed Sportive Lemurs (Lepilemur ruficaudatus). Ethology 2012; 118:466-479. [PMID: 23144523 PMCID: PMC3491675 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2012.02033.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Pair-living and a monogamous mating strategy are rare and theoretically unexpected among mammals. Nevertheless, about 10% of primate species exhibit such a social system, which is difficult to explain in the absence of paternal care. In this study, we investigated the two major hypotheses proposed to explain the evolution of monogamy in mammals, the female defence hypothesis (FDH) and the resource defence hypothesis (RDH), in red-tailed sportive lemurs (Lepilemur ruficaudatus), a nocturnal primate from Madagascar. We analysed behavioural data from eight male-female pairs collected during a 24-mo field study to illuminate the determinants of pair-living in this species. Male and female L. ruficaudatus were found to live in dispersed pairs, which are characterised by low cohesion and low encounter rates within a common home range. Social interactions between pair partners were mainly agonistic and characterised by a complete absence of affiliative interactions - body contact was only observed during mating. During the short annual mating season, males exhibited elevated levels of aggression towards mates, as well as extensive mate guarding and increased locomotor activity. In addition, males were exclusively responsible for the maintenance of proximity between pair partners during this period, and they defended their territories against neighbouring males but not against females. Together, these results point towards the importance of female defence in explaining pair-living in L. ruficaudatus. We discuss the spatial and temporal distribution of receptive females in relation to the female defence strategies of males and suggest possible costs that prevent male red-tailed sportive lemurs from defending more than one female.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Hilgartner
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate CenterGöttingen, Germany
- Department of Experimental Ecology, University of UlmUlm, Germany
| | - Claudia Fichtel
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate CenterGöttingen, Germany
| | - Peter M Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate CenterGöttingen, Germany
| | - Dietmar Zinner
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate CenterGöttingen, Germany
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Starr C, Nekaris KAI, Leung L. Hiding from the moonlight: luminosity and temperature affect activity of Asian nocturnal primates in a highly seasonal forest. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36396. [PMID: 22558461 PMCID: PMC3338665 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2011] [Accepted: 04/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The effect of moonlight and temperature on activity of slow lorises was previously little known and this knowledge might be useful for understanding many aspects of their behavioural ecology, and developing strategies to monitor and protect populations. In this study we aimed to determine if the activity of the pygmy loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) is affected by ambient temperature and/or moonlight in a mixed deciduous forest. We radio-collared five females and five males in the Seima Protection Forest, Cambodia, in February to May, 2008 and January to March, 2009 and recorded their behaviour at 5 minutes intervals, totalling 2736 observations. We classified each observation as either inactive (sleeping or alert) or active behaviour (travel, feeding, grooming, or others). Moon luminosity (bright/dark) and ambient temperature were recorded for each observation. The response variable, activity, was binary (active or inactive), and a logit link function was used. Ambient temperature alone did not significantly affect mean activity. Although mean activity was significantly affected by moonlight, the interaction between moonlight and temperature was also significant: on bright nights, studied animals were increasingly more active with higher temperature; and on dark nights they were consistently active regardless of temperature. The most plausible explanation is that on bright cold nights the combined risk of being seen and attacked by predators and heat loss outweigh the benefit of active behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Starr
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
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23
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Out of Sight but Not Out of Mind? Behavioral Coordination in Red-Tailed Sportive Lemurs (Lepilemur ruficaudatus). INT J PRIMATOL 2011; 32:1383-1396. [PMID: 22207772 PMCID: PMC3228940 DOI: 10.1007/s10764-011-9551-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2011] [Accepted: 09/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Many animals are organized into social groups and have to synchronize their activities to maintain group cohesion. Although activity budgets, habitat constraints, and group properties may impact on behavioural synchrony, little is known regarding how members of a group reach a consensus on the timing of activities such as foraging bouts. Game theory predicts that pair partners should synchronize their activities when there is an advantage of foraging together. As a result of this synchronization, differences in the energetic reserves of the two players develop spontaneously and the individual with lower reserves emerges as a pacemaker of the synchrony. Here, we studied the behavioral synchrony of pair-living, nocturnal, red-tailed sportive lemurs (Lepilemur ruficaudatus). We observed 8 pairs continuously for ≥1 annual reproductive cycle in Kirindy Forest, Western Madagascar. During focal observations, one observer followed the female of a pair and, simultaneously, another observer followed the male. We recorded the location and behavioral state of the focal individual every 5 min via instantaneous sampling. Although behavioral synchrony of pair partners appeared to be due mainly to endogenous activity patterns, they actively synchronized when they were in visual contact (<10 m). Nevertheless, red-tailed sportive lemurs benefit from synchronizing their activity only for 15% of the time, when they are close together. The lack of an early warning system for predators and weak support for benefits via social information transfer in combination with energetic constraints may explain why red-tailed sportive lemurs do not spend more time together and thus reap the benefits of behavioral synchrony.
