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Ameca EI, Nie Y, Wu R, Mittermeier RA, Foden W, Wei F. Identifying protected areas in biodiversity hotspots at risk from climate and human-induced compound events for conserving threatened species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 938:173192. [PMID: 38761951 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic pressure in areas of biodiversity importance erodes the integrity of the ecosystems they harbour, making features of biodiversity less buffered against extreme climatic events. We define the combination of these disturbances as compound events. We assessed compound event risk in protected areas (PAs) applying a spatial framework guided by criteria and quantitative thresholds associated with exposure to cyclones, drought, and intense human pressure. This assessment was used in a relational matrix to classify PAs with different risk of compound event occurrence. We identified PAs of higher conservation concern by quantifying the extent of human pressure in their surrounding landscape while harbouring large numbers of threatened vertebrate species. Of the 39,694 PAs assessed, very high risk of compound events was determined for 6965 PAs (17.5 %) related to cyclones and human pressure (mainly island hotspots), 6367 PAs (16 %) related to droughts and human pressure (island and continental hotspots), and 2031 PAs (5 %) to cyclones, drought and human pressure (mainly in island hotspots). From the subset of 2031 PAs assessed at very high risk, we identified 239 PAs of higher conservation concern distributed predominantly in the Caribbean Islands, Japan, North America Coastal Plain, Philippines, and Southwest Australia. Our work highlights PAs in the biodiversity hotspots where high risk of compound event occurrence poses a greater threat to species. We encourage researchers to adapt and apply this framework across other globally significant sites for conserving biodiversity to identify high risk-prone areas, and prevent further biodiversity decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- E I Ameca
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology & Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science & Ecological Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Climate Change Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland; Faculty of Biology, University of Veracruz-UV, Veracruz, Mexico.
| | - Y Nie
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology & Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - R Wu
- Conservation Biogeography Research Group, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Ecosecurity, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | | | - W Foden
- Climate Change Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland; South African National Parks, Cape Research Centre, Tokai Park, Cape Town, South Africa; Global Change Biology Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - F Wei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology & Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; Centre for Evolution and Conservation Biology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China.
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Hameed S, Bashir T, Ali MN, Khanyari M, Kumar A. Population assessment of the Endangered Kashmir Gray Langur (Semnopithecus ajax, Pocock 1928) using the double-observer method. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23618. [PMID: 38482954 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Primates are among the most threatened taxa globally, therefore, there is a need to estimate and monitor their populations. Kashmir Gray Langur Semnopithecus ajax is an endangered species for which there is no population estimate. We used double-observer method to estimate its population size in the Kashmir region of North-Western Himalaya. We walked 1284 km across 31 survey blocks spanning all three divisions of Kashmir viz., North, Central, and South Kashmir, covering an area of 411 km2. We counted a minimum of 1367 individual langurs from 27 groups. The detection probability for observer 1 (0.719) and observer 2 (0.656) resulted in a population estimate of 1496 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1367-1899) across 30 groups (with a mean group size of 51), giving a density estimate of 3.64 (3.33-4.62) langurs/km². We found double-observer surveys to be suitable for the population estimation of langurs, and we make recommendations on how to effectively conduct primate surveys, especially in mountainous ecosystems. Our records extend the species distribution range beyond stated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Our findings also highlight that the Kashmir Himalaya is a stronghold of the species, where conservation efforts should focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Hameed
- Department of Environmental Sciences & Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Tawqir Bashir
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Mohammad N Ali
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | | | - Ajith Kumar
- Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bangalore, India
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Thompson CL, Hermann EA. Behavioral thermoregulation in primates: A review of literature and future avenues. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23614. [PMID: 38433290 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23614] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Primates face severe challenges from climate change, with warming expected to increase animals' thermoregulatory demands. Primates have limited long-term options to cope with climate change, but possess a remarkable capacity for behavioral plasticity. This creates an urgency to better understand the behavioral mechanisms primates use to thermoregulate. While considerable information exists on primate behavioral thermoregulation, it is often scattered in the literature in a manner that is difficult to integrate. This review evaluates the status of the available literature on primate behavioral thermoregulation to facilitate future research. We surveyed peer-reviewed publications on primate thermoregulation for N = 17 behaviors across four thermoregulatory categories: activity budgeting, microhabitat use, body