Do Frugivore Population Fluctuations Reflect Fruit Production? Evidence from Panama

Milton, Katharine; Giacalone, Jacalyn; Wright, S. Joseph; Stockmayer, Gretchen

doi:10.1007/1-4020-3833-x_2

Cited by 27 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…This is probably why A. belzebuth was more influenced by changes in fruit supply, while the most folivorous A. macconnelli and the omnivorous C. olivaceus were less influenced. The lack of relationship between Alouatta palliata and fruit supply has already been reported (Milton et al, 2005). At MES, A. macconnelli seems to track fruit supply only marginally during HFS, when this resource is more abundant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…The distribution of fruit supply is often associated with patterns of within-and between-habitat use (Mendes Pontes, 1997Pontes, , 1999Peres, 1994), but only a few attempts have been made to address the extent to which spatiotemporal variation in fruit supply influences primate local density and distribution (Marshall and Leighton, 2006;Milton et al, 2005). Although there is a broad interest in identifying ecological factors limiting primate population in natural habitats, few general hypotheses have been tested, and formal models that explicitly consider the effects of spatiotemporal variation in resource availability have yet to be developed for primates (Marshall and Leighton, 2006;Milton et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Response of frugivorous primates to changes in fruit supply in a northern Amazonian forest

Mourthé¹

2014

Braz. J. Biol.

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Few attempts have been made to understand how spatiotemporal changes in fruit supply influence frugivores in tropical forests. The marked spatiotemporal variation in fruit supply can affect frugivore abundance and distribution, but studies addressing the effects of this variation on primates are scarce. The present study aimed to investigate how the spatiotemporal distribution of fruits influences the local distribution of three frugivorous primates in the eastern part of the Maracá Ecological Station, a highly seasonal Amazonian rainforest. Specifically, it was hypothesised that primate distribution will track changes in fruit supply, resulting that sites with high fruit availability should be heavily used by primates. During a 1-year study, fruit supply (ground fruit surveys) and primate density (line-transects) were monitored in twelve 2 km-long transects at monthly intervals. Fruit supply varied seasonally, being low during the dry season. The density of Ateles belzebuth was positively related to fruit supply during fruit shortage, but Cebus olivaceus and Alouatta macconnelli did not follow the same pattern. The supply of Sapotaceae fruit was an important component determining local distribution of A. belzebuth during the overall fruit shortage. Highly frugivorous primates such as A. belzebuth respond to seasonal decline in fruit supply by congregating at places with high fruit supply in this forest, particularly, those with many individuals of species of Sapotaceae. This study underscores the importance of small-scale spatiotemporal changes of fruit supply as a key component of frugivorous primate ecology in highly seasonal environments.Keywords: Amazonia, Maracá Ecological Station, primate distribution, seasonal fruit availability, fruit shortage. Resposta dos primatas frugívoros à variação na oferta de frutos em uma floresta do norte da Amazônia ResumoPoucas tentativas foram realizadas para entender como a variação espaço-temporal na oferta de frutos influencia os frugívoros nas florestas tropicais. A variação espaço-temporal dos frutos pode afetar a abundância e distribuição dos frugívoros, mas estudos abordando os efeitos desta variação nos primatas são escassos. Neste estudo, investigou-se como a oferta dos frutos afeta a distribuição local de três espécies de primatas frugívoros na parte leste da Estação Ecológica de Maracá, uma floresta sazonal na Amazônia. Especificamente, testou-se a hipótese de que a distribuição dos primatas acompanharia a variação na oferta de frutos, resultando em uma utilização mais frequente pelos primatas dos locais com maior disponibilidade deste recurso. A disponibilidade de frutos e a densidade dos primatas foram registradas mensalmente ao longo de um ano, em 12 transecções com 2 km de extensão. A oferta de frutos variou sazonalmente, sendo baixa durante a estação seca. A densidade de Ateles belzebuth se relacionou com a oferta dos frutos durante o período de escassez deste recurso, mas Alouatta macconnelli e Cebus olivaceus não seguiram o mesmo padrão. A oferta d...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of frugivorous primates to changes in fruit supply in a northern Amazonian forest

Mourthé¹

2014

Braz. J. Biol.

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“…These results, along with the more frugivorous genera's decline one year after an El Niñ o event, are consistent with other ecological research from BCI. A cycle of high then low fruit production during El Niñ o and La Niñ a years, respectively, has been documented, the latter can cause famines in frugivorous mammals (Wright et al 1999;Milton et al 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These ecosystems have undergone multiple changes in response to global climate change and El Niñ o events, which could have direct effects on primate populations (Wright et al 1999). Nonetheless, very few investigations of the implications of El Niñ o events for population dynamics have been conducted on primate species in general (Dunbar 1998;Dunham et al 2008), or on platyrrhine (New World) monkeys (Milton et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tropical warming and the dynamics of endangered primates

2009

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Many primate species are severely threatened, but little is known about the effects of global warming and the associated intensification of El Niñ o events on primate populations. Here, we document the influences of the El Niñ o southern oscillation (ENSO) and hemispheric climatic variability on the population dynamics of four genera of ateline (neotropical, large-bodied) primates. All ateline genera experienced either an immediate or a lagged negative effect of El Niñ o events. ENSO events were also found to influence primate resource levels through neotropical arboreal phenology. Furthermore, frugivorous primates showed a high degree of interspecific population synchrony over large scales across Central and South America attributable to the recent trends in large-scale climate. These results highlight the role of large-scale climatic variation and trends in ateline primate population dynamics, and emphasize that global warming could pose additional threats to the persistence of multiple species of endangered primates.

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“…In 1951, however, the population had declined to 239 animals (Collias and Southwick 1952), perhaps due to an apparent outbreak of sylvan yellow fever in the late 1940's. No virulent diseases have been reported since and, for at least the last 35 years the population has remained stable at *1,200 individuals (Milton 1980;Milton et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Genetic structure of an isolated population of mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) on Barro Colorado Island, Panama

2008

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Habitat fragmentation may influence genetic variability through reductions in population size and the physical isolation of conspecifics. We explored the effects of these factors on genetic diversity in a population of mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. The study population was established in 1914 when an unknown number of resident individuals were isolated from the surrounding mainland by damming of the Río Chagres to create the Panama Canal. Analyses of 10 microsatellite loci indicated that, despite this isolation, the howler monkeys on BCI exhibit levels of genetic diversity (H S = 0.584 ± 0.063) among the highest reported for any species of Alouatta. These data also revealed that although relatedness among adults in a social group was significantly greater than zero, the BCI population is not highly genetically structured. Tests for genetic bottlenecks based on departures from equilibrium expectations failed to reveal evidence of a recent reduction in population size. In contrast, coalescent modeling indicated that this population has likely experienced a marked decline within the last few 100 years. These findings generate new insights into the genetic structure of A. palliata and suggest that while the formation of BCI may not have substantially reduced genetic variation in these animals, genetic diversity has been influenced by historical changes in population size.

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Do Frugivore Population Fluctuations Reflect Fruit Production? Evidence from Panama

Cited by 27 publications

References 29 publications

Response of frugivorous primates to changes in fruit supply in a northern Amazonian forest

Response of frugivorous primates to changes in fruit supply in a northern Amazonian forest

Tropical warming and the dynamics of endangered primates

Genetic structure of an isolated population of mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) on Barro Colorado Island, Panama

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