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Granat FA, Trumel C, Braun JPD, Bourgès-Abella NH. Quality of hematology and clinical chemistry results in laboratory and zoo nonhuman primates: Effects of the preanalytical phase. A review. J Med Primatol 2023; 52:414-427. [PMID: 37612808 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12666] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Most errors in clinical pathology originate in the preanalytical phase, which includes all steps from the preparation of animals and equipment to the collection of the specimen and its management until analyzed. Blood is the most common specimen collected in nonhuman primates. Other specimens collected include urine, saliva, feces, and hair. The primary concern is the variability of blood hematology and biochemistry results due to sampling conditions with the effects of capture, restraint, and/or anesthesia. Housing and diet have fewer effects, with the exception of food restriction to reduce obesity. There has been less investigation regarding the impact of sampling conditions of nonblood specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny A Granat
- Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Inserm U1037, CNRS U5077, Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire central de biologie médicale, ENVT, Toulouse, France
| | - Catherine Trumel
- Laboratoire central de biologie médicale, ENVT, Toulouse, France
- CREFRE, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, ENVT, UPS, Toulouse, France
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2
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Beeby N, Baden AL, Higham JP. Urinary C-peptide and total triiodothyronine as energetic biomarkers for studies of lemurs. Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23563. [PMID: 37855395 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23563] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Measuring energy balance and energy metabolism can provide crucial information for understanding the ecological and behavioral drivers of an animal's energetic and physiological condition. Both urinary C-peptide (uCP) of insulin and urinary total triiodothyronine (uTT3) have been validated as noninvasive biomarkers of energy balance and metabolic activity in haplorrhine primates. This study attempts to validate uCP and uTT3 measures in strepsirrhines, a phylogenetically distinct primate clade, using the ruffed lemur (genus Varecia) as a model. We experimentally manipulated the diet of captive black-and-white (Varecia variegata) and red (Varecia rubra) ruffed lemurs at Duke Lemur Center across a 4-week period. We collected urine samples from subjects (n = 5) each day during 1 week of control diet, 2 weeks of calorie-restricted diet and 1 week of refeeding, designed to temporarily reduce energy balance and metabolism. We also tested the outcome of filter paper as a storage method by comparing to controls (frozen at -20°C) to assess its suitability for studies of wild populations. We successfully measured uCP and uTT3 levels in frozen urine samples using commercial enzyme immunoassay kits and found that both biomarkers were excreted at lower concentrations (C-peptide: 1.35 ng/mL, 54% reduction; TT3: 1.5 ng/mL, 37.5% reduction) during calorie-restricted periods compared to normal diet periods. Filter paper recovery for uCP was 19%, though values were significantly positively correlated with frozen control samples. uTT3 could not be recovered at measurable concentrations using filter paper. These methods enable noninvasive measurement of energetic conditions in wild strepsirrhines and subsequent assessment of relationships between energy balance and numerous socioecological drivers in primate populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Beeby
- Department of Anthropology, The Graduate Center of City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Hunter College of City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
- The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea L Baden
- Department of Anthropology, The Graduate Center of City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Hunter College of City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
- The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, New York, USA
| | - James P Higham
- The New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, New York, USA
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
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3
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Krief S, Spirhanzlova P, Masi S, Couturier C, Okwir E, Asalu E, Bustamante P, Costantini D. High urinary oxidative DNA damage in wild chimpanzees ranging in proximity of agricultural fields in Sebitoli area, Uganda. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:110600-110611. [PMID: 37792200 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30187-3] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Agriculture expansion is a major cause of habitat loss and exposure to phytochemical pollution for non-human primates. In addition to endocrine disruption, exposure to pesticides may have other sublethal physiological consequences for animals, such as generation of oxidative damage to macromolecules. In this study, we analyzed the pesticides contained in the river water across the home range of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in Sebitoli area located on the Northern part of Kibale National Park (Uganda). We tested whether levels of three urinary markers of oxidative damage vary among individuals in relation to their ranging patterns, as a proxy for pesticide exposure intensity. To better characterize the foraging habitat use, the trophic level, and the energetic status of study individuals, we also quantified urinary levels of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures and of C-peptide. Among the 511 pesticides screened, 18 compounds including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides were found in the water sampled in the Western part of the home range of chimpanzees. In this area, chimpanzees used to feed on maize crops. By contrast, in the Eastern part where crop feeding was never observed, we found only seven pesticides. According to their ranging patterns and thus crop feeding frequency, the 139 urine samples collected from 43 Sebitoli chimpanzees were categorized as belonging to low, medium, and high exposure level. Chimpanzees from the high exposure zone had higher oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG) than chimpanzees from both the low and medium exposure groups, who had similar levels of oxidative DNA damage. In addition, individuals with higher C-peptide tended to have significantly higher oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxides. The three exposure groups had similar levels of urinary 8-isoprostanes and of urinary lipid peroxides. These results were robust for any potential confounding effect of other variables because neither age category nor sex or isotope levels were significantly associated with markers of oxidative damage. Our study points to genotoxic effects as one potential sublethal consequence of ranging in proximity of agricultural fields owing to exposure to pesticides or other unidentified sources of stress. Given our phylogenetic proximity, this information is relevant for the conservation of this species which is endangered and also sentinel for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Krief
- UMR7206, Eco-Anthropologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle/CNRS/Paris, 17 Place du Trocadéro, Paris, France.