positioning, and evaporative cooling. We recorded data on the primate taxa evaluated, support for a thermoregulatory function, thermal variable assessed, and naturalistic/manipulative study conditions. Behavioral thermoregulation was pervasive across primates, with N = 721 cases of thermoregulatory behaviors identified across N = 284 published studies. Most genera were known to utilize multiple behaviors (x ¯ = 4.5 ± 3.1 behaviors/genera). Activity budgeting behaviors were the most commonly encountered category in the literature (54.5% of cases), while evaporative cooling behaviors were the least represented (6.9% of cases). Behavioral thermoregulation studies were underrepresented for certain taxonomic groups, including lemurs, lorises, galagos, and Central/South American primates, and there were large within-taxa disparities in representation of genera. Support for a thermoregulatory function was consistently high across all behaviors, spanning both hot- and cold-avoidance strategies. This review reveals asymmetries in the current literature and avenues for future research. Increased knowledge of the impact thermoregulatory behaviors have on biologically relevant outcomes is needed to better assess primate responses to warming environments and develop early indicators of thermal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Thompson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, USA
| | - Emily A Hermann
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, USA
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Kerjean E, van de Waal E, Canteloup C. Social dynamics of vervet monkeys are dependent upon group identity. iScience 2024; 27:108591. [PMID: 38299029 PMCID: PMC10829874 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108591] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Traditions are widespread across the animal realm. Here, we investigated inter-group variability of social dynamics in wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus). We analyzed 84,704 social interactions involving 247 individuals collected over nine years in three neighboring groups of wild vervet monkeys. We found that in one group - Ankhase - individuals had a higher propensity to be affiliative (i.e., sociality) and grooming interactions were more reciprocal. Despite yearly fluctuations in sociality, differences between groups remained stable over time. Moreover, our statistical model predictions confirmed that these findings were maintained for similar sex ratios, age distributions, and group sizes. Strikingly, our results suggested that dispersing males adapted their sociality to the sociality of the group they integrated with. As a whole, our study sheds light on the existence of stable social dynamics dependent upon group identity in wild vervet monkeys and suggests that at least part of this variability is socially mediated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Kerjean
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center of Integrative Biology, University of Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Erica van de Waal
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
- Inkawu Vervet Project, Mawana Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Center for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- The Sense Innovation and Research Center, Lausanne and Sion, Vaud, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Canteloup
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
- Inkawu Vervet Project, Mawana Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Center for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- The Sense Innovation and Research Center, Lausanne and Sion, Vaud, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Cognitive & Adaptive Neurosciences, CNRS - UMR 7364, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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Radespiel U, Roos C. Special Issue "Primate Phylogeny and Genetics". Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:68. [PMID: 38254958 PMCID: PMC10815477 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
New phylogenetic tools and population genetics methods have been developed and vastly advanced over the last decade [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Radespiel
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christian Roos
- Gene Bank of Primates and Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Ameca EI, Chamart L, Garber PA. A conceptual framework for assessing behavioral flexibility of species in response to extreme climatic events. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18478. [PMID: 37898656 PMCID: PMC10613232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45756-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherent differences in the adaptive capacity of species to flexibly respond to extreme climatic events (ECEs) represent a key factor in their survivorship. We introduce and apply a conceptual framework linking knowledge about species' current ecology and biology with variation in behavioral flexibility to ECEs. We applied it to 199 non-human primate species currently exposed to cyclones across the global tropics. Our findings suggest that species characterized by an increased ability to exploit a broad range of food types, social systems that permit subgrouping, and habitat types that span a range of environmental conditions may have greater success in coping with cyclones than more narrowly constrained or less adaptable primates. Overall, 15% of species, predominantly of the families Atelidae and Cercopithecidae, were assessed as having high or very high flexibility. In contrast, ~ 60% of primates were assessed with low or very low flexibility. These were species mainly belonging to the Cheirogaleidae, Lemuridae, Lepilemuridae, and Indriidae. While much work remains to better understand mechanisms driving differences in behavioral flexibility of species exposed to extreme climate across vertebrate lineages, our framework provides a workable approach that can improve estimates of current vulnerability to these phenomena and better inform conservation and management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric I Ameca
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
- Climate Change Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland.