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Legreneur P, Monteil KM, Pellé E, Montuelle S, Bels V. Submaximal leaping in the grey mouse lemur. ZOOLOGY 2011; 114:247-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2011.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2010] [Revised: 02/19/2011] [Accepted: 03/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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25
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Llusia D, Márquez R, Beltrán JF. Non-Selective and Time-Dependent Behavioural Responses of Common Toads (Bufo bufo
) to Predator Acoustic Cues. Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01832.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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26
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Génin F. Who sleeps with whom? Sleeping association and socio-territoriality inMicrocebus griseorufus. J Mammal 2010. [DOI: 10.1644/09-mamm-a-239.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Legreneur P, Thévenet FR, Libourel PA, Monteil KM, Montuelle S, Pouydebat E, Bels V. Hindlimb interarticular coordinations in Microcebus murinus in maximal leaping. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 213:1320-7. [PMID: 20348344 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.041079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the pattern of coordinations of the hindlimb joints in the world's smallest living primate (Microcebus murinus). The sequencing and timing of joint rotations have been analyzed in five adult males performing maximal leaping from a take-off immobile platform to their own wooden nest. Angular kinematics of hip, knee, angle and metatarso-phalangeal (MT) joints were deduced from high-speed X-ray films in the sagittal plane of the animals. The body mass center (BMC) of the lemurs was assimilated to their iliac crest. The maximal airborne performance of the lemurs was 0.33+/-0.04 m, which represented 2.55+/-0.36 times their snout-vent length. Take-off instant occurred 72+/-7 ms after the start of the push-off, with a BMC velocity of 3.23+/-0.48 m s(-1), oriented 55+/-14 deg. with the horizontal plane. The kinematic analysis of the joints and musculo-tendon architecture of the M. murinus plantar flexors pointed out mechanical power amplifier mechanisms (i.e. stretch-shortening cycle of hindlimb muscles and proximo-to-distal sequence).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Legreneur
- EA 647, CRIS, Université de Lyon, 27-29 boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
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Rahlfs M, Fichtel C. Anti-Predator Behaviour in a Nocturnal Primate, the Grey Mouse Lemur (Microcebus murinus). Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2010.01756.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Weisrock DW, Rasoloarison RM, Fiorentino I, Ralison JM, Goodman SM, Kappeler PM, Yoder AD. Delimiting species without nuclear monophyly in Madagascar's mouse lemurs. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9883. [PMID: 20360988 PMCID: PMC2847600 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2009] [Accepted: 02/19/2010] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Speciation begins when populations become genetically separated through a substantial reduction in gene flow, and it is at this point that a genetically cohesive set of populations attain the sole property of species: the independent evolution of a population-level lineage. The comprehensive delimitation of species within biodiversity hotspots, regardless of their level of divergence, is important for understanding the factors that drive the diversification of biota and for identifying them as targets for conservation. However, delimiting recently diverged species is challenging due to insufficient time for the differential evolution of characters—including morphological differences, reproductive isolation, and gene tree monophyly—that are typically used as evidence for separately evolving lineages. Methodology In this study, we assembled multiple lines of evidence from the analysis of mtDNA and nDNA sequence data for the delimitation of a high diversity of cryptically diverged population-level mouse lemur lineages across the island of Madagascar. Our study uses a multi-faceted approach that applies phylogenetic, population genetic, and genealogical analysis for recognizing lineage diversity and presents the most thoroughly sampled species delimitation of mouse lemur ever performed. Conclusions The resolution of a large