- Sebitoli Chimpanzee Project, Great Ape Conservation Project, Fort Portal, Uganda.
| | - Petra Spirhanzlova
- UMR7206, Eco-Anthropologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle/CNRS/Paris, 17 Place du Trocadéro, Paris, France
- Sebitoli Chimpanzee Project, Great Ape Conservation Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Shelly Masi
- UMR7206, Eco-Anthropologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle/CNRS/Paris, 17 Place du Trocadéro, Paris, France
| | - Chloé Couturier
- UMR7206, Eco-Anthropologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle/CNRS/Paris, 17 Place du Trocadéro, Paris, France
- Sebitoli Chimpanzee Project, Great Ape Conservation Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Eric Okwir
- Sebitoli Chimpanzee Project, Great Ape Conservation Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Edward Asalu
- Uganda Wildlife Authority, Plot, 7 Kira Rd, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement Et Sociétés (LIENS), UMR 7266, CNRS-Université La Rochelle, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - David Costantini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University, Largo Dell'Università S.N.C, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
- Unité Physiologie Moléculaire Et Adaptation, UMR 7221, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP3275005, Paris, France
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4
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Higham JP, Cooper EB, Whalen C, Stahl-Hennig C, Giavedoni LD, Heistermann M. Urinary cytokine measurements do not reflect surgery-induced inflammation in rhesus macaques. Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23506. [PMID: 37222418 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23506] [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: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Measurement of the health and disease status of free-ranging primates is often limited by a lack of available biomarkers of immune activation and inflammation that can be applied noninvasively via the measurement of urine or fecal samples. Here, we evaluate the potential usefulness of noninvasive urinary measurements of a number of cytokines, chemokines, and other markers of inflammation and infection. We took advantage of surgery-associated inflammation in seven captive rhesus macaques, collecting urine samples before and after the medical interventions. We measured these urine samples for 33 different markers of inflammation and immune activation that are known to be responsive to inflammation and infection in rhesus macaque blood samples, via the Luminex platform. We also measured all samples for concentrations of the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), which we had validated in a prior study as an effective biomarker of inflammation. Despite urine samples being collected in captivity under ideal conditions (clean, no contamination with feces or soil, frozen quickly), 13/33 biomarkers measured via Luminex were found at concentrations below detection limits in >50% of samples. Of the remaining 20 markers, only 2 showed significant increases in response to surgery-IL18 and MPO (myeloperoxidase). However, suPAR measurements of the same samples show a consistent marked increase in response to surgery that is absent from the patterns of IL18 and MPO measurement. Given that our samples were collected under conditions that are greatly preferable to those usually encountered in the field, urinary cytokine measurements via the Luminex platform seem overall unpromising for primate field studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Higham
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eve B Cooper
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Connor Whalen
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Luis D Giavedoni
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, Texas, San Antonio, USA
- Department of Biology, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Morgan A, Christensen C, Bracken AM, O'Riain MJ, King AJ, Fürtbauer I. Effects of accelerometry-derived physical activity energy expenditure on urinary C-peptide levels in a wild primate (Papio ursinus). Horm Behav 2023; 152:105355. [PMID: 37031555 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Animals have finite energy reserves for growth, survival, and reproduction and must maintain a stable energy balance. Measuring energy balance in the wild, however, is beset with methodological challenges. Quantification of urinary C-peptide (uCP), a proxy for insulin secretion, has enabled researchers to non-invasively estimate energy balance, and positive relationships between uCP levels and energy intake have been documented in numerous non-human primates. Comparatively few studies show that, consistent with insulin physiology, energy expenditure also alters levels of uCP. The timescale and extent of this relationship, however, remains unclear given the reliance on crude measures of activity and inferred energy expenditure. Here, for the first time, we test for effects of accelerometer-derived Vectorial Dynamic Body Acceleration (VeDBA) - a continuous measure of physical activity energy expenditure - on urinary C-peptide (uCP) levels in n = 12 wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus). Applying a model selection approach, we show that VeDBA summed over short timescales (30 min to 1 h) prior to urine collection was negatively associated with uCP levels. Using the acceleration-based time individuals spent 'non-stationary' (i.e. locomoting) prior to urine collection as a predictor - instead of summed VeDBA - revealed similar but less clear results. Overall, the negative relationship between VeDBA and uCP levels highlights the importance of quantifying physical activity energy expenditure when using uCP measures to estimate energy balance and has potential implications for the field of energetics accelerometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angharad Morgan
- Biosciences, School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, SA2 8PP Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Christensen
- Biosciences, School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, SA2 8PP Swansea, United Kingdom; Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anna M Bracken
- Biosciences, School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, SA2 8PP Swansea, United Kingdom; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - M Justin O'Riain
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Andrew J King
- Biosciences, School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, SA2 8PP Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Ines Fürtbauer
- Biosciences, School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, SA2 8PP Swansea, United Kingdom.
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6
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Urlacher SS, Kim EY, Luan T, Young LJ, Adjetey B. Minimally invasive biomarkers in human and non-human primate evolutionary biology: Tools for understanding variation and adaptation. Am J Hum Biol 2022; 34:e23811. [PMID: 36205445 PMCID: PMC9787651 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of minimally invasive biomarkers (MIBs - physiological biomarkers obtained from minimally invasive sample types) has expanded rapidly in science and medicine over the past several decades. The MIB approach is a methodological strength in the field of human and non-human primate evolutionary biology (HEB). Among humans and our closest relatives, MIBs provide unique opportunities to document phenotypic variation and to operationalize evolutionary hypotheses. AIMS This paper overviews the use of MIBs in HEB. Our objectives are to (1) highlight key research topics which successfully implement MIBs, (2) identify promising yet under-investigated areas of MIB application, and (3) discuss current challenges in MIB research, with suggestions for advancing the field. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS A range of MIBs are used to investigate focal topics in HEB, including energetics and life history variation/evolution, developmental plasticity, and social status and dominance relationships. Nonetheless, we identify gaps in existing MIB research on traits such as physical growth and gut function that are central to the field. Several challenges remain for HEB research using MIBs, including the need for additional biomarkers and methods of assessment, robust validations, and approaches that are standardized across labs and research groups. Importantly, researchers must provide better support for adaptation and fitness effects in hypothesis testing (e.g., by obtaining complementary measures of energy expenditure, demonstrating redundancy of function, and performing lifetime/longitudinal analyses). We point to continued progress in the use of MIBs in HEB to better understand the past, present, and future of humans and our closest primate relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel S. Urlacher
- Department of AnthropologyBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
- Human Evolutionary Biology and Health LabBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
- Child and Brain Development ProgramCIFARTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Elizabeth Y. Kim
- Human Evolutionary Biology and Health LabBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
- Department of BiologyBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
| | - Tiffany Luan
- Human Evolutionary Biology and Health LabBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
| | - Lauren J. Young
- Human Evolutionary Biology and Health LabBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
| | - Brian Adjetey
- Human Evolutionary Biology and Health LabBaylor UniversityWacoTexasUSA
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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 effect of reproductive state on activity budget, feeding behavior, and urinary C-peptide levels in wild female Assamese macaques. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03058-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The source of maternal energy supporting reproduction (i.e., stored or incoming) is an important factor determining different breeding strategies (capital, income or mixed) in female mammals. Key periods of energy storage and allocation might induce behavioral and physiological shifts in females, and investigating their distribution throughout reproduction helps in determining vulnerable phases shaping female reproductive success. Here, we examined the effects of reproductive state on activity budget, feeding behavior, and urinary C-peptide (uCP) levels, a physiological marker of energy balance, in 43 wild female Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis). Over a 13-month study period, we collected 96,266 instantaneous records of activity and 905 urine samples. We found that early lactating females and non-gestating–non-lactating females follow an energy-saving strategy consisting of resting more at the expense of feeding and consuming mostly fruits which contributed to enhancing their energy intake and feeding efficiency. We found an opposite pattern in gestating and late lactating females who feed more at the expense of resting and consume mostly seeds, providing a fiber-rich diet. Storing food into cheek pouches increased throughout gestation while it decreased all along with lactation. Lastly, we found the highest uCP levels during late gestation. Our results reflect different feeding adaptations in response to the energetic costs of reproduction and suggest a critical role of fat accumulation before conception and metabolizing fat during gestation and lactation. Overall, our study provides an integrative picture of the energetics of reproduction in a seasonal species and contributes to our understanding of the diversity of behavioral and physiological adaptations shaping female reproductive success.
