Polyspecific associations of Cercopithecus campbelli and C. petaurista with C. diana: what are the costs and benefits?

Abstract

Polyspecific associations (PSA) are common in many African primate communities, including the diurnal primates at Taï Forest, Côte d'Ivoire. In this paper I use data on the PSA of two forest guenons, Campbell's (Cercopithecus campbelli) and lesser spot-nosed monkeys (C. petaurista), with Diana monkeys (C. diana) and other primates to clarify interspecific relationships during 17 months including a 3-month low-fruit period. I analyzed association in relation to fruit availability and measured forest strata use for C. campbelli and C. petaurista when alone and in associations with and without C. diana. I also measured predator risk and reactions to potential predators. C. campbelli and C. petaurista had high association rates with C. diana monkeys, and fruit availability did not influence association rates. C. campbelli and C. petaurista used higher strata when in association with C. diana than when alone, but they used even higher strata when associated with other primates without C. diana. This suggested that C. diana competitively exclude C. campbelli and C. petaurista from higher strata. There were relatively large numbers of potential predators, and C. diana were usually the first callers to threatening stimuli, suggesting that antipredator benefits of association with C. diana outweighed the competitive costs. C. campbelli spent more time in association with C. diana than C. petaurista did and appeared to be more reliant on C. diana for antipredator benefits. C. petaurista were less reliant on C. diana because of a cryptic strategy and may have associated less in some months because of high chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) presence.

Dietary Variation in Diana Monkeys (Cercopithecus diana): The Effects of Polyspecific Associations

“…It is [Eckardt and Zuberbühler, 2004]. This corroborates previous work suggesting that Diana monkeys are the dominant guenon species at Taï, maintaining their fruit-rich diet in mixed species associations even when fruit availability is low [Wolters and Zuberbühler, 2003;Eckardt and Zuberbühler, 2004;Buzzard 2006;McGraw and Zuberbühler, 2008;Buzzard, 2010]. While we found no seasonal differences in the tendency for groups to form associations, our analyses may have missed subtle seasonal and interannual variation in the formation of mixed-species groups.…”

“…Diana monkeys have been shown to competitively exclude the other guenon species, consistently consuming more fruit than their congeners (even when fruit is scarce) and spatially displacing other guenon taxa while shifting their strata use only minimally [Eckardt and Zuberbühler, 2004;Buzzard, 2006Buzzard, , 2010. However, such competitive exclusion does not mean that associations with other guenons have no measureable impact on Diana monkey groups.…”

“…Despite significant niche overlap, Diana monkeys and the other Taï guenons regularly form polyspecific associations of various durations [Wolters and Zuberbüh-ler, 2003;Eckardt and Zuberbühler, 2004;Buzzard, 2006Buzzard, , 2010. Diana monkeys have been shown to competitively exclude the other guenon species, consistently consuming more fruit than their congeners (even when fruit is scarce) and spatially displacing other guenon taxa while shifting their strata use only minimally [Eckardt and Zuberbühler, 2004;Buzzard, 2006Buzzard, , 2010.…”

“…Within the study grid of the Taï Monkey Project (TMP), Diana monkeys regularly interact with groups of Cercopithecus petaurista and Cercopithecus campbelli [Wolters and Zuberbühler 2003;Buzzard 2004Buzzard , 2006Buzzard , 2010. In addition, the western subspecies of putty-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans stampflii) is found at low densities in northern sections of the Taï National Park where they overlap with Diana monkeys outside the TMP study grid [Galat and Galat-Luong, 1985;Oates, 1988;Eckardt and Zuberbühler, 2004].…”

Sniffing Behaviours in Guenons

“…In their natural habitat they form highly social large multi-male multi-female groups comprising up to 50 individuals. As a strategy against predators such as crowned eagles (Stephanoaetus coronatus) , leopards (Panthera pardus) , chimpanzees and humans, they associate sympatrically with other monkey species [Höner et al, 1997;Noë and Bshary, 1997;Buzzard, 2010]. Diana monkeys further are known to possess a large repertoire of vocalisations [Zuberbühler, 2000;Arnold et al, 2008].…”