| | - Lucy Chamart
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Paul A Garber
- International Centre of Biodiversity and Primate Conservation, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
- Department of Anthropology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
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Quarles LF, Dechanupong J, Gibson N, Nekaris KAI. Knowledge, Beliefs, and Experience Regarding Slow Lorises in Southern Thailand: Coexistence in a Developed Landscape. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3285. [PMID: 37894010 PMCID: PMC10603664 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural landscapes are being converted for agriculture and other human uses across Asia and this development presents potential threats for specialist species of primates, like the Endangered slow lorises of Thailand (Nycticebus bengalensis and N. coucang). It is crucial to understand the interface between humans and slow lorises in order to conserve these primates. Local ecological knowledge provides valuable information about these cryptic nocturnal species. We conducted 36 semi-structured interviews in Khao Lak, in southern Thailand, asking (1) where slow lorises were seen, (2) what they were doing, (3) how often people see slow lorises, and (4) what people knew about them. We converted the interviews to free lists and determined the importance of key words. Our results show that the informants saw lorises frequently in six general locations: forests/trees (58%), electric wires (47%), towns/villages (36%), plantations (33%), homesteads (28%), and roads (17%). The most prominent places were forests/trees, wires, and plantations. Eleven key concepts defined local beliefs, with the most prominent being that lorises are awake at night (69%), eat fruit (42%), are not aggressive (25%), are bad omens (25%), and there used to be more of them (25%). Due to a minimal presence of persecution or exploitation of slow lorises by humans in the study area and general tolerance in the face of competition for the same resources and spaces, we suggest that, despite extensive persecution for the illegal photo prop trade in nearby Phuket, the people of Khao Lak seem to live in a state of passive coexistence with slow lorises. However, we did find some evidence that the pet and photo prop trade are still present in the area. It is crucial that coexistence be struck within the context of deforestation and urbanization so that conservation initiatives can take place within the community to further improve the lives of humans and the status of lorises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke F. Quarles
- Nocturnal Primate Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Gibbs Building, Gipsy Ln, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | | | - Nancy Gibson
- Love Wildlife Foundation, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
| | - K. A. I. Nekaris
- Nocturnal Primate Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Gibbs Building, Gipsy Ln, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
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Kufa CA, Bekele A, Atickem A, Zinner D. Djaffa Mountains guereza ( Colobus guereza gallarum) abundance in forests of the Ahmar Mountains, Ethiopia. Primate Biol 2023; 10:13-23. [PMID: 38039330 PMCID: PMC10654609 DOI: 10.5194/pb-10-13-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The size and density of a population are essential parameters in primate ecology and conservation. Such information, however, is still scarce for many forest primate species. The Djaffa Mountains guereza (Colobus guereza gallarum) is an endemic Ethiopian taxon for which data about its distribution and population size are missing. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the abundance and population size of the Djaffa Mountains guereza in four forests in the Ahmar Mountains southeast of the Ethiopian Rift Valley. We conducted line-transect surveys in the forests. Within an area of 183 km2 , we sampled 19 transects covering a distance of 75.9 km. We encountered 73 guereza clusters which most likely represent social groups. Since the detection distances and cluster sizes did not differ among the four forests, we applied a conventional distance sampling (CDS) model and estimated a population density of 20.6 clusters per square kilometer, i.e., 109.6 individuals per square kilometer or 20 061 individuals within the complete study area. This abundance is relatively high compared to other C. guereza taxa. However, given that the habitat and population of C . g . gallarum are already highly fragmented, further monitoring of the population and exploration of the possibilities of reconnecting its habitat should be priorities for the conservation of this taxon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chala Adugna Kufa