Significance statement
To offset their substantial energetic investment in reproduction, mammalian females may modify their behavior and the way they extract energy from their environment. In addition, as a result of heightened energy expenditure, female reproduction might trigger physiological shifts. To date, most studies investigated the energetic costs of female reproduction using either a behavioral or a physiological approach. To arrive at a more comprehensive picture, we combined behavioral data with a physiological marker of energy balance, i.e., urinary C-peptide, in a seasonal primate species in its natural habitat. Our results indicate that throughout the reproductive cycle, behavioral and physiological adaptations operate concomitantly, inducing modifications in female activity budget, feeding behavior, and suggesting shifts in fat use. Overall, our results illustrate the relevance of combining data on behavior and hormones to investigate breeding strategies in coping with the energetic costs of reproduction.
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Sadoughi B, Girard-Buttoz C, Engelhardt A, Heistermann M, Ostner J. Non-invasive assessment of metabolic responses to food restriction using urinary triiodothyronine and cortisol measurement in macaques. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 306:113736. [PMID: 33610572 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Regulation of energy allocation and metabolic rate plays an important role in determining behavior and fitness in wild animals, calling for the validation of non-invasive markers of energetic condition. Recently, the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3) has emerged as a promising marker as concentrations decrease to lower the metabolic rate during energetically challenging periods. However, it remains largely unclear whether T3 merely represents an alternative or provides additional information compared to other compounds involved in the regulation of energy acquisition and allocation, like cortisol and C-peptide, as few joint measurements have been conducted to date in non-invasively collected samples. We aimed to validate the non-invasive measurement of immunoreactive urinary total T3 (uTT3), in comparison to urinary cortisol (uCort) and urinary C-peptide (uCP), as a marker of metabolic response to variation in food intake in macaques, and to address a number of issues regarding the collection, storage and processing of samples which are important for application of uTT3 measurements under field conditions. We used daily samples and body mass measures from a prior food restriction-refeeding experiment over 4 weeks with six captive macaques and analyzed concentrations of uTT3 and uCort in samples collected prior to (fasting) and after morning feeding (non-fasting). Concentrations of uTT3 decreased in response to restriction in food supply and were also lower during weeks of food restriction compared to weeks of refeeding. Variation in uTT3 also correlated positively with variation in body mass and concentrations of uCP. As expected, uCort showed the reverse pattern, increasing during food restriction and decreasing following refeeding, but was not associated with variation in body mass. Generally, compared to fasting samples, concentrations were higher in post-morning feeding, i.e. non-fasting, samples for uTT3 but not uCort. Contamination of urine samples with fecal matter, but not soil, and exposure to UV light led to a decrease in uTT3. uTT3 was largely unaffected by repeated freeze-thaw cycles and by refrigeration for medium-term storage (2 days) but degraded substantially when stored at ambient temperature for the same period. In conclusion, uTT3 measurements inform on the effect of food intake and its associated metabolic response to variation in energetic status. Since uTT3 is reasonably robust to many issues associated with collection and storage of urine samples under field conditions, it is a promising biomarker for studies of energetic condition and basal metabolic rate in wild macaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Sadoughi
- Department of Behavioral Ecology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany; Research Group Primate Social Evolution, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Cédric Girard-Buttoz
- Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Antje Engelhardt
- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julia Ostner
- Department of Behavioral Ecology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany; Research Group Primate Social Evolution, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
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10
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Higham JP, Kimock CM, Mandalaywala TM, Heistermann M, Cascio J, Petersdorf M, Winters S, Allen WL, Dubuc C. Female ornaments: is red skin color attractive to males and related to condition in rhesus macaques? Behav Ecol 2021; 32:236-247. [PMID: 33814977 PMCID: PMC7995641 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual selection produces extravagant male traits, such as colorful ornaments, via female mate choice. More rarely, in mating systems in which males allocate mating effort between multiple females, female ornaments may evolve via male mate choice. Females of many anthropoid primates exhibit ornaments that indicate intraindividual cyclical fertility, but which have also been proposed to function as interindividual quality signals. Rhesus macaque females are one such species, exhibiting cyclical facial color variation that indicates ovulatory status, but in which the function of interindividual variation is unknown. We collected digital images of the faces of 32 rhesus macaque adult females. We assessed mating rates, and consortship by males, according to female face coloration. We also assessed whether female coloration was linked to physical (skinfold fat, body mass index) or physiological (fecal glucocorticoid metabolite [fGCM], urinary C-peptide concentrations) condition. We found that redder-faced females were mated more frequently, and consorted for longer periods by top-ranked males. Redder females had higher fGCM concentrations, perhaps related to their increased mating activity and consequent energy mobilization, and blood flow. Prior analyses have shown that female facial redness is a heritable trait, and that redder-faced females have higher annual fecundity, while other evidence suggests that color expression is likely to be a signal rather than a cue. Collectively, the available evidence suggests that female coloration has evolved at least in part via male mate choice. Its evolution as a sexually selected ornament attractive to males is probably attributable to the high female reproductive synchrony found in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Higham
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Clare M Kimock
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tara M Mandalaywala
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 135 Hicks Way/Tobin Hall, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Research Center (DPZ), Kellnerweg, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julie Cascio
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Megan Petersdorf
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sandra Winters
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
| | - William L Allen
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Constance Dubuc
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
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11
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Sacco AJ, Granatosky MC, Laird MF, Milich KM. Validation of a method for quantifying urinary C-peptide in platyrrhine monkeys. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 300:113644. [PMID: 33045233 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Urinary C-peptide (UCP) is a biomarker for insulin that can be used as a non-invasive physiological measure of energy balance. Previous research has validated the use of UCP to quantify energy balance in catarrhines; however, there have been no such studies in platyrrhines. Validation is necessary in this lineage of primates as divergent evolution has resulted in varied organization of insulin genes. Here, we evaluate a method for quantifying UCP in platyrrhines to measure energetic expenditure, a key component of calculating energy balance. Urine samples were opportunistically collected from laboratory-housed tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella) during exercise activities. To examine the efficacy of using UCP as a means for assessing energetic condition, we analyzed urine samples collected before and after exercise. Urinary C-peptide concentrations were measured using a commercial C-peptide radioimmunoassay. We found that on average, UCP concentrations were 0.34 ng/mL lower after exercise than they were prior to exercise (range =0.04 to 0.71 ng/mL). The rateofenergy expenditureper unit time was greater when capuchins were exercising at faster speeds. Concordantly, UCP concentrations decreased more following exercise at those faster speeds. Parallelism of serial dilutions of samples was calculated to assess the precision of UCP concentrations produced using these methods. Measured UCP concentrations decreased at expected intervals in accordance with each dilution factor. Our results provide biological validation of the use of a commercial assay for quantifying UCP as a measure of energy expenditure in this platyrrhine species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Myra F Laird
- Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Krista M Milich
- Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
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12
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Better together? How intergroup associations affect energy balance and feeding behavior in wild bonobos. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02943-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
When the benefits of interacting with out-group members exceed the associated costs, social groups may be expected to be tolerant towards each other. However, in many species exhibiting intergroup tolerance, the nature of benefits gained from intergroup encounters remains unclear. We investigated the potential costs and benefits associated with intergroup associations in bonobos, a species with varying degrees of intergroup tolerance, by testing whether these associations conferred energetic benefits to participants under different socioecological contexts and whether the consequences of these associations substantially differed from within-group competition. We used measures of socioecological factors (fruit abundance and group size), feeding and ranging behaviors, and a physiological marker of energy balance (urinary c-peptide of insulin) collected over a 19-month period from two neighboring wild communities in the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo. We found that intergroup associations were not related to individuals’ energy balance, but they were related to variations in individuals’ ranging and feeding behavior. Specifically, bonobos traveled longer distances, visited larger fruit patches, and increased the time spent feeding on fruits on days they associated with the neighboring group. These adaptations in feeding behavior may be strategies to offset the energetic costs of increased travel distances. In the absence of obvious energetic benefits and with clear strategies employed to offset energetic costs, it is likely that intergroup associations in bonobos provide benefits unrelated to energy acquisition, such as social benefits. Our study sheds light on the potential incentives promoting social networks to extend beyond and across groups in a tolerant species.
Significance statement
Intergroup encounters can be energetically costly due to increased competition over resources. Yet, some species associate with out-group individuals for extended periods of time when the benefits of participating in these associations exceed the potential costs. Bonobos, a species exhibiting intergroup tolerance, modified their feeding behavior during intergroup associations by feeding on larger fruit patches and increasing their time spent feeding on fruits, likely to offset energetic costs of increased travel distances. As results, individuals’ energy balance was not related with intergroup associations. The employment of such strategies in addition to the absence of clear energetic benefits suggests that intergroup associations in bonobos provide social rather than ecological benefits.
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13
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Fürtbauer I, Christensen C, Bracken A, O'Riain MJ, Heistermann M, King AJ. Energetics at the urban edge: Environmental and individual predictors of urinary C-peptide levels in wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus). Horm Behav 2020; 126:104846. [PMID: 32860833 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
As human-modified landscapes encroach into natural habitats, wildlife face a reduction in natural food sources but also gain access to calorie-rich, human-derived foods. However, research into the energetics of wildlife living within and adjacent to urban and rural landscapes is lacking. C-peptide - a proxy for insulin production and a diagnostic tool for assessing pancreatic function in humans and domestic animals - can be quantified non-invasively from urine (uCP) and may provide a way to investigate the energetic correlates of living in human-altered landscapes. UCP is increasingly used in studies of primate energetics, and here we examine predictors of variation in uCP levels in n = 17 wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) living at the urban edge on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. We find that uCP was positively associated with food provisioning and negatively with night fasting. UCP levels were comparable between winter and summer but significantly lower during spring, possibly driven by consumption of energy-rich seeds during summer and more human-derived foods during winter. UCP was elevated in pregnant females and similar for lactating and cycling females. We find no effect of dominance rank on uCP. Samples collected with synthetic Salivettes had significantly lower uCP levels than directly pipetted samples. Overall, our results indicate that uCP is a reliable, non-invasive measure of energy balance and intake in baboons, and suggest potential energetic benefits of living at the urban edge. More broadly, studies of uCP may offer unique insight into the environmental control of hormone-behaviour relationships in species crossing natural and urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Fürtbauer
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, SA2 8PP Swansea, UK; Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
| | - Charlotte Christensen
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, SA2 8PP Swansea, UK; Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Anna Bracken
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, SA2 8PP Swansea, UK; Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - M Justin O'Riain
- Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | | | - Andrew J King
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, SA2 8PP Swansea, UK; Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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14
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Thompson NA, Higham JP, Heistermann M, Vogel E, Cords M. Energy balance but not competitive environment corresponds with allostatic load during development in an Old World monkey. Horm Behav 2020; 119:104664. [PMID: 31899261 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Primates develop slowly relative to their body size, a pattern posited to result from ecological risk aversion. Little is known, however, about how energy balance contributes to allostatic load in juveniles. Using data collected over 8 consecutive months, we examined variation in energy balance (as measured by urinary C-peptide) and how energy balance, life history status, and social competition related to allostatic load (as measured by deviation from baseline fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, dfGCs) in 41 wild juvenile blue monkeys from 3 social groups. Juvenile energy balance was higher among females, older juveniles, when ripe fruit was more available, and when rainfall was lower. Energy balance, but not life history or competitive environments, predicted dfGC concentrations, such that juveniles generally had lower mean dfGCs when they had higher energy balance. An additional exploratory analysis of how dfGCs relate to social strategies revealed that subjects had lower dfGCs when they groomed less, and played more. Time spent grooming interacted with energy balance in predicting dfGC concentrations, so that individuals that groomed more actually had higher dfGCs when they had higher energy balance. Together these results reveal that energetic deficiencies are a true ecological risk factor in blue monkeys, and suggest that navigating the social environment via overt affiliative behavior is potentially both a stress-relieving and stress-inducing endeavor during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A Thompson
- Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, United States of America; New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, United States of America.
