2022 - Reactions to Human Presence by Primates at La Selva Research Station (Alouatta palliata, Ateles geoffroyi, and Cebus capucinus) - Poster Presentation

Cassidy Potter; Chadwick Smith; Melissa Seaboch

2022

Primates
monkeys
Animal behavior
Census
Interpersonal relations
student projects
social anthropology
Anthropology

Although closely related, primates and humans do not often interact. This lack of interaction has led to researchers facing limitations in collecting data due to an inability to detect primates before they flee or hide. Habituation is when wild animals become comfortable with human interaction and presence; this can be useful to researchers in allowing them to observe wild animals in closer proximity. Although a useful tool for researchers, habituation can lead to wild animals becoming vulnerable; poachers have easier targets and humans can introduce new diseases. Though the primates at La Selva have not been purposefully habituated, they do have constant contact with humans due to the large amounts of human interaction caused by the researchers who frequent the station. This study will be conducted in May 2022 and will research the effects of human presence on Alouatta palliata, Ateles geoffroyi, and Cebus capucinus. I predict that human presence will have little to no effect on these species. La Selva research hub is a hotspot for researchers and is home to three species of primates: Howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), Spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), and Capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus). I will be doing a census, walking at a speed of 1 km/hr across the 61 km of paved and dirt trails, which are all marked every 50 m. During my census, I will be recording primate and human locations (trail name and nearest marker). Proximity to human-dense areas such as the research station and commonly used trails will be calculated using a La Selva trail map. When primates are located, the census will be paused to collect data on displaying, feeding, locomotion (including whether they are fleeing or approaching), grooming, resting, and vocalizing. A comparison between the abundance of primates found near human-dense areas and more remote areas will be made.

Digitized by: Salt Lake Community College

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