Interspecific and integroup interactions of mantled howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata) in primary versus secondary forest at El Zota Biological Field Station, Costa Rica

Thumbnail Image
Date
2009-01-01
Authors
Senf, Melissa
Major Professor
Advisor
Jill D. Pruetz
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Altmetrics
Authors
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Organizational Unit
Anthropology

The Department of Anthropology seeks to teach students what it means to be human by examining the four sub-disciplines of anthropology: cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and biological anthropology. This prepares students for work in academia, research, or with government agencies, development organizations, museums, or private businesses and corporations.

History
The Department of Anthropology was formed in 1991 as a result of the division of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Dates of Existence
1991-present

Related Units

Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Anthropology
Abstract

Four groups of mantled howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata) were observed at El Zota Biological Field Station in northeastern Costa Rica to assess whether resource scarcity caused by anthropogenic disturbance and hypothesized increased competition for limited resources would result in more frequent and more aggressive interactions between neighboring howling monkey groups and between howling monkeys and other, sympatric primate species, namely white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) and black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). Using a comparison between the primary forest, as a control, and anthropogenically-altered secondary forest, I examined whether a behavioral difference existed between groups with hypothesized varying degrees of resource competition. Intergroup encounters were broken down into long distance howling bouts, with 46 observed, and close proximity interactions, with 11 observed. Results showed an increased frequency of howling in the primary forest as compared with the secondary forest, but no difference between the frequency, duration, or type of close-proximity intergroup encounters. Forty-five interspecies interactions were observed between howling monkeys and sympatric primate species. These interactions showed no difference between forest type for frequency, duration, or type of interaction. These results suggest that the composition and resource availability of the secondary forest at this site that does not align with current assumptions of habitat degradation. Alternatively results may be a reflection of social pressures such as infanticide, intragroup competition, and genetic relatedness as factors shaping howling monkey behaviors in both primary and secondary forests.

Comments
Description
Keywords
Citation
Source
Subject Categories
Copyright
Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2009