| | - James P Higham
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, United States of America; New York University, Department of Anthropology, United States of America
| | | | - Erin Vogel
- Rutgers University, Department of Anthropology, United States of America
| | - Marina Cords
- Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, United States of America; New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, United States of America
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15
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Sacco AJ, Mayhew JA, Watsa M, Erkenswick G, Binder AK. Detection of neopterin in the urine of captive and wild platyrrhines. BMC ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s40850-020-00051-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Non-invasive biomarkers can facilitate health assessments in wild primate populations by reducing the need for direct access to animals. Neopterin is a biomarker that is a product of the cell-mediated immune response, with high levels being indicative of poor survival expectations in some cases. The measurement of urinary neopterin concentration (UNC) has been validated as a method for monitoring cell-mediated immune system activation in multiple catarrhine species, but to date there is no study testing its utility in the urine of platyrrhine species. In this study, we collected urine samples across three platyrrhine families including small captive populations of Leontopithecus rosalia and Pithecia pithecia, and larger wild populations of Leontocebus weddelli, Saguinus imperator, Alouatta seniculus, and Plecturocebus toppini, to evaluate a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of urinary neopterin in platyrrhines.
Results
Our results revealed measured UNC fell within the sensitivity range of the assay in all urine samples collected from captive and wild platyrrhine study species via commercial ELISA, and results from several dilutions met expectations. We found significant differences in the mean UNC across all study species. Most notably, we observed higher UNC in the wild population of L. weddelli which is known to have two filarial nematode infections compared to S. imperator, which only have one.
Conclusion
Our study confirms that neopterin is measurable via commercial ELISA in urine collected from captive and wild individuals of six genera of platyrrhines across three different families. These findings promote the future utility of UNC as a promising biomarker for field primatologists conducting research in Latin America to non-invasively evaluate cell-mediated immune system activation from urine.
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16
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Kurihara Y, Kinoshita K, Shiroishi I, Hanya G. Seasonal variation in energy balance of wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fucata yakui) in a warm-temperate forest: a preliminary assessment in the coastal forest of Yakushima. Primates 2020; 61:427-442. [PMID: 32048082 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-020-00797-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Food scarcity is a major challenge for primates living in temperate forests, where food availability varies markedly among seasons. In Japanese macaques, which are exclusively distributed in temperate zones, the fat accumulation ability has been highlighted as an adaptation for survival during the lean season and for reproductive success. However, the knowledge of energetic strategies of Japanese macaques has been mainly derived from data on cool-temperate forests, where fallback foods comprise winter buds and bark. Data on Japanese macaques in warm-temperate forests where fallback foods comprise mature leaves are still lacking. We aimed to identify seasonal variations in energy balance and the relative importance of ingestion rates (dry matter intake per feeding time), energy content of the food, and feeding time in energy intake of Japanese macaques in the coastal forest of Yakushima. We estimated energy balance of 6-12 adult females from October 2012 to October 2013. We estimated energy intake based on the data on feeding behavior and energy content of the diet and calculated energy expenditure based on the previously established relationship between body mass and total energy expenditure. We also quantified urinary C-peptide, which is a non-invasive biomarker of energetic conditions. We demonstrated that energy balance was more positive in the fruit/seed-feeding period than in the mature-leaf-feeding and fruit/fungi-feeding periods and that ingestion rates were the most important component of energy intake. The present study suggests that the fat accumulation ability is an essential adaptation in Japanese macaques even in warm-temperate forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Kurihara
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin 41-2, Inuyama, Aichi, 484-8506, Japan. .,Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Nishifujidaira 1623-1, Tenryu, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, 431-3532, Japan.
