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Nani JV, Muotri AR, Hayashi MAF. Peering into the mind: unraveling schizophrenia's secrets using models. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02728-w. [PMID: 39245692 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02728-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex mental disorder characterized by a range of symptoms, including positive and negative symptoms, as well as cognitive impairments. Despite the extensive research, the underlying neurobiology of SCZ remain elusive. To overcome this challenge, the use of diverse laboratory modeling techniques, encompassing cellular and animal models, and innovative approaches like induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal cultures or brain organoids and genetically engineered animal models, has been crucial. Immortalized cellular models provide controlled environments for investigating the molecular and neurochemical pathways involved in neuronal function, while iPSCs and brain organoids, derived from patient-specific sources, offer significant advantage in translational research by facilitating direct comparisons of cellular phenotypes between patient-derived neurons and healthy-control neurons. Animal models can recapitulate the different psychopathological aspects that should be modeled, offering valuable insights into the neurobiology of SCZ. In addition, invertebrates' models are genetically tractable and offer a powerful approach to dissect the core genetic underpinnings of SCZ, while vertebrate models, especially mammals, with their more complex nervous systems and behavioral repertoire, provide a closer approximation of the human condition to study SCZ-related traits. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse modeling approaches, critically evaluating their strengths and limitations. By synthesizing knowledge from these models, this review offers a valuable source for researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders alike. Integrating findings across these different models may allow us to build a more holistic picture of SCZ pathophysiology, facilitating the exploration of new research avenues and informed decision-making for interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- João V Nani
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
| | - Alysson R Muotri
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mirian A F Hayashi
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM, CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
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2
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Ehrie AJ, Iruri-Tucker AA, Lord YB, Williamson HG, Hunt KD, Polly PD, Fitzpatrick CL, Wasserman MD. Measuring mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) testes via parallel laser photogrammetry: Expanding the use of noninvasive methods. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23616. [PMID: 38462743 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Parallel laser photogrammetry (PLP), which consists of attaching two or three parallel laser beams at a known inter-beam distance to a camera, can be used to collect morphological measurements of organisms noninvasively. The lasers project onto the photo being taken, and because the inter-beam distance is known, they act as a scale for image analysis programs like ImageJ. Traditionally, this method has been used to measure larger morphological traits (e.g., limb length, crown-rump length) to serve as proxies for overall body size, whereas applications to smaller anatomical features remain limited. To that end, we used PLP to measure the testes of 18 free-living mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. We tested whether this method could reliably measure this relatively small and globular morphology, and whether it could detect differences among individuals. We tested reliability in three ways: within-photo (coefficient of variation [CV] = 4.7%), between-photo (CV = 5.5%), and interobserver (intraclass correlation = 0.92). We found an average volume of 36.2 cm3 and a range of 16.4-54.4 cm3, indicating variation in testes size between individuals. Furthermore, these sizes are consistent with a previous study that collected measurements by hand, suggesting that PLP is a useful method for making noninvasive measurements of testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austen J Ehrie
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Alec A Iruri-Tucker
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Yasmin B Lord
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Heidi G Williamson
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Kevin D Hunt
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - P David Polly
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
- Department of Geology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Michael D Wasserman
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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3
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Johnson-Ulrich L, Demartsev V, Johnson L, Brown E, Strandburg-Peshkin A, Manser MB. Directional speakers as a tool for animal vocal communication studies. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230489. [PMID: 37234494 PMCID: PMC10206473 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Audio playbacks are a common experimental tool in vocal communication research. However, low directionality of sound makes it hard to control the audience exposed to the stimuli. Parametric speakers offer a solution for transmitting directional audible signals by using ultrasonic carrier waves. The targeted transmission of vocal signals offers exciting opportunities for testing the diffusion of information in animal groups and mechanisms for resolving informational ambiguities. We have field tested the quality and directionality of a commercial parametric speaker, Soundlazer SL-01. Additionally, we assessed its usability for performing playback experiments by comparing behavioural responses of free-ranging meerkats (Suricata suricatta) with calls transmitted from conventional and parametric speakers. Our results show that the tested parametric speaker is highly directional. However, the acoustic structure of meerkat calls was strongly affected and low frequencies were not reliably reproduced by the parametric speaker. The playback trials elicited weakened behavioural responses probably due to the partial distortion of the signal but also indicating the potential importance of social facilitation for initiating mobbing events in meerkats. We conclude that parametric speakers can be useful tools for directed transmission of animals calls but after a careful assessment of signal fidelity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily Johnson-Ulrich
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Kalahari Research Centre, Van Zylsrus, 8467 Northern Cape, South Africa
| | - Vlad Demartsev
- Kalahari Research Centre, Van Zylsrus, 8467 Northern Cape, South Africa
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78464, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78464, Germany
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz 78467, Germany
| | - Laurie Johnson
- Kalahari Research Centre, Van Zylsrus, 8467 Northern Cape, South Africa
| | - Emma Brown
- Kalahari Research Centre, Van Zylsrus, 8467 Northern Cape, South Africa
| | - Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin
- Kalahari Research Centre, Van Zylsrus, 8467 Northern Cape, South Africa
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78464, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78464, Germany
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz 78467, Germany
| | - Marta B. Manser
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Interdisciplinary Center for the Evolution of Language, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Kalahari Research Centre, Van Zylsrus, 8467 Northern Cape, South Africa
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4