- Department of Zoological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Computational Sciences, Woldia University, P.O. Box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Afework Bekele
- Department of Zoological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Anagaw Atickem
- Department of Zoological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Dietmar Zinner
- Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center (DPZ), Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Primate Cognition, Georg August University, 37083 Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz ScienceCampus "Primate Cognition", 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Romanello D, Thompson KET, Borgerson C, Randriamanetsy JM, Andriamavosoloarisoa NNM, Andrianantenaina MY, Razafindrahasy TA, Surkis C, Wright PC, Twiss KC, Lewis RJ. A Nuanced Examination of Primate Capture and Consumption and Human Socio-Economic Well-Being in Kirindy Mitea National Park, Madagascar. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2914. [PMID: 37760313 PMCID: PMC10525171 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The futures of human and nonhuman primates are closely tied in protected areas. Understanding this interconnectedness is especially urgent in Madagascar, one of the world's most impoverished biodiversity hotspots. Yet, no study has evaluated the relationship between poverty and lemur hunting and consumption using a composite poverty metric that includes health, education, and living standards. To address this gap, and to inform primate conservation practice and policy, we administered annual surveys to 81 households over six consecutive months (September 2018 to March 2019) in a village on the border of Kirindy Mitea National Park, Madagascar. We observed extreme deprivation scores across multiple dimensions of poverty and identified ninety-five percent of households as 'impoverished'. Of these, three-quarters (77%) of households were identified as being in 'severe poverty'. One-fifth (19%) of all households hunted lemurs and half (49%) of households consumed lemurs. While poverty eradication is an urgent need in communities around Kirindy Mitea National Park, our findings show no relationship between poverty and lemur hunting and consumption, perhaps due to the lack of variance in poverty. Our results highlight the need to investigate other contributory factors to lemur hunting and consumption locally. Because food insecurity is a known driver of lemur hunting and consumption among the study community, and because domestic meats can be preferred over protected species, we recommend testing the efficacy of livestock interventions near Kirindy Mitea National Park.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenic Romanello
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, 2201 Speedway, Stop C3200, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
| | - Katharine E. T. Thompson
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, 101 Circle Rd, SBS Building S-501, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA (K.C.T.)
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, 410 Carpenter Building, University Park, State College, PA 16802, USA
- The Climate School, Columbia University, Milstein Building, 177 Fort Washington Ave, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Cortni Borgerson
- Department of Anthropology, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA;
- Madagascar Health and Environmental Research (MAHERY), Maroantsetra 512, Madagascar
| | | | | | | | | | - Claire Surkis
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, 101 Circle Rd, SBS Building S-501, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA (K.C.T.)
| | - Patricia C. Wright
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, 101 Circle Rd, SBS Building S-501, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA (K.C.T.)
- The Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences (IDPAS), 101 Circle Rd, SBS Building S-501, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Katheryn C. Twiss
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, 101 Circle Rd, SBS Building S-501, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA (K.C.T.)