| | | | - Izumi Shiroishi
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin 41-2, Inuyama, Aichi, 484-8506, Japan
| | - Goro Hanya
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin 41-2, Inuyama, Aichi, 484-8506, Japan
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17
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Higham JP, Stahl-Hennig C, Heistermann M. Urinary suPAR: a non-invasive biomarker of infection and tissue inflammation for use in studies of large free-ranging mammals. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191825. [PMID: 32257339 PMCID: PMC7062102 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Studies of large free-ranging mammals incorporating physiological measurements typically require the collection of urine or faecal samples, due to ethical and practical concerns over trapping or darting animals. However, there is a dearth of validated biomarkers of immune activation and inflammation that can be measured non-invasively. We here evaluate the utility of urinary measurements of the soluble form of the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), for use as a health marker in studies of wild large mammals. We investigate how urinary suPAR concentrations change in response to viral infection and surgical trauma (inflammation), comparing it to the measurement of a marker of cellular immune activation, urinary neopterin (uNEO), in captive rhesus macaques. We then test the field utility of urinary suPAR, assessing the effects of soil and faecal contamination, sunlight, storage at different temperatures, freeze-thaw cycles, and lyophilization. We find that suPAR concentrations rise markedly in response to both infection and surgery-associated inflammation, unlike uNEO concentrations, which only rise in response to the former. Our field validation demonstrates that urinary suPAR is reasonably robust to many of the issues associated with field collection, sample processing, and storage, as long as samples can be stored in a freezer. Urinary suPAR is thus a promising biomarker applicable for monitoring various aspects of health in wild primates and potentially also other large mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. Higham
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, 25 Waverly Place, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Christiane Stahl-Hennig
- Unit of Infection Models, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, Göttingen 37077, Germany
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18
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Thompson NA, Higham JP, Heistermann M, Vogel E, Cords M. Energy balance but not competitive environment corresponds with allostatic load during development in an Old World monkey. Horm Behav 2019; 108:30-41. [PMID: 30597140 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Primates develop slowly relative to their body size, a pattern posited to result from ecological risk aversion. Little is known, however, about how energy balance contributes to allostatic load in juveniles. Using data collected over 8 consecutive months, we examined variation in energy balance (as measured by urinary C-peptide) and how energy balance, life history status, and social competition related to allostatic load (as measured by deviation from baseline fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, dfGCs) in 41 wild juvenile blue monkeys from 3 social groups. Juvenile energy balance was higher among females, when ripe fruit was more available, and when rainfall was lower. Energy balance, but not life history or competitive environments, predicted dfGC concentrations, such that juveniles generally had lower mean dfGCs when they had higher energy balance. An additional exploratory analysis of how dfGCs relate to social strategies revealed that subjects had lower dfGCs when they groomed less, and played more. Time spent grooming interacted with energy balance in predicting dfGC concentrations, so that individuals that groomed more actually had higher dfGCs when they had higher energy balance. Together these results reveal that energetic deficiencies are a true ecological risk factor in blue monkeys, and suggest that navigating the social environment via overt affiliative behavior is potentially both a stress-relieving and stress-inducing endeavor during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A Thompson
- Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, United States of America; New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, United States of America.
| | - James P Higham
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, United States of America; New York University, Department of Anthropology, United States of America
| | | | - Erin Vogel
- Rutgers University, Department of Anthropology, United States of America
| | - Marina Cords
- Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, United States of America; New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, United States of America
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19
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Müller-Klein N, Heistermann M, Strube C, Morbach ZM, Lilie N, Franz M, Schülke O, Ostner J. Physiological and social consequences of gastrointestinal nematode infection in a nonhuman primate. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Müller-Klein
- Department for Behavioral Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Centre, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Zina M Morbach
- Department for Behavioral Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Roehampton, Parkstead House, Whitelands, London, UK
| | - Navina Lilie
- Department for Behavioral Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department for Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Mathias Franz
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Schülke
- Department for Behavioral Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Primate Social Evolution, German Primate Centre, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julia Ostner
- Department for Behavioral Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Primate Social Evolution, German Primate Centre, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
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20
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Nurmi NO, Hohmann G, Goldstone LG, Deschner T, Schülke O. The “tolerant chimpanzee”—towards the costs and benefits of sociality in female bonobos. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Niina O Nurmi
- Department of Behavioral Ecology, JFB Institute for Zoology/Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany
| | - Gottfried Hohmann
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany
| | - Lucas G Goldstone
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilians University, Germany
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany
| | - Oliver Schülke
- Department of Behavioral Ecology, JFB Institute for Zoology/Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Germany
- Research Group Social Evolution in Primates, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
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21
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The costs of living at the edge: Seasonal stress in wild savanna-dwelling chimpanzees. J Hum Evol 2018; 121:1-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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22
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Charpentier MJE, Givalois L, Faurie C, Soghessa O, Simon F, Kappeler PM. Seasonal glucocorticoid production correlates with a suite of small-magnitude environmental, demographic, and physiological effects in mandrills. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2017; 165:20-33. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - L. Givalois
- MMDN Lab - U1198, INSERM, University of Montpellier, EPHE; Montpellier France
| | - C. Faurie
- ISEM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE; Montpellier France
| | | | - F. Simon
- Faculté de Médecine Paris -Diderot; Service de microbiologie CHU Saint Louis; France
| | - P. M. Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit; German Primate Center; Gottingen Germany
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23
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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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24
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Müller N, Heistermann M, Strube C, Schülke O, Ostner J. Age, but not anthelmintic treatment, is associated with urinary neopterin levels in semi-free ranging Barbary macaques. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41973. [PMID: 28155915 PMCID: PMC5290464 DOI: 10.1038/srep41973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying host parasite interactions and their implications for evolution and ecology recently received increasing attention, particularly with regard to host physiology and immunity. Here we assess variation of urinary neopterin (uNEO), a marker of cellular immune activation and iummunosenescence, in response to age and anthelmintic treatment in semi-free ranging Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus). Urinary NEO levels were measured via enzyme-immunoassay from 179 urine samples of 43 individuals between 5–29 years of age. Efficiency of treatment was assessed by Mc Master flotation on repeated faecal samples, including 18 untreated individuals as control group. We used linear mixed models with age and parasite status as main effects, controlling for sex and physical condition, assessed through urinary C-Peptide-levels, with social group and ID as random factors. Urinary NEO levels significantly increased with age, suggesting that changes in aging Barbary macaque immune responses are consistent with immunosenescence described in human and nonhuman primates and can be detected via uNEO measurements. Anthelmintic treatment, however, had no influence on uNEO levels, potentially due to quick reinfections or attenuated immune responses in repeated infections. We conclude that uNEO is a potential non-invasive marker for immune function and particularly immunosenescence in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Müller