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Sandel AA, Negrey JD, Arponen M, Clark IR, Clift JB, Reddy RB, Ivaska KK. The evolution of the adolescent growth spurt: Urinary biomarkers of bone turnover in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). J Hum Evol 2023; 177:103341. [PMID: 36905703 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Life history theory addresses how organisms balance development and reproduction. Mammals usually invest considerable energy into growth in infancy, and they do so incrementally less until reaching adult body size, when they shift energy to reproduction. Humans are unusual in having a long adolescence when energy is invested in both reproduction and growth, including rapid skeletal growth around puberty. Although many primates, especially in captivity, experience accelerated growth in mass around puberty, it remains unclear whether this represents skeletal growth. Without data on skeletal growth in nonhuman primates, anthropologists have often assumed the adolescent growth spurt is uniquely human, and hypotheses for its evolution have focused on other uniquely human traits. The lack of data is largely due to methodological difficulties of assessing skeletal growth in wild primates. Here, we use two urinary markers of bone turnover-osteocalcin and collagen-to study skeletal growth in a large, cross-sectional sample of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda. For both bone turnover markers, we found a nonlinear effect of age, which was largely driven by males. For male chimpanzees, values for osteocalcin and collagen peaked at age 9.4 years and 10.8 years, respectively, which corresponds to early and middle adolescence. Notably, collagen values increased from 4.5 to 9 years, suggesting faster growth during early adolescence compared to late infancy. Biomarker levels plateaued at 20 years in both sexes, suggesting skeletal growth continues until then. Additional data, notably on females and infants of both sexes, are needed, as are longitudinal samples. However, our cross-sectional analysis suggests an adolescent growth spurt in the skeleton of chimpanzees, especially for males. Biologists should avoid claiming that the adolescent growth spurt is uniquely human, and hypotheses for the patterns of human growth should consider variation in our primate relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron A Sandel
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, WCP 4.102, 2201 Speedway Stop C3200, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Primate Ethology and Endocrinology Lab, University of Texas at Austin, 2201 Speedway Stop C3200, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Jacob D Negrey
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, 900 S. Cady Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; Department of Pathology/Section on Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Milja Arponen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Isabelle R Clark
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, WCP 4.102, 2201 Speedway Stop C3200, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Primate Ethology and Endocrinology Lab, University of Texas at Austin, 2201 Speedway Stop C3200, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jeremy B Clift
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, 216 Memorial Hall, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Rachna B Reddy
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 104 Biological Sciences, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Kaisa K Ivaska
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland
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Mfossa DM, Gazagne E, Gray RJ, Ketchen ME, Abwe EA, Beudels-Jamar RC, Tchouamo RI, Brotcorne F. Montane grassland resources drive gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) nesting behaviors in the Ebo forest, Littoral Region, Cameroon. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-023-01660-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
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6
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Berthet M, Coye C, Dezecache G, Kuhn J. Animal linguistics: a primer. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:81-98. [PMID: 36189714 PMCID: PMC10091714 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of language has been investigated by several research communities, including biologists and linguists, striving to highlight similar linguistic capacities across species. To date, however, no consensus exists on the linguistic capacities of non-human species. Major controversies remain on the use of linguistic terminology, analysis methods and behavioural data collection. The field of 'animal linguistics' has emerged to overcome these difficulties and attempt to reach uniform methods and terminology. This primer is a tutorial review of 'animal linguistics'. It describes the linguistic concepts of semantics, pragmatics and syntax, and proposes minimal criteria to be fulfilled to claim that a given species displays a particular linguistic capacity. Second, it reviews relevant methods successfully applied to the study of communication in animals and proposes a list of useful references to detect and overcome major pitfalls commonly observed in the collection of animal behaviour data. This primer represents a step towards mutual understanding and fruitful collaborations between linguists and biologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Berthet
- Institut Jean Nicod, Département d'études cognitives, ENS, EHESS, CNRS, PSL University, 75005, Paris, France.,Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language Evolution, University of Zürich, Affolternstrasse 56, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Comparative Language Science, University of Zürich, Affolternstrasse 56, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Camille Coye
- Institut Jean Nicod, Département d'études cognitives, ENS, EHESS, CNRS, PSL University, 75005, Paris, France.,Center for Ecology and Conservation, Bioscience Department, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK
| | | | - Jeremy Kuhn
- Institut Jean Nicod, Département d'études cognitives, ENS, EHESS, CNRS, PSL University, 75005, Paris, France
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7
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Portrayals of wild primates in documentary films: reason for concern? Primates 2023; 64:177-189. [PMID: 36123512 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-022-01021-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Documentaries are the primary means by which many people observe the behavior of wild primates. By influencing layperson perceptions of wild primates, documentaries could impact viewer conservation-related beliefs and behaviors and, therefore, the well-being of wild primates. To investigate such portrayals, we examined documentaries depicting the four species that were most represented in documentaries: rhesus macaque, chimpanzee, ring-tailed lemur, and mountain gorilla. For each documentary, we continuously coded behavior, conducted scan samples of age-sex classes at 3-min intervals, and made ad libitum observations of inaccuracies and misleading content. We expected that representation of age-sex classes and activity budgets in documentaries would differ from those reported in the primary literature for the same species in the wild. In addition, we expected inaccurate depictions for every species. For ring-tailed lemurs, adult males were underrepresented in documentaries. For macaques, chimpanzees, and gorillas, representation of age-sex classes did not differ significantly from observations in the wild. Documentary depictions of activity budgets differed from researcher accounts of wild primate behavior for rhesus macaques, chimpanzees, and mountain gorillas, but not for ring-tailed lemurs. In general, documentaries overrepresented traveling and social behaviors such as play and grooming. Documentaries, especially docudramas, may have emphasized traveling because such footage allows storyline narration, whereas the emphasis on social behavior was likely due to the appeal of such footage to audiences. Inaccuracies were documented for all four species, with rhesus macaques having the most inaccuracies. We propose that primatologists have an ethical imperative to enhance the accuracy of primate portrayals to audiences.
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8
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The Benefits and Challenges of Conducting Primate Research in Different Settings. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010133. [PMID: 36611742 PMCID: PMC9817835 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Internationally, primate research takes place in laboratories, zoos, sanctuaries, and the wild. All of these settings present unique advantages and challenges in terms of methodology, translatability, animal welfare, and ethics. In this novel commentary, we explore the scientific and ethical benefits and drawbacks of conducting non-invasive psychological research with primates in each setting. We also suggest ways to overcome some of the barriers. We argue that while there may be greater experimental control in laboratory-based research, settings that more closely mirror primates' natural habitats are generally better suited to meet their specialized needs. More naturalistic research settings, including field studies, may also circumvent some ethical concerns associated with research in captivity, and yield more ecologically valid data.