number of geographically defined clades in the mtDNA gene tree provides strong initial evidence for recognizing a high diversity of population-level lineages in mouse lemurs. We find additional support for lineage recognition in the striking concordance between mtDNA clades and patterns of nuclear population structure. Lineages identified using these two sources of evidence also exhibit patterns of population divergence according to genealogical exclusivity estimates. Mouse lemur lineage diversity is reflected in both a geographically fine-scaled pattern of population divergence within established and geographically widespread taxa, as well as newly resolved patterns of micro-endemism revealed through expanded field sampling into previously poorly and well-sampled regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Weisrock
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
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Sharpe DJ, Goldingay RL. Vocal behaviour of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis). AUST J ZOOL 2009. [DOI: 10.1071/zo08075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We describe the vocal behaviour of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) from 465 h of observation across five sites in north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland. A monosyllabic or polysyllabic nasal grunt was the most frequent call (56% of 208 calls); it ranged from single calls to sequences of up to 20-min duration (mean 2.1 min ± 0.6, s.e.) and was heard on 34% of nights (n = 83) at two sites. The rate of the nasal grunt showed a positive relationship with population density at one site. The nasal grunt was typically made when conspecifics were near the caller, but responses were infrequent (7% of observations). Call playback produced no discernable change in call response. The nasal grunt appears to regulate individual spacing by facilitating mutual avoidance, a function hypothesised to be an evolutionary precursor to the use of calls in territorial defence. Threatening calls were the next most common vocalisation (17% of calls) and were accompanied by scuffles and/or chases. They were also used when gliders were preyed upon and during animal handling. The calling behaviour of the squirrel glider confirms the importance of vocal communication among petaurid gliders.
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Fichtel C. Ontogeny of conspecific and heterospecific alarm call recognition in wild Verreaux's sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi). Am J Primatol 2008; 70:127-35. [PMID: 17705223 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.20464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The production of vocalizations in nonhuman primates is predominantly innate, whereas learning influences the usage and comprehension of vocalizations. In this study, I examined the development of alarm call recognition in free-ranging infant Verreaux's sifakas. Specifically, I investigated their ability to recognize conspecific alarm calls as well as those of sympatric redfronted lemurs (Eulemur fulvus rufus) in Kirindy forest, western Madagascar. Both species have functionally referential alarm calls for aerial predators and give general alarm calls for both aerial and general predators and also other kinds of threats, such as intergroup encounters with conspecifics. I conducted playback experiments with members of two birth cohorts (nine and ten individuals) to determine the age at which infant Verreaux's sifakas discriminate between conspecific alarm calls, heterospecific alarm calls, and non-alarm vocalizations (parrot song). Most 3-4 months old infants fled toward adults after hearing any playback stimuli, whereas 4-5-month-old infants did so only after presentation of alarm calls. Moreover, all infants of these age classes showed a longer latency to flee after the parrot song indicating their emerging ability to discriminate between alarm calls and non-alarm stimuli. At an age of about 6 months, infants switched from fleeing toward adults to performing adult-like escape responses after presentation of conspecific and heterospecific alarm calls. Thus, the ability to discriminate between alarm from non-alarm stimuli precedes the appearance of adult-like responses. The transition to adult-like escape behavior was coincident with the physical independence of infants from their mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Fichtel
- Department of Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany.
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