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2022 - Interactions of Alouatta palliata and Co-Existing Species at La Selva Biological Station - Poster Presentation
Title
2022 - Interactions of Alouatta palliata and Co-Existing Species at La Selva Biological Station - Poster Presentation
Description
Social grouping is rare among most mammals but is extremely routine within primates. With the increase in group living comes the increase in intraspecific foraging competition. However, niche divergence, or the differences in food selection and habitat use, may help mitigate this competition. Interactions between species are a major force in structuring ecological communities because they affect speciation, survival, and phenotypic divergence. In several studies of Alouatta seniculus, found in the Amazon, it was revealed they were absent from many sites compared to Ateles and Lagothrix species, suggesting that Ateles and Lagothrix shared common habitat use in certain sites found in the Amazon where Alouatta seniculus was absent. Because the number of Alouatta differs depending on their habitat location, understanding the coexistence of Alouatta and surrounding primates species is of the utmost importance because of how it affects the surrounding ecosystem. One of the coexisting primates at La Selva, Cebus capuchinus, tends to reside within the middle strata, using the upper canopies for travel, while Alouatta palliata tend to stay within the middle and upper canopies. Because of this slight overlap, I hypothesize both have interactions with one another. Whether those interactions are affiliative or aggressive will be recorded. I will record species, the proximity to the nearest neighbor, sex, and age. This study will be conducted at La Selva Research Station in May of 2022.
Subjects
Primates, monkeys, Animal behavior, Interpersonal relations, ecosystems, ecology, social anthropology
Local Identifiers
22-0154
2022 - Alloparenting in Howler Monkeys (Aloutta palliata) in Costa Rica - Poster Presentation
Title
2022 - Alloparenting in Howler Monkeys (Aloutta palliata) in Costa Rica - Poster Presentation
Description
Alloparenting, defined as care provided by individuals other than parents, is a universal behavior among humans that has shaped our evolutionary history and remains important in contemporary society. Human alloparenting takes place in the context of cooperative breeding, wherein individuals live in groups and coordinate their efforts to feed, care for, and protect young to which they themselves did not give birth. Alloparenting has a positive correlation with infant development. Although rare in primates, mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta Palliata) live in social groups where adults engage in alloparenting. Several females can help to look after a single baby, carrying it and grooming it. Young males are often not allowed to alloparent because they can sometimes harm the infants. Mother-infant interactions in A. palliata, such as infant riding, pushing away, sharing food, nursing, and eating on their own, have been observed. In social contexts where mothers interact with physical contact, it provides emotional confidence for both mother and infant, and induces a sense of individual agency. Whether alloparenting occurs in A. Palliata at La Selva Research Station is unknown. This research will investigate alloparenting at this site. I hypothesize that mother A. Palliata will let other group members interact with their infants. This study will take place at La Selva Research Station in May of 2022. La Selva Research Station is in the Caribbean foothills of Costa Rica. It consists of old growth and new growth tropical wet forests. It is home to A. Palliata which are large and stocky with black fur, and most individuals have long, yellow, or brown fur. Adult females typically weigh 4 to 5 kg, and newborn infants weigh 0.4 kg and appear silver to golden brown. The average number of offspring is one, and the average gestation period is 186 days. Data will be collected daily using 1-minute instantaneous scan sampling. I will record the interactions between mother and infant, male and infant, and non-mother female infant, in grooming, carrying, sharing food, and resting, as well as infant solitary behavior. This data will be examined in the presence of alloparenting.
Subjects
Primates, monkeys, Animal behavior, groups of animals, parents, Families, zoology, social anthropology
Local Identifiers
22-0156
2022 - Reactions to Human Presence by Primates at La Selva Research Station (Alouatta palliata, Ateles geoffroyi, and Cebus capucinus) - Poster Presentation
Title
2022 - Reactions to Human Presence by Primates at La Selva Research Station (Alouatta palliata, Ateles geoffroyi, and Cebus capucinus) - Poster Presentation
Description
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.
Subjects
Primates, monkeys, Animal behavior, Census, Interpersonal relations, student projects, social anthropology, Anthropology
Local Identifiers
22-0148
2022 - Affiliation and Aggression in Primate Groups - Poster Presentation
Title
2022 - Affiliation and Aggression in Primate Groups - Poster Presentation
Description
Interactions between species are thought to be one of the largest factors of natural selection. Prior research has shown that primate species are constantly interacting, and that these interactions are not always peaceful or playful. Studies from La Suerte Biological Station have shown that howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) and spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) displace each other in order to get to the food resources. Other times, the two species are seen playing with each other. Alouatta palliata appear to be tolerant of other resident males but aggressive towards nonresident males. Ateles geoffroyi have been known to use fission-fusion dynamics which decrease competition and aggression. Whether these patterns of interactions are also found at La Selva Research Station is unknown. This study will examine the interactions within species and between species of Alouatta palliata and Ateles geoffroyi. I predict that interactions within Alouatta palliata groups will be more affiliative compared to interactions with Ateles geoffroyi groups. This research will take place at La Selva Research Station in May 2022. La Selva Research Station is located in the lowlands of the Caribbean in Costa Rica and is surrounded by the Sarapiqui and Puerto Viejo Rivers totaling about 103.89 km. Due to the high amount of rainfall, La Selva Research Station is covered with tropical pre-montane wet forest, which is more commonly known as rainforest. La Selva Research Station is home to Alouatta palliata, Ateles geoffroyi, and Cebus imitator. La Selva Research Station also has an expansive number of trails totaling in 50 km. Alouatta palliata are recognized by dark brown/black coloring with a lighter color along their sides and back. Males average about 9.8 kg while females average 5 kg. Ateles geoffroyi have dark hair with lighter coloring on their chest and stomach. Males and females both average between 6 and 9 kg. For my data collection I will be using instantaneous scan sampling with an interval of 30 seconds. I will alternate between Alouatta palliata and Ateles geoffroyi each day. For each scan I will record whether behaviors are solitary, affiliative, or aggressive, and for social behaviors I will record the partner. I will compare the amount of affiliation and aggression within groups and between groups.
Subjects
research, Primates, monkeys, Animal behavior, Interpersonal relations, social anthropology, Anthropology
Local Identifiers
22-0178