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González-Ruiz M, Cervantes FA, Mondragón-Ceballos R. Social networks and tolerance differences associated to grouping patterns in Ateles geoffroyi. Folia Primatol (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/14219980-20210301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Each species displays a certain level of social tolerance. However, within a species, individuals show differences in their ability to accept the presence of conspecifics around resources of mutual interest. Social structure research allows studying how social relationships arise within a group, how they survive or end through time, and how they are influenced by various factors such group composition, mating system, and habitat quality variations. Furthermore, it can help elucidate the tolerance of individuals to other group members and how changes in it may lead to changes in social stability. Social Network Analysis (SNA) is a tool that allows the assessment of social dynamics and interactions. Our goal was to evaluate and compare social tolerance in captive spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) by examining social networks formed in social groups that varied in size and composition. We compared social networks of captive groups varying in sex ratio, group size, and age ratio. Results showed relationship between networks with similar size and composition. Smaller groups showed greater social distancing, while larger ones displayed shorter inter-individual distances and more affiliation. Agonism was infrequent in unisexual groups compared to groups formed by both sexes. Finally, groups with more males showed greater social distancing and greater agonism. Overall, largest groups (five members or more) and similar sex ratio (or unisexual) are better connected. Largest groups showed higher proximity levels and a more tolerance to conspecifics than small groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana González-Ruiz
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
- Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio I, 2nd. Floor, Circuito de Postgraduados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fernando A. Cervantes
- Colección Nacional de Mamíferos, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Mondragón-Ceballos
- Laboratorio de Etología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
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All-You-Can-Eat: Influence of Proximity to Maize Gardens on the Wild Diet and the Forest Activities of the Sebitoli Chimpanzee Community in Kibale National Park. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12070806. [PMID: 35405796 PMCID: PMC8996920 DOI: 10.3390/ani12070806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Understanding the resilience of primate populations to the threat of agricultural expansion is critical for effective conservation. Based on individual monitoring from morning to evening of wild chimpanzees in and around a protected area, we showed that the availability of maize at the forest edge had little effect on their activity budget by less resting and no impact on their wild diet and energy expenditure. In this area, large, caloric wild fruits are available year-round, and we observed no behavioral or dietary changes regarding wild resource availability either. Thus, the chimpanzees consume maize opportunistically as a bonus treat in their diet, and the presence of this nutritious resource does not seem to affect their role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. Abstract Frugivorous primates have developed several strategies to deal with wild fruit scarcity, such as modifying their activity budget or enlarging their diet. Agricultural expansion threatens primate habitats and populations (e.g., disease transmission, agrochemical exposure), but it also increases crop feeding opportunities. We aimed at understanding whether maize presence close to the natural habitat of chimpanzees, a threatened species, would lead to significant behavioral modifications. We monitored 20 chimpanzees over 37 months in Kibale National Park, Uganda, with maize gardens at the forest edge. Based on focal nest-to-nest data, we analyzed their diet, activity budget, and energy balance depending on wild fruit and maize availability. We found that the Sebitoli area is a highly nutritive habitat for chimpanzees, with large and caloric wild fruits available all year long. The chimpanzees opportunistically consume maize and exploit it by resting less during maize season. However, no significant variation was found in daily paths and energy expenditures according to maize availability. No behavioral or energy modification was observed regarding wild resources either. Despite the availability of nutritious domestic resources, chimpanzees still exploit wild fruits and do not limit their movements. Thus, their contribution to seed dispersal and forest regeneration in this area is not affected.
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The Habituation Process in Two Groups of Wild Moor Macaques ( Macaca maura). INT J PRIMATOL 2022; 43:291-316. [PMID: 35043025 PMCID: PMC8758468 DOI: 10.1007/s10764-021-00275-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
When studying animal behavior in the wild, some behaviors may require observation from a relatively short distance. In these cases, habituation is commonly used to ensure that animals do not perceive researchers as a direct threat and do not alter their behavior in their presence. However, habituation can have significant effects on the welfare and conservation of the animals. Studying how nonhuman primates react to the process of habituation can help to identify the factors that affect habituation and implement habituation protocols that allow other researchers to speed up the process while maintaining high standards of health and safety for both animals and researchers. In this study, we systematically described the habituation of two groups of wild moor macaques (Macaca maura), an Endangered endemic species of Sulawesi Island (Indonesia), to assess the factors that facilitate habituation and reduce impact on animal behavior during this process. During 7 months, we conducted behavioral observations for more than 7,872 encounters and an average of 120 days to monitor how macaque behavior toward researchers changed through time in the two groups under different conditions. We found that both study groups (N = 56, N = 41) became more tolerant to the presence of researchers during the course of the habituation, with occurrence of neutral group responses increasing, and minimum distance to researchers and occurrence of fearful group responses decreasing through time. These changes in behavior were predominant when macaques were in trees, with better visibility conditions, when researchers maintained a longer minimum distance to macaques and, unexpectedly, by the presence of more than one researcher. By identifying these factors, we contribute to designing habituation protocols that decrease the likelihood of fearful responses and might reduce the stress experienced during this process.
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12
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Invasive Research on Non-Human Primates-Time to Turn the Page. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11102999. [PMID: 34680019 PMCID: PMC8532895 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite increasing ethical concerns, primates are still often used in invasive research (i.e., laboratory research that causes body manipulations causing them pain or distress and not aimed at directly improving their well-being). Here, we will review previous studies showing that primates have complex behaviour and cognition, and that they suffer long-term consequences after being used in invasive research. We will discuss the ethical problems that invasive research on primates posit, the legal protection that they are, to date, granted in different countries, and summarize the past and current attempts to ban this kind of research on primates. We will conclude why, in our opinion, invasive research on primates should be banned, and non-invasive methods should be considered the only possible approach to the study of primates. Abstract Invasive research on primates (i.e., laboratory research that implies body manipulations causing pain or distress that is not aimed to directly improve the individuals’ well-being) has a long history. Although some invasive studies have allowed answering research questions that we could not have addressed with other methods (or at least not as quickly), the use of primates in invasive research also raises ethical concerns. In this review, we will discuss (i) recent advances in the study of primates that show evidence of complex behaviour and cognition, (ii) welfare issues that might arise when using primates in invasive research, (iii) the main ethical issues that have been raised about invasive research on primates, (iv) the legal protection that primates are granted in several countries, with a special focus on the principle of the 3Rs, and (v) previous and current attempts to ban the use of primates in invasive research. Based on this analysis, we suggest that the importance of a research question cannot justify the costs of invasive research on primates, and that non-invasive methods should be considered the only possible approach in the study of primates.
