Ranging patterns and habitat use of Sulawesi Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana) in a human‐modified habitat

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate the ecological flexibility of Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana) by examining how they respond to human-induced habitat alteration. To do so, I observed movement patterns, forest strata use, microhabitat use, and home range use in two groups that occupied habitats with different levels of human alteration and habitat quality in Lore Lindu National Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The group occupying the heavily altered habitat (Anca) spent a significantly greater proportion of time traveling on the ground than the group in minimally altered habitat (CH), and significantly more time than expected in microhabitats within their range that were characterized by greater alteration (e.g., agroforestry areas). There was no significant difference between the two groups in daily path length, despite differences in group size. The Anca group exhibited a greater home range area per individual than the CH group, and utilized a more limited area within their home range with greater intensity, relative to the CH group. Tonkean macaques therefore show considerable flexibility in response to anthropogenic disturbance by adjusting their use of forest strata to facilitate travel and increase foraging opportunities and by intensively using particular areas within their home range where known resources are present and predictably available.

Land use in semi-free ranging Tonkean macaques Macaca tonkeana depends on environmental conditions: A geographical information system approach

“…Similarly, Melfi and Feistner (2002) found through direct comparison that there were greater differences between two captive groups and between two wild groups of crested black macaques Macaca nigra than for comparisons between captive and wild groups. In support of other studies on wild Tonkean macaques (Riley, 2007(Riley, , 2008, we suggest that resting is the most prominent activity both in the wild and captivity, whilst foraging is not. The most striking differences between wild and captive groups are in socializing and moving activities.…”

“…Previous reports stated that Tonkean macaques spent most of their time in trees (Pombo et al, 2004;Riley, 2007Riley, , 2008. We showed that animals tended to spend more time in trees during the leafing season (spring) and were therefore sensitive to seasonal changes.…”

“…We showed that animals tended to spend more time in trees during the leafing season (spring) and were therefore sensitive to seasonal changes. Similarly, wild Tonkean macaques spend more time in trees with fruit availability (Riley, 2008). Animals seem to adapt their behavior according to leafing or fruiting periods, because buds and fruits are rich in proteins.…”

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“…Consequently, these macaques travel much less widely in search of food. Concurrently, group size would be a main factor affecting ranging behavior in primates, with large-sized groups typically with larger home ranges and longer daily path lengths [36][37][38]. At only 32-46 individuals [39], the studied group is smaller than those observed in other Macaca species: M fascicularis (66 individuals, Jamieson, 1998), M fuscata (41 individuals) [28], M nemestrina (49-81 individuals) [31], or M nigra (42-97 individuals) [33].…”

Home Range and Habitat Use of Crop-Raiding Barbary Macaques in the Upper Ourika Valley, Western High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

“…Concurrently, group size would be a main factor affecting ranging behavior in primates, with large-sized groups typically with larger home ranges and longer daily path lengths. [36][37][38] At only 32-46 individuals, 39 the studied group is smaller than those observed in other Macaca species: M fascicularis (66 individuals, Jamieson, 1998), M fuscata (41 individuals), 28 M nemestrina (49-81 individuals), 31 or M nigra (42-97 individuals). 33 Barbary macaques in the upper Ourika valley used large parts of their home range very infrequently, concentrating their activities around and within crops.…”