| | - Rebecca J. Lewis
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, 2201 Speedway, Stop C3200, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
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Arbogast DM, Crews DE, McGraw WS, Ely JJ. Demography and epidemiology of captive former biomedical research chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) 1: Survival and mortality. Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23466. [PMID: 36737077 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Accurate and up-to-date data on longevity and mortality are essential for describing, analyzing, and managing animal populations in captivity. We assembled a comprehensive demography data set and analyzed survival and mortality patterns in a population of captive former biomedical research chimpanzees. The study synthesized over 51,000 life-years of demographic data collected on 2349 individuals between 1923 and 2014. Our goal was to assess the population's current age-sex composition, estimate rates of survivorship, mortality and life expectancy, and compare findings with other chimpanzee populations of interest. Results indicated an increasingly geriatric contemporary population declining in size. The median life expectancy (MLE) of the entire population was 32.6 years (males 29.1, females 36.1). For chimpanzees who reached 1 year of age, the MLE increased to 34.9 years (males 31.0, females 38.8). Survival probability was influenced by both sex and birth type. Females exhibited greater survivorship than males (β1 = -0.34, z = -5.74, p < 0.001) and wild-born individuals exhibited greater survivorship than captive-born individuals (β2 = -0.55, z = -5.89, p < 0.001). There was also a seasonal trend in mortality, wherein more individuals died during the winter months (December-February) compared with other seasons. Analyses of life expectancy over time showed continual increases in both median age of living individuals and median age at death, suggesting that these chimpanzees have yet to reach their full aging potential in a postresearch environment. As they continue to age, ongoing monitoring and analysis of demographic changes will be necessary for science-based population and program management until extinction occurs some decades in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew M Arbogast
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Douglas E Crews
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - W Scott McGraw
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - John J Ely
- Epidemiology Unit, MAEBIOS, Alamogordo, New Mexico
- Department of Anthropology, Center for Advanced Study in Human Paleoanthropology, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Zoo-Led Initiatives and Their Role in Lemur Conservation In Situ. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202772. [PMID: 36290157 PMCID: PMC9597742 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202772] [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: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined wider society's ability to achieve biodiversity conservation and management targets using lemurs as a case study. We evaluated the impact on lemur conservation in situ by conservation initiatives led by European zoos in Madagascar exploring the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria's Conservation Database projects in terms of performed actions and achieved goals as well as communication to the public. We found that zoo-led conservation initiatives may have a positive impact on the ground and tend to achieve most conservation goals related to wild lemurs. However, we suggest that such conservation programmes should underline that they target further lemur species beyond the flagship charismatic species and that enhanced communication efforts would be beneficial to further raise public awareness.
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12
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Fontani S, Kaburu SSK, Marliani G, Accorsi PA, Vaglio S. Anogenital scent-marking signals fertility in a captive female Alaotran gentle lemur. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:940707. [PMID: 35967991 PMCID: PMC9366254 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.940707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Lake Alaotra gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis) is one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world and shows low success rate in captive breeding programmes. It is therefore vital to further understand its reproductive biology. We studied a captive troop consisting of five individuals hosted at Jersey Zoo during breeding and non-breeding periods over 1 year. We collected behavioural data (n = 318 h) using all occurrence of some behaviours and ad libitum sampling methods, as well as faecal (n = 54) and anogenital scent (n = 35) samples of the breeding female. We measured sex hormone levels using enzyme immunoassay technique and investigated the volatile component of odour signals using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We observed sexual and aggressive behaviours occasionally during the breeding period. Our regression analysis showed that only period significantly predicted rates of female anogenital scent-marking, whereby the female performed anogenital scent-marking more frequently during the breeding rather than the non-breeding period. In contrast, female hormone levels did not significantly explain variation in rates of neither male nor female olfactory, sexual and affiliative behaviours, suggesting that individuals' behaviour alone is not an effective indicator of the ovulation window. The volatile chemical profile of anogenital odour secretions changed over the study, with four compounds distinguishing the fertile window during the breeding period. In conclusion, our findings suggest that anogenital scent-marking may signal the reproductive status of captive female gentle lemurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Fontani
- Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation Group, School of Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano S. K. Kaburu
- Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation Group, School of Medicine, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanna Marliani
- Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation Group, School of Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Universitá di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pier Attilio Accorsi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie, Universitá di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Vaglio
- Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation Group, School of Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
- Behavioural, Ecology and Evolution Research Centre, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Stefano Vaglio
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