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13
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Berthet M, Mesbahi G, Duvot G, Zuberbühler K, Cäsar C, Bicca-Marques JC. Dramatic decline in a titi monkey population after the 2016-2018 sylvatic yellow fever outbreak in Brazil. Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23335. [PMID: 34609763 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Platyrrhini are highly vulnerable to the yellow fever (YF) virus. From 2016 to 2018, the Atlantic Forest of southeast Brazil faced its worst sylvatic YF outbreak in about a century, thought to have killed thousands of primates. It is essential to assess the impact of this epidemic on threatened primate assemblages to design effective conservation strategies. In this study, we assessed the impact of the 2016-2018 YF outbreak on a geographically isolated population of Near Threatened black-fronted titi monkeys (Callicebus nigrifrons) in two Atlantic Forest patches of the Santuário do Caraça, MG, Brazil. Extensive preoutbreak monitoring, conducted between 2008 and 2016, revealed that the home range and group sizes of the population remained stable. In 2016, the population size was estimated at 53-57 individuals in 11-12 groups. We conducted monitoring and playback surveys in 2019 and found that the population had decreased by 68% in one forest patch and completely vanished in the other, resulting in a combined decline of 80%. We discuss this severe loss of a previously stable population and conclude that it was highly likely caused by the YF outbreak. The remaining population is at risk of disappearing completely because of its small size and geographic isolation. A systematic population surveys of C. nigrifrons, along other sensible Platyrrhini species, is needed to re-evaluate their current conservation status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Berthet
- Département d'études cognitives, Institut Jean Nicod, ENS, EHESS, CNRS, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Geoffrey Mesbahi
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, LAE, Nancy, France.,Parc Naturel Régional des Vosges du Nord, La Petite Pierre, France
| | - Guilhem Duvot
- Département d'études cognitives, Institut Jean Nicod, ENS, EHESS, CNRS, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Klaus Zuberbühler
- School of Psychology & Neurosciences, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK.,Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | | | - Júlio Cèsar Bicca-Marques
- Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Laboratório de Primatologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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14
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Point of Care Blood Gas and Electrolyte Analysis in Anesthetized Olive Baboons (Papio anubis) in a Field Setting. INT J PRIMATOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-021-00241-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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15
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Walton BJ, Findlay LJ, Hill RA. Insights into short- and long-term crop-foraging strategies in a chacma baboon ( Papio ursinus) from GPS and accelerometer data. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:990-1001. [PMID: 33520181 PMCID: PMC7820140 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Crop-foraging by animals is a leading cause of human-wildlife "conflict" globally, affecting farmers and resulting in the death of many animals in retaliation, including primates. Despite significant research into crop-foraging by primates, relatively little is understood about the behavior and movements of primates in and around crop fields, largely due to the limitations of traditional observational methods. Crop-foraging by primates in large-scale agriculture has also received little attention. We used GPS and accelerometer bio-loggers, along with environmental data, to gain an understanding of the spatial and temporal patterns of activity for a female in a crop-foraging baboon group in and around commercial farms in South Africa over one year. Crop fields were avoided for most of the year, suggesting that fields are perceived as a high-risk habitat. When field visits did occur, this was generally when plant primary productivity was low, suggesting that crops were a "fallback food". All recorded field visits were at or before 15:00. Activity was significantly higher in crop fields than in the landscape in general, evidence that crop-foraging is an energetically costly strategy and that fields are perceived as a risky habitat. In contrast, activity was significantly lower within 100 m of the field edge than in the rest of the landscape, suggesting that baboons wait near the field edge to assess risks before crop-foraging. Together, this understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of crop-foraging can help to inform crop protection strategies and reduce conflict between humans and baboons in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J. Walton
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of DurhamDurhamUK
| | | | - Russell A. Hill
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of DurhamDurhamUK
- Primate & Predator ProjectLajuma Research CentreLouis Trichardt (Makhado)South Africa
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of VendaThohoyandouSouth Africa
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16
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Junker J, Petrovan SO, Arroyo-RodrÍguez V, Boonratana R, Byler D, Chapman CA, Chetry D, Cheyne SM, Cornejo FM, CortÉs-Ortiz L, Cowlishaw G, Christie AP, Crockford C, Torre SDL, De Melo FR, Fan P, Grueter CC, GuzmÁn-Caro DC, Heymann EW, Herbinger I, Hoang MD, Horwich RH, Humle T, Ikemeh RA, Imong IS, Jerusalinsky L, Johnson SE, Kappeler PM, Kierulff MCM, KonÉ I, Kormos R, Le KQ, Li B, Marshall AJ, Meijaard E, Mittermeier RA, Muroyama Y, Neugebauer E, Orth L, Palacios E, Papworth SK, Plumptre AJ, Rawson BM, Refisch J, Ratsimbazafy J, Roos C, Setchell JM, Smith RK, Sop T, Schwitzer C, Slater K, Strum SC, Sutherland WJ, Talebi M, Wallis J, Wich S, Williamson EA, Wittig RM, KÜhl HS. A Severe Lack of Evidence Limits Effective Conservation of the World's Primates. Bioscience 2020; 70:794-803. [PMID: 32973409 PMCID: PMC7498340 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Threats to biodiversity are well documented. However, to effectively conserve species and their habitats, we need to know which conservation interventions do (or do not) work. Evidence-based conservation evaluates interventions within a scientific framework. The Conservation Evidence project has summarized thousands of studies testing conservation interventions and compiled these as synopses for various habitats and taxa. In the present article, we analyzed the interventions assessed in the primate synopsis and compared these with other taxa. We found that despite intensive efforts to study primates and the extensive threats they face, less than 1% of primate studies evaluated conservation effectiveness. The studies often lacked quantitative data, failed to undertake postimplementation monitoring of populations or individuals, or implemented several interventions at once. Furthermore, the studies were biased toward specific taxa, geographic regions, and interventions. We describe barriers for testing primate conservation interventions and propose actions to improve the conservation evidence base to protect this endangered and globally important taxon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Junker
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Leipzig, Germany and with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, formerly the Department of Primatology, in Leipzig, Germany
| | - Silviu O Petrovan
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Victor Arroyo-RodrÍguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico
| | | | | | - Colin A Chapman
- Department of Anthropology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; with the School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; and with the Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, at Northwest University, in Xi'an, China
| | | | - Susan M Cheyne
- Borneo Nature Foundation, Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, and with the Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Liliana CortÉs-Ortiz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Guy Cowlishaw
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, in the United Kingdom
| | - Alec P Christie
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Crockford
- Tai Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse des Recherche Scientifique, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
| | - Stella De La Torre
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito's Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales in Quito, Ecuador
| | - Fabiano R De Melo
- Department of Engenharia Florestal, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - P Fan
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cyril C Grueter
- School of Human Sciences and with the School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Eckhard W Heymann
- Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Minh D Hoang
- Southern Institute of Ecology, Hochiminh City, Vietnam
| | | | - Tatyana Humle
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel A Ikemeh
- SW/Niger Delta Forest Project, part of the Foundation for Sustainability of Ecosystem, Wildlife, and Climate, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | - Leandro Jerusalinsky
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Primatas Brasileiros, in the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade. In João Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Steig E Johnson
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter M Kappeler
- Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany, and with the Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Psychology, at Georg-August Universität, in Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maria CecÍlia M Kierulff
- Instituto Nacional da Mata Atlântica, in Espírito Santo, Brazil, and with the Instituto Pri-Matas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Inza KonÉ
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Rebecca Kormos is affiliated with the Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley
| | - Rebecca Kormos
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Leipzig, Germany and with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, formerly the Department of Primatology, in Leipzig, Germany
| | - Khac Q Le
- Freelance wildlife consultant, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Baoguo Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Andrew J Marshall
- Department of Anthropology and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the Program in the Environment and the School of Environment and Sustainability, Universit of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Erik Meijaard
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and with Borneo Futures, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
| | | | - Yasuyuki Muroyama
- Natural Science Laboratory, Faculty of Business Administration, Toyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eleonora Neugebauer
- Universität Leipzig, Dekanat der Fakultät für Lebenswissenschaften, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lisa Orth
- Independent researcher, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Andrew J Plumptre
- Department of Anthropology and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the Program in the Environment and the School of Environment and Sustainability, Universit of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Ben M Rawson
- World Wide Fund for Wildlife Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Johannes Refisch
- Great Apes Survival Partnership, United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jonah Ratsimbazafy
- Groupe d'étude et de recherche sur les primates, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Christian Roos
- Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joanna M Setchell
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca K Smith
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tene Sop
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, formerly the Department of Primatology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Kerry Slater
- Operation Wallacea, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
| | - Shirley C Strum
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, and with the Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - William J Sutherland
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - MaurÍcio Talebi
- Departamento de Cíências Ambientais and the Programa Análise Ambiental Integrada, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Janette Wallis
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
| | - Serge Wich
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Roman M Wittig
- Tai Chimpanzee Project, Centre Suisse des Recherche Scientifique, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
| | - Hjalmar S KÜhl
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Leipzig, Germany and with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, formerly the Department of Primatology, in Leipzig, Germany
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17
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Soulsbury CD, Gray HE, Smith LM, Braithwaite V, Cotter SC, Elwood RW, Wilkinson A, Collins LM. The welfare and ethics of research involving wild animals: A primer. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen E. Gray
- Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Leeds Leeds UK
| | | | | | | | - Robert W. Elwood
- School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast Belfast UK
| | - Anna Wilkinson
- School of Life Sciences University of Lincoln Lincoln UK
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18
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19
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Green VM, Gabriel KI. Researchers' ethical concerns regarding habituating wild-nonhuman primates and perceived ethical duties to their subjects: Results of an online survey. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23178. [PMID: 32700383 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
While the process of habituation is essential for researchers to observe primates in their natural habitats, ethical dilemmas may arise from its consequences. We collected data from 286 participants via an online survey to investigate: (a) how primatologists perceive their ethical duties toward their subjects; (b) the extent to which primatologists are concerned about the potential ethical consequences of habituation; and (c) the methods primatologists use to reduce potential harms caused by habituation. Overall, primatologists felt an extremely strong duty to mitigate harms that they may cause (e.g., to not stress individuals during observation, treat injuries, and reunite separated individuals) and expressed very high concern for habituation's potential to increase the vulnerability of their subjects to poaching and disease transfer. Ratings for those items were so high that they could not be included in subsequent exploratory factor analyses that were designed to reveal constructs underlying respondents' ratings of their ethical duties and concerns. Factor analysis of ratings of ethical duties revealed that primatologists reported a strong duty to mitigate harms caused by other humans and a lower perceived duty to mitigate naturally occurring harmful events. Factor analysis on ethical concern ratings revealed that respondents were concerned about harms during the habituation process, the presence of unhabituated behavior after habituation had been established, and indirect harms of habituation. Concerns for unhabituated behavior and indirect harms were rated slightly higher than concern for harms during the habituation process. To mitigate potential harms, primatologists primarily reported engaging in strategies to reduce stress in their subjects. Our findings reveal a disconnect between primatologists' ratings of their ethical concerns and their reported mitigation practices that may, in part, stem from gaps in knowledge about the true impacts of habituation. We suggest areas of discussion and research in the field necessary to address those gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria M Green
- Primate Behavior Program, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington
| | - Kara I Gabriel
- Department of Psychology, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington
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20
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Allan ATL, Bailey AL, Hill RA. Habituation is not neutral or equal: Individual differences in tolerance suggest an overlooked personality trait. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz0870. [PMID: 32685676 PMCID: PMC7343399 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz0870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In behavioral studies, observer effects can be substantial, even for habituated animals, but few studies account for potential observer-related phenomenon empirically. We used wild, habituated chacma baboons to explore two key assumptions of behavioral ecology (i) that observers become a "neutral" stimulus and (ii) that habituation is "equal" across group members. Using flight initiation distance (FID) methods within a personality paradigm, the behavioral responses of baboons suggested that observers were not perceived as neutral but instead viewed as a high-ranking social threat. Habituation was also not equal across group members, with repeatable individual differences more important than contextual factors (e.g., habitat) in determining the distance at which baboons visually oriented or displaced from observers. A strong correlation between individual visual tolerance and displacement tolerance (i.e., convergent validity) indicated a personality trait. We offer several suggestions for how to account for these factors and minimize potential bias in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. L. Allan
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
- Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, PO Box 522, Louis Trichardt 0920, South Africa
| | - Annie L. Bailey
- Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, PO Box 522, Louis Trichardt 0920, South Africa
| | - Russell A. Hill
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
- Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, PO Box 522, Louis Trichardt 0920, South Africa
- Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
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21
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Bezanson M, McNamara A. The what and where of primate field research may be failing primate conservation. Evol Anthropol 2019; 28:166-178. [PMID: 31343795 PMCID: PMC6771776 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
With approximately 30% of nonhuman primate species listed as critically endangered, the window of opportunity to conserve primates is closing fast. In this article, we focus on the degree to which publications in field primatology are biased in favor of particular taxa and field sites. We examined more than 29,000 peer‐reviewed articles and identified 876 field visits to 349 field sites. We found a highly clumped distribution by site and species. We also examined publication ethical statements and the extent to which they acknowledged local human communities (<5%). Due to a lack of consistency across publications, we provide recommendations for improving ethical statements and for evaluating research impact. Given the plight of primate biodiversity, these results suggest broader coverage of primate species and geographies, as well as more attention to the local human communities whose support is necessary if the intent is to have primate species in the wild in the 22nd century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Bezanson