- Department of Behavioral Ecology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Centre, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Oliver Schülke
- Department of Behavioral Ecology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Research Group Primate Social Evolution, German Primate Centre, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julia Ostner
- Department of Behavioral Ecology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Research Group Primate Social Evolution, German Primate Centre, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
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25
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Heistermann M, Higham JP. Urinary neopterin, a non-invasive marker of mammalian cellular immune activation, is highly stable under field conditions. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16308. [PMID: 26549509 PMCID: PMC4637859 DOI: 10.1038/srep16308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying immunity and immune function in ecology and evolution requires field studies, but there has been a dearth of non-invasive markers of immune activation available for studying large wild mammals. Recently, we analytically and biologically validated the measurement of urinary neopterin (NEO), a biomarker of cellular immune activation, in captive macaques. However, applying this to free-ranging settings is complicated by issues involving sample collection, processing, storage, and transport. Here, we collected urine samples from captive macaques and undertook experiments simulating common field issues. We tested the effects on urinary NEO sample measurements following: dirt and faecal contamination; storage at room temperature; differences in processing and long-term storage methods (freezing, lyophilising, blotting onto filter paper); and freeze-thaw cycles. Our results show that concentrations of urinary NEO are highly stable--they are not affected by soil or faecal contamination, can be collected on filter paper and stored for many months frozen or lyophilised with minimal effect, and are resistant to multiple 24 hr freeze-thaws. With the addition of a biocidal preservative, concentrations are even stable at room temperature for long periods. Urinary NEO is remarkably resilient, and is highly suitable for non-invasive field studies of cellular immune responses in wild large mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Centre, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Goettingen, Germany
| | - James P. Higham
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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Danish LM, Heistermann M, Agil M, Engelhardt A. Validation of a Novel Collection Device for Non-Invasive Urine Sampling from Free-Ranging Animals. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142051. [PMID: 26536024 PMCID: PMC4633224 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in non-invasively collected samples have opened up new and exciting opportunities for wildlife research. Different types of samples, however, involve different limitations and certain physiological markers (e.g., C-peptide, oxytocin) can only be reliably measured from urine. Common collection methods for urine to date work best for arboreal animals and large volumes of urine. Sufficient recovery of urine is thus still difficult for wildlife biologists, particularly for terrestrial and small bodied animals. We tested three collection devices (two commercially available saliva swabs, Salivette synthetic and cotton, and cotton First aid swabs) against a control to permit the collection of small volumes of urine from the ground. We collected urine samples from captive and wild macaques, and humans, measured volume recovery, and analyzed concentrates of selected physiological markers (creatinine, C-peptide, and neopterin). The Salivette synthetic device was superior to the two alternative devices. Concentrations of creatinine, absolute C-peptide, C-peptide per creatinine, absolute neopterin, and neopterin per creatinine measured in samples collected with this device did not differ significantly from the control and were also strongly correlated to it. Fluid recovery was also best for this device. The least suitable device is the First aid collection device; we found that while absolute C-peptide and C-peptide per creatinine concentrations did not differ significantly from the control, creatinine concentrations were significantly lower than the control. In addition, these concentrations were either not or weakly correlated to the control. The Salivette cotton device provided intermediate results, although these concentrations were strongly correlated to the control. Salivette synthetic swabs seem to be useful devices for the collection of small amounts of urine from the ground destined for the assessment of physiological parameters. They thus provide new opportunities for field studies to incorporate physiological markers, particularly on smaller bodied and terrestrial animals and where urine collection is difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Michelle Danish
- German Primate Center, Junior Research Group Sexual Selection, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Muhammad Agil
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Antje Engelhardt
- German Primate Center, Junior Research Group Sexual Selection, Göttingen, Germany
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Kappeler PM, Fichtel C. Eco-evo-devo of the lemur syndrome: did adaptive behavioral plasticity get canalized in a large primate radiation? Front Zool 2015; 12 Suppl 1:S15. [PMID: 26816515 PMCID: PMC4722368 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-12-s1-s15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comprehensive explanations of behavioral adaptations rarely invoke all levels famously admonished by Niko Tinbergen. The role of developmental processes and plasticity, in particular, has often been neglected. In this paper, we combine ecological, physiological and developmental perspectives in developing a hypothesis to account for the evolution of 'the lemur syndrome', a combination of reduced sexual dimorphism, even adult sex ratios, female dominance and mild genital masculinization characterizing group-living species in two families of Malagasy primates. RESULTS We review the different components of the lemur syndrome and compare it with similar adaptations reported for other mammals. We find support for the assertion that the lemur syndrome represents a unique set of integrated behavioral, demographic and morphological traits. We combine existing hypotheses about underlying adaptive function and proximate causation by adding a potential developmental mechanism linking maternal stress and filial masculinization, and outline an evolutionary scenario for its canalization. CONCLUSIONS We propose a new hypothesis linking ecological, physiological, developmental and evolutionary processes to adumbrate a comprehensive explanation for the evolution of the lemur syndrome, whose assumptions and predictions can guide diverse future research on lemurs. This hypothesis should also encourage students of other behavioral phenomena to consider the potential role of developmental plasticity in evolutionary innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Fichtel
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Higham JP, Kraus C, Stahl-Hennig C, Engelhardt A, Fuchs D, Heistermann M. Evaluating noninvasive markers of nonhuman primate immune activation and inflammation. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2015; 158:673-84. [PMID: 26250063 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Health, disease, and immune function are key areas of research in studies of ecology and evolution, but work on free-ranging primates has been inhibited by a lack of direct noninvasive measures of condition. Here, we evaluate the potential usefulness of noninvasive measurement of three biomarkers, the acute-phase proteins C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin, and neopterin, a by-product of macrophage activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS We took advantage of veterinary checks on captive rhesus (24) and long-tailed (3) macaques at the German Primate Center (DPZ) to analyze serum marker measures, before measuring concentrations in feces and urine, and evaluating relationships between matched serum, urine, and fecal concentrations. In a second study, we monitored excretion of these markers in response to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection and surgical tissue trauma, undertaken for a separate study. RESULTS We found that each biomarker could be measured in each matrix. Serum and urinary concentrations of neopterin were strongly and significantly correlated, but neither haptoglobin nor CRP concentrations in excreta proxied circulating serum concentrations. Our infection study confirmed that urinary neopterin, in particular, is a reliable marker of viral infection in macaques, but also indicated the potential of urinary and fecal CRP and haptoglobin as indicators of inflammation. DISCUSSION We highlight the potential of noninvasive markers of immune function, especially of urinary neopterin, which correlates strongly with serum neopterin, and is highly responsive to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Higham
