Why do primates bark-strip pines in plantations? Seasonal profitability as a key driver.
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| Title: | Why do primates bark-strip pines in plantations? Seasonal profitability as a key driver. |
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| Authors: | Zárate, V.1,2,3 (AUTHOR) valentin.zarate@mi.unc.edu.ar, Torge, I.1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Foletto, L.F.1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Tujague, M.P.1,2,3,4 (AUTHOR), Agostini, I.3,5 (AUTHOR), Di Bitetti, M.S.1,2,3,4 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Forest Ecology & Management. May2026, Vol. 607, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Forest management, *Wildlife depredation, *Tree farms, Capuchin monkeys, Metabolizable energy values, Foraging behavior (Humans), Plant injuries |
| Geographic Terms: | Argentina |
| Abstract: | Bark-stripping by mammals is a widespread conflict in forestry plantations, yet the mechanisms driving this behaviour remain poorly understood, leading to ineffective mitigation attempts. Primates frequently bark-strip pines in plantations, generating economic losses and hindering human–wildlife coexistence. We studied black capuchins (Sapajus nigritus) bark-stripping in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations in Argentina to evaluate two hypotheses: (1) the fallback food hypothesis, predicting bark-stripping when native fruits are scarce; and (2) the pine seasonal profitability hypothesis, predicting bark-stripping when inner bark profitability (energy gain per handling time unit) surpasses a threshold. Over two years, we monitored monthly bark-stripping intensity along 40 transects of 50 pines each, located within the home ranges of four capuchin groups. We quantified inner bark thickness, sugar content (energy), and peeling force (handling time) to estimate profitability, and calculated a native fruits energy availability based on phenology, basal area, and sugar content. We used Generalised Additive Models to test both hypotheses. Across the study period, 38.5 % of trees experienced some degree of bark-stripping. Bark-stripping showed a marked seasonal peak in late winter and early spring (July–October), mainly affecting medium-aged stands (5–9 years). During these months, thicker bark and reduced peeling force temporally increased profitability, whereas sugar content showed no clear seasonal trend. The best-supported model included inner bark profitability alone. These findings support the pine seasonal profitability hypothesis and provide a predictive framework for forest management by clarifying the mechanisms behind bark-stripping and targeting the behaviour spatially (medium-aged stands) and temporally (July–October). • Black capuchins strip pines mainly in medium-aged stands between July and October. • Seasonal variations of inner bark profitability drive primate bark-stripping. • Energy from native fruits alone poorly predicts bark-stripping intensity. • Temporally and spatially targeted diversionary feeding may reduce bark-stripping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Forest Ecology & Management is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 192002164 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Why do primates bark-strip pines in plantations? Seasonal profitability as a key driver. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zárate%2C+V%2E%22">Zárate, V.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> valentin.zarate@mi.unc.edu.ar</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Torge%2C+I%2E%22">Torge, I.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Foletto%2C+L%2EF%2E%22">Foletto, L.F.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tujague%2C+M%2EP%2E%22">Tujague, M.P.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Agostini%2C+I%2E%22">Agostini, I.</searchLink><relatesTo>3,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Di+Bitetti%2C+M%2ES%2E%22">Di Bitetti, M.S.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Forest+Ecology+%26+Management%22">Forest Ecology & Management</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 607, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Forest+management%22">Forest management</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wildlife+depredation%22">Wildlife depredation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tree+farms%22">Tree farms</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Capuchin+monkeys%22">Capuchin monkeys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metabolizable+energy+values%22">Metabolizable energy values</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foraging+behavior+%28Humans%29%22">Foraging behavior (Humans)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plant+injuries%22">Plant injuries</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Argentina%22">Argentina</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Bark-stripping by mammals is a widespread conflict in forestry plantations, yet the mechanisms driving this behaviour remain poorly understood, leading to ineffective mitigation attempts. Primates frequently bark-strip pines in plantations, generating economic losses and hindering human–wildlife coexistence. We studied black capuchins (Sapajus nigritus) bark-stripping in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations in Argentina to evaluate two hypotheses: (1) the fallback food hypothesis, predicting bark-stripping when native fruits are scarce; and (2) the pine seasonal profitability hypothesis, predicting bark-stripping when inner bark profitability (energy gain per handling time unit) surpasses a threshold. Over two years, we monitored monthly bark-stripping intensity along 40 transects of 50 pines each, located within the home ranges of four capuchin groups. We quantified inner bark thickness, sugar content (energy), and peeling force (handling time) to estimate profitability, and calculated a native fruits energy availability based on phenology, basal area, and sugar content. We used Generalised Additive Models to test both hypotheses. Across the study period, 38.5 % of trees experienced some degree of bark-stripping. Bark-stripping showed a marked seasonal peak in late winter and early spring (July–October), mainly affecting medium-aged stands (5–9 years). During these months, thicker bark and reduced peeling force temporally increased profitability, whereas sugar content showed no clear seasonal trend. The best-supported model included inner bark profitability alone. These findings support the pine seasonal profitability hypothesis and provide a predictive framework for forest management by clarifying the mechanisms behind bark-stripping and