- Department of Anthropology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California
| | - Allison McNamara
- Department of Anthropology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California.,Department of Anthropology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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22
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Riley EP, Bezanson M. Ethics of Primate Fieldwork: Toward an Ethically Engaged Primatology. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANTHROPOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anthro-102317-045913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Field primatologists have ethical responsibilities that extend beyond study subjects to the local human communities living near primate populations and their surrounding ecosystems. In this review, we explore the history of ethical discussions within anthropological primatology and examine the best practices for an ethically engaged primatology that should be followed and role-modeled by primatologists. An increasing number of primates are showing reduced population sizes and are in imminent danger of extinction; thus, we need to carefully consider the ethics of intervening to ensure the survival of remaining populations, the impact of anthropogenic factors (e.g., climate change), and whether long-term field research results in conservation outcomes that consider local human communities. Because best practices change over time as theoretical frameworks and methodological tools advance and scientific goals change, field primatologists must continually reflect on what constitutes ethical practice and consider how research influences the overlapping dimensions of fieldwork: primates, people, and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin P. Riley
- Department of Anthropology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182-6040, USA
| | - Michelle Bezanson
- Department of Anthropology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California 95053, USA
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23
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Do Mechanical Effectiveness and Recipient Species Influence Intentional Signal Laterality in Captive Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)? INT J PRIMATOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-018-0054-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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24
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McCarthy MS, Després-Einspenner ML, Samuni L, Mundry R, Lemoine S, Preis A, Wittig RM, Boesch C, Kühl HS. An assessment of the efficacy of camera traps for studying demographic composition and variation in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Am J Primatol 2018; 80:e22904. [PMID: 30088683 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Demographic factors can strongly influence patterns of behavioral variation in animal societies. Traditionally, these factors are measured using longitudinal observation of habituated social groups, particularly in social animals like primates. Alternatively, noninvasive biomonitoring methods such as camera trapping can allow researchers to assess species occupancy, estimate population abundance, and study rare behaviors. However, measures of fine-scale demographic variation, such as those related to age and sex structure or subgrouping patterns, pose a greater challenge. Here, we compare demographic data collected from a community of habituated chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in the Taï Forest using two methods: camera trap videos and observational data from long-term records. By matching data on party size, seasonal variation in party size, measures of demographic composition, and changes over the study period from both sources, we compared the accuracy of camera trap records and long-term data to assess whether camera trap data could be used to assess such variables in populations of unhabituated chimpanzees. When compared to observational data, camera trap data tended to underestimate measures of party size, but revealed similar patterns of seasonal variation as well as similar community demographic composition (age/sex proportions) and dynamics (particularly emigration and deaths) during the study period. Our findings highlight the potential and limitations of camera trap surveys for estimating fine-scale demographic composition and variation in primates. Continuing development of field and statistical methods will further improve the usability of camera traps for demographic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen S McCarthy
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Liran Samuni
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Taï Chimpanzee Project, CSRS, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Roger Mundry
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sylvain Lemoine
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna Preis
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roman M Wittig
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,Taï Chimpanzee Project, CSRS, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Christophe Boesch
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hjalmar S Kühl
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Leipzig-Jena, Leipzig, Germany
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25
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Jack KM, Fedigan LM. Alpha Male Capuchins (Cebus capucinus imitator) as Keystone Individuals. PRIMATE LIFE HISTORIES, SEX ROLES, AND ADAPTABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-98285-4_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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26
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Behringer V, Deschner T. Non-invasive monitoring of physiological markers in primates. Horm Behav 2017; 91:3-18. [PMID: 28202354 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The monitoring of endocrine markers that inform about an animal's physiological state has become an invaluable tool for studying the behavioral ecology of primates. While the collection of blood samples usually requires the animal to be caught and immobilized, non-invasively collected samples of saliva, urine, feces or hair can be obtained without any major disturbance of the subject of interest. Such samples enable repeated collection which is required for matching behavioral information over long time periods with detailed information on endocrine markers. We start our review by giving an overview of endocrine and immune markers that have been successfully monitored in relation to topics of interest in primate behavioral ecology. These topics include reproductive, nutritional and health status, changes during ontogeny, social behavior such as rank relationships, aggression and cooperation as well as welfare and conservation issues. We continue by explaining which hormones can be measured in which matrices, and potential problems with measurements. We then describe different methods of hormone measurements and address their advantages and disadvantages. We finally emphasize the importance of thorough validation procedures when measuring a specific hormone in a new species or matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Behringer
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
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27
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Fernandez-Duque M, Chapman CA, Glander KE, Fernandez-Duque E. Darting Primates: Steps Toward Procedural and Reporting Standards. INT J PRIMATOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-017-9963-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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28
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Zak AA, Riley EP. Comparing the Use of Camera Traps and Farmer Reports to Study Crop Feeding Behavior of Moor Macaques (Macaca maura). INT J PRIMATOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-016-9945-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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29
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Leendertz SAJ, Wich SA, Ancrenaz M, Bergl RA, Gonder MK, Humle T, Leendertz FH. Ebola in great apes - current knowledge, possibilities for vaccination, and implications for conservation and human health. Mamm Rev 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Siv Aina J. Leendertz
- Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP); United Nations Environment Programme; P.O. Box 30552 Nairobi Kenya
- Research Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms; Robert Koch-Institute; Seestrasse 10 13353 Berlin Germany
| | - Serge A. Wich
- Liverpool John Moore's University; 70 Mount Pleasant; Liverpool L3 5UA Merseyside UK
| | - Marc Ancrenaz
- Borneo Futures; Taman Kinanty, Lorong Angsa 12, House 61D 88300 Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia
| | - Richard A. Bergl
- North Carolina Zoo; 4401 Zoo Parkway Asheboro North Carolina USA
| | - Mary K. Gonder
- Department of Biology; Drexel University; 3245 Chestnut Street Philadelphia PA 19104 USA
| | - Tatyana Humle
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology; School of Anthropology and Conservation; University of Kent; Canterbury CT2 7NR UK
| | - Fabian H. Leendertz
