2022 - Mantled Howler Monkey and Leafcutter Ants - Poster Presentation

Atta colombica, a species of leafcutter ants, forages from the same leaves that the mantled howler monkeys Alouatta palliataeat. Alouatta palliata and Atta colombica have no recorded interactions that would indicate hostility, and they show no inclination to interact either. Alouatta palliata will eat the leaves of these trees and lead a sedentary lifestyle, howling early in the morning and eating throughout the day, while the ants forage for leaves during the day constantly to bring back to their nest to use for growing fungus they use to feed their colony. This fungus may be very notorious but is only grown in colonies. Do howler monkeys and leafcutter ants have any interactions? Do Alouatta palliata possible eat the ants or do they avoid them if they can? I hypothesize Aloutta palliata will eat Atta colombica to supplement their diet. This research will take place at La Selva Research Station, which is in Costa Rica along the equator. It is a tropical rainforest home to many insect species, species of primate, and species of plant. My research will be focused on the mantled howler monkey, Alouatta palliata. Alouatta palliata are black in color, with the males having a longer beard and a white scrotum weighing in at 6 to 7 kg, and females at 4 to 5 kg. Atta colombica are a maroon color, with the queens being over 29 mm in length. Data will be collected using 30-second instantaneous scan sampling; Alouatta palliata's resting, traveling, vocalization, eating habits, and feeding will be recorded. I will also record the presence of any Atta colombica.