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, 25 Waverly Place, New York, NY, 10003.,Jr Research Group "Sexual Selection", German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Cornelia Kraus
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | | | - Antje Engelhardt
- Jr Research Group "Sexual Selection", German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Dietmar Fuchs
- Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter Innsbruck Medical University, Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Innrain 80, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
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Surbeck M, Deschner T, Behringer V, Hohmann G. Urinary C-peptide levels in male bonobos (Pan paniscus) are related to party size and rank but not to mate competition. Horm Behav 2015; 71:22-30. [PMID: 25870021 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Revised: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Within- and between-species variation in male mating strategies has been attributed to a multitude of factors including male competitive ability and the distribution of fertile females across space and time. Differences in energy balance across and within males allow for the identification of some of the trade-offs associated with certain social and mating strategies. Bonobos live in groups with a high degree of fission-fusion dynamics, there is co-dominance between the sexes and a linear dominance hierarchy among males. Males compete over access to females, breeding is aseasonal, and females exhibit sexual swellings over extended time periods. In this study we use urinary C-peptide (UCP) levels in male bonobos (Pan paniscus) obtained from 260 urine samples from a wild bonobo community, to quantify male energy balance during mate competition and levels of gregariousness in the species. Although high ranking males are more aggressive, spend more time in proximity to maximally tumescent females, and have higher mating frequencies, we found no indication that mate guarding or mate competition affected male energy balance. Our results showed a positive correlation between monthly mean UCP levels and mean party size. When traveling in large parties, high ranking males had higher UCP levels than those of the low ranking males. These results support the hypothesis that patterns of fission-fusion dynamics in bonobos are either linked to energy availability in the environment or to the energetic costs of foraging. The finding of a rank-bias in UCP levels in larger parties could also reflect an increase in contest competition among males over access to food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Surbeck
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Verena Behringer
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gottfried Hohmann
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Higham JP, Maestripieri D. The Costs of Reproductive Success in Male Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta) on Cayo Santiago. INT J PRIMATOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-014-9789-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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31
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Girard-Buttoz C, Heistermann M, Rahmi E, Agil M, Fauzan PA, Engelhardt A. Costs of and Investment in Mate-Guarding in Wild Long-Tailed Macaques ( Macaca fascicularis): Influences of Female Characteristics and Male-Female Social Bonds. INT J PRIMATOL 2014; 35:701-724. [PMID: 25152554 PMCID: PMC4129240 DOI: 10.1007/s10764-014-9775-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Male primates living in multimale groups tend to direct mate and mate-guarding choices toward females of high reproductive value, i.e., high-ranking, parous females, or females with which they share strong bonds. Little is known, however, about the constraints that may limit male mate-guarding choices (the costs of this behavior) and the influence of the females’ quality on male investment in mate-guarding. We aimed to study the effects of female rank, parity status, and male–female social bond strength on the costs of and investment in mate-guarding by males. We carried out our study during two reproductive seasons on three groups of wild long-tailed macaques in Indonesia. We combined behavioral observations on male locomotion and activity with noninvasive measurements of fecal glucocorticoids (fGC). Males spent less time feeding when mate-guarding nulliparous females than when mate-guarding parous females and tended to have higher fGC levels when mate-guarding low-ranking nulliparous females than when mate-guarding high-ranking nulliparous ones. Evolution should thus favor male choice for high-ranking parous females because such a decision brings benefits at proximate (reduced costs of mate-guarding) and ultimate (higher reproductive value) levels. Further, male investment in mate-guarding was flexible and contingent on female reproductive and social value. Males were more vigilant and more aggressive toward other males when mate-guarding females to which they were strongly bonded and/or high-ranking ones than when mate-guarding other females. Our findings bring a new dimension to the study of mate choice by showing that males not only mate preferentially with high-quality females but may also aim to secure paternity with these females through optimized monopolization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Girard-Buttoz
- Jr. Research Group Primate Sexual Selection, German Primate Centre, 37077 Göttingen, Germany ; Courant Research Centre Evolution of Social Behaviour, Georg-August University, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Erdiansyah Rahmi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad Agil
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Panji Ahmad Fauzan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Antje Engelhardt
- Jr. Research Group Primate Sexual Selection, German Primate Centre, 37077 Göttingen, Germany ; Courant Research Centre Evolution of Social Behaviour, Georg-August University, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Girard-Buttoz C, Heistermann M, Rahmi E, Marzec A, Agil M, Fauzan PA, Engelhardt A. Mate-guarding constrains feeding activity but not energetic status of wild male long-tailed macaques ( Macaca fascicularis). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2014; 68:583-595. [PMID: 24659851 PMCID: PMC3950606 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-013-1673-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Mate-guarding is an important determinant of male reproductive success in a number of species. Little is known however about the constraints of this behaviour, e.g. the associated energetic costs. We investigated these costs in long-tailed macaques where alpha males mate guard females to a lesser extent than predicted by the priority of access model. The study was carried out during two mating periods on three wild groups living in the Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia. We combined behavioural observations on males’ locomotion and feeding activity, GPS records of distance travelled and non-invasive measurements of urinary C-peptide (UCP), a physiological indicator of male energetic status. Mate-guarding led to a decrease in feeding time and fruit consumption suggesting a reduced intake of energy. At the same time, vertical locomotion was reduced, which potentially saved energy. These findings, together with the fact that we did not find an effect of mate-guarding on UCP levels, suggest that energy intake and expenditure was balanced during mate-guarding in our study males. Mate-guarding thus seems to not be energetically costly under all circumstances. Given that in strictly seasonal rhesus macaques, high-ranking males lose physical condition over the mating period, we hypothesise that the energetic costs of mate-guarding vary inter-specifically depending on the degree of seasonality and that males of non-strictly seasonal species might be better adapted to maintain balanced energetic condition year-round. Finally, our results illustrate the importance of combining behavioural assessments of both energy intake and expenditure with physiological measures when investigating energetic costs of behavioural strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Girard-Buttoz
- Jr. Research Group Primate Sexual Selection, Reproductive Biology Unit, German Primate Centre, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Courant Research Centre Evolution of Social Behaviour, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, Germany
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Centre, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Erdiansyah Rahmi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
| | - Anna Marzec
- Jr. Research Group Primate Sexual Selection, Reproductive Biology Unit, German Primate Centre, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Muhammad Agil
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Panji Ahmad Fauzan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Antje Engelhardt
- Jr. Research Group Primate Sexual Selection, Reproductive Biology Unit, German Primate Centre, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Courant Research Centre Evolution of Social Behaviour, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, Germany
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Marshall HH, Carter AJ, Rowcliffe JM, Cowlishaw G. Linking social foraging behaviour with individual time budgets and emergent group-level phenomena. Anim Behav 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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