- Research Group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms; Robert Koch-Institute; Seestrasse 10 13353 Berlin Germany
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30
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Adverse Effects of Ball-Chain Radio-Collars on Female Mantled Howlers (Alouatta palliata) in Panama. INT J PRIMATOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-016-9896-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Cunningham EP, Unwin S, Setchell JM. Darting Primates in the Field: A Review of Reporting Trends and a Survey of Practices and Their Effect on the Primates Involved. INT J PRIMATOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-015-9862-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Pebsworth PA, LaFleur M. Advancing Primate Research and Conservation Through the Use of Camera Traps: Introduction to the Special Issue. INT J PRIMATOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-014-9802-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Giving the Forest Eyes: The Benefits of Using Camera Traps to Study Unhabituated Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Southeastern Senegal. INT J PRIMATOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-014-9783-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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McKinney MA, Atwood T, Dietz R, Sonne C, Iverson SJ, Peacock E. Validation of adipose lipid content as a body condition index for polar bears. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:516-27. [PMID: 24634735 PMCID: PMC3936397 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Revised: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Body condition is a key indicator of individual and population health. Yet, there is little consensus as to the most appropriate condition index (CI), and most of the currently used CIs have not been thoroughly validated and are logistically challenging. Adipose samples from large datasets of capture biopsied, remote biopsied, and harvested polar bears were used to validate adipose lipid content as a CI via tests of accuracy, precision, sensitivity, biopsy depth, and storage conditions and comparisons to established CIs, to measures of health and to demographic and ecological parameters. The lipid content analyses of even very small biopsy samples were highly accurate and precise, but results were influenced by tissue depth at which the sample was taken. Lipid content of capture biopsies and samples from harvested adult females was correlated with established CIs and/or conformed to expected biological variation and ecological changes. However, lipid content of remote biopsies was lower than capture biopsies and harvested samples, possibly due to lipid loss during dart retrieval. Lipid content CI is a biologically relevant, relatively inexpensive and rapidly assessed CI and can be determined routinely for individuals and populations in order to infer large-scale spatial and long-term temporal trends. As it is possible to collect samples during routine harvesting or remotely using biopsy darts, monitoring and assessment of body condition can be accomplished without capture and handling procedures or noninvasively, which are methods that are preferred by local communities. However, further work is needed to apply the method to remote biopsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A McKinney
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada ; Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Todd Atwood
- US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Anchorage, Alaska, 99508
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Sara J Iverson
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Peacock
- US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Anchorage, Alaska, 99508
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Oelze VM, Head JS, Robbins MM, Richards M, Boesch C. Niche differentiation and dietary seasonality among sympatric gorillas and chimpanzees in Loango National Park (Gabon) revealed by stable isotope analysis. J Hum Evol 2014; 66:95-106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2013.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2013] [Revised: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Moore DL, Vigilant L. A population estimate of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in the Ugalla region using standard and spatially explicit genetic capture-recapture methods. Am J Primatol 2013; 76:335-46. [PMID: 24357255 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Revised: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Population parameters such as size, density, and distribution of a species across a landscape are important metrics that inform conservation science and are key to management strategies. In this study, we used genetic capture-recapture methods to estimate the population size and density of the little-studied chimpanzees in the Ugalla region of western Tanzania. From 237 fecal samples collected non-invasively over a 10-month period, we identified a minimum of 113 individuals. Based on the two-innate rate method (TIRM) modeled in the software capwire, we obtained a maximum-likelihood estimate of 322 (CI 227-373) individuals over the 624 km(2) area surveyed. Using a spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) method, we estimated a population density of 0.25 (CI 0.16-0.38) individuals/km(2) . Observations of nests and search effort data revealed areas of more intense usage. The findings of this study are an important step in the characterization of the Ugalla chimpanzees, and substantially improve our understanding of the number of chimpanzees that occupy this savanna-woodland region at the easternmost extent of the geographic range of this endangered subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah L Moore
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas; Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
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37
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Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Capture Darting on Red Colobus Monkeys (Procolobus rufomitratus) with a Comparison to Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Predation. INT J PRIMATOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-013-9711-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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38
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Predation selects for low resting metabolic rate and consistent individual differences in anti-predator behavior in a beetle. Acta Ethol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-013-0147-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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BEZANSON MICHELLE, STOWE ROCHELLE, WATTS SEANM. Reducing the Ecological Impact of Field Research. Am J Primatol 2012; 75:1-9. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2012] [Revised: 09/09/2012] [Accepted: 09/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- MICHELLE BEZANSON
- Department of Anthropology; Santa Clara University; Santa Clara; California
| | - ROCHELLE STOWE
- Environmental Studies and Science; Santa Clara University; Santa Clara; California
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41
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Schapiro SJ, Bernacky BJ. Socialization strategies and disease transmission in captive colonies of nonhuman primates. Am J Primatol 2012; 74:518-27. [PMID: 21905063 PMCID: PMC3247624 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.21001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2011] [Revised: 08/02/2011] [Accepted: 08/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In captive research environments for nonhuman primates (NHP), social housing strategies are often in conflict with protocols designed to minimize disease transmission. This is particularly true in breeding colonies, and is especially relevant when attempting to eliminate specific pathogens from a population of primates. Numerous strategies have been used to establish such specific pathogen free (SPF) breeding colonies (primarily of macaques), ranging from nursery rearing of neonates to single housing of socially reared yearlings to the rearing of infants in large social groups. All these strategies attempt to balance the effects of the chosen socialization strategy on parameters related to disease transmission, including the ultimate elimination of the target pathogens. Such strategies may affect the overall disease states of NHP breeding colonies through selective breeding processes. This can occur either by creating subpopulations of animals that do not have target diseases (SPF colonies), but may have other issues; or by creating situations in which the "best" animals are sold and the breeding colony is stocked with animals that may be more disease susceptible than those that were sold. The disease states of NHP research colonies also may be affected by selective utilization programs, in which animals removed from the breeding colony for health/behavior reasons, are preferentially chosen for use in scientific investigations. Such utilization criteria raise the question of whether ideal subjects are being chosen for use in research. Finally, captive primate colonies, where both socialization and disease states are intensely managed, may provide opportunities for those testing predictions from models of the interactions of socialization and disease transmission in the evolution of wild populations of NHP. This would be especially true for some extreme conditions of these disease ecology models, given the exceedingly high social densities and levels of pathogen control that exist in many captive nonhuman primate colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Schapiro
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, Texas, USA.
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Robbins MM, Gray M, Fawcett KA, Nutter FB, Uwingeli P, Mburanumwe I, Kagoda E, Basabose A, Stoinski TS, Cranfield MR, Byamukama J, Spelman LH, Robbins AM. Extreme conservation leads to recovery of the Virunga mountain gorillas. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19788. [PMID: 21687709 PMCID: PMC3110611 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2010] [Accepted: 04/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As wildlife populations are declining, conservationists are under increasing pressure to measure the effectiveness of different management strategies. Conventional conservation measures such as law enforcement and community development projects are typically designed to minimize negative human influences upon a species and its ecosystem. In contrast, we define “extreme” conservation as efforts targeted to deliberately increase positive human influences, including veterinary care and close monitoring of individual animals. Here we compare the impact of both conservation approaches upon the population growth rate of the critically endangered Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), which increased by 50% since their nadir in 1981, from approximately 250 to nearly 400 gorillas. Using demographic data from 1967–2008, we show an annual decline of 0.7%±0.059% for unhabituated gorillas that received intensive levels of conventional conservation approaches, versus an increase 4.1%±0.088% for habituated gorillas that also received extreme conservation measures. Each group of habituated gorillas is now continuously guarded by a separate team of field staff during daylight hours and receives veterinary treatment for snares, respiratory disease, and other life-threatening conditions. These results suggest that conventional conservation efforts prevented a severe decline of the overall population, but additional extreme measures were needed to achieve positive growth. Demographic stochasticity and socioecological factors had minimal impact on variability in the growth rates. Veterinary interventions could account for up to 40% of the difference in growth rates between habituated versus unhabituated gorillas, with the remaining difference likely arising from greater protection against poachers. Thus, by increasing protection and facilitating veterinary treatment, the daily monitoring of each habituated group contributed to most of the difference in growth rates. Our results argue for wider consideration of extreme measures and offer a startling view of the enormous resources that may be needed to conserve some endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha M Robbins
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
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Campbell G, Kuehl H, Diarrassouba A, N'Goran PK, Boesch C. Long-term research sites as refugia for threatened and over-harvested species. Biol Lett 2011; 7:723-6. [PMID: 21450724 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of researchers, ecotourists or rangers inside protected areas is generally assumed to provide a protective effect for wildlife populations, mainly by reducing poaching pressure. However, this assumption has rarely been empirically tested. Here, we evaluate and quantify the conservation benefits of the presence of a long-term research area in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. A wildlife survey following 225 km of line transects revealed considerably higher primate and duiker encounter rates within the research area when compared with adjacent areas. This positive effect was particularly pronounced for threatened and over-harvested species, such as the endangered red colobus monkey (Procolobus badius). This pattern was clearly mirrored by a reversed gradient in signs of poaching, which decreased towards and inside the research area, a trend that was also supported with park-wide data. This study demonstrates that even relatively simple evidence-based analytical approaches can bridge the gap between conservation theory and practice. In addition, it emphasizes the value of establishing long-term research sites as an integral part of protected area management.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Campbell
- Department of Primatology, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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Arandjelovic M, Head J, Rabanal LI, Schubert G, Mettke E, Boesch C, Robbins MM, Vigilant L. Non-invasive genetic monitoring of wild central chimpanzees. PLoS One 2011; 6:e14761. [PMID: 21423611 PMCID: PMC3057985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2010] [Accepted: 02/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An assessment of population size and structure is an important first step in devising conservation and management plans for endangered species. Many threatened animals are elusive, rare and live in habitats that prohibit directly counting individuals. For example, a well-founded estimate of the number of great apes currently living in the wild is lacking. Developing methods to obtain accurate population estimates for these species is a priority for their conservation management. Genotyping non-invasively collected faecal samples is an effective way of evaluating a species' population size without disruption, and can also reveal details concerning population structure. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We opportunistically collected wild chimpanzee faecal samples for genetic capture-recapture analyses over a four-year period in a 132 km(2) area of Loango National Park, Gabon. Of the 444 samples, 46% yielded sufficient quantities of DNA for genotyping analysis and the consequent identification of 121 individuals. Using genetic capture-recapture, we estimate that 283 chimpanzees (range: 208-316) inhabited the research area between February 2005 and July 2008. Since chimpanzee males are patrilocal and territorial, we genotyped samples from males using variable Y-chromosome microsatellite markers and could infer that seven chimpanzee groups are present in the area. Genetic information, in combination with field data, also suggested the occurrence of repeated cases of intergroup violence and a probable group extinction. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The poor amplification success rate resulted in a limited number of recaptures and hence only moderate precision (38%, measured as the entire width of the 95% confidence interval), but this was still similar to the best results obtained using intensive nest count surveys of apes (40% to 63%). Genetic capture-recapture methods applied to apes can provide a considerable amount of novel information on chimpanzee population size and structure with minimal disturbance to the animals and represent a powerful complement to traditional field-based methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mimi Arandjelovic
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
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Abstract
This article provides an overview of the ethical issues raised by the use of non-human primates (NHPs) in research involving scientific procedures which may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. It is not an exhaustive review of the literature and views on this subject, and it does not present any conclusions about the moral acceptability or otherwise of NHP research. Rather the aim has been to identify the ethical issues involved and to provide guidance on how these might be addressed, in particular by carefully examining the scientific rationale for NHP use, implementing fully the 3Rs principle of Russell and Burch (1959) and applying a robust "harm-benefit assessment" to research proposals involving NHPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Prescott
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), 20 Park Crescent, London, W1B 1AL, UK
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46
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High prevalence, coinfection rate, and genetic diversity of retroviruses in wild red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus badius badius) in Tai National Park, Cote d'Ivoire. J Virol 2010; 84:7427-36. [PMID: 20484508 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00697-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simian retroviruses are precursors of all human retroviral pathogens. However, little is known about the prevalence and coinfection rates or the genetic diversity of major retroviruses-simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), simian T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (STLV-1), and simian foamy virus (SFV)-in wild populations of nonhuman primates. Such information would contribute to the understanding of the natural history of retroviruses in various host species. Here, we estimate these parameters for wild West African red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus badius badius) in the Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. We collected samples from a total of 54 red colobus monkeys; samples consisted of blood and/or internal organs from 22 monkeys and additionally muscle and other tissue samples from another 32 monkeys. PCR analyses revealed a high prevalence of SIV, STLV-1, and SFV in this population, with rates of 82%, 50%, and 86%, respectively. Forty-five percent of the monkeys were coinfected with all three viruses while another 32% were coinfected with SIV in combination with either STLV or SFV. As expected, phylogenetic analyses showed a host-specific pattern for SIV and SFV strains. In contrast, STLV-1 strains appeared to be distributed in genetically distinct and distant clades, which are unique to the Taï forest and include strains previously described from wild chimpanzees in the same area. The high prevalence of all three retroviral infections in P. b. badius represents a source of infection to chimpanzees and possibly to humans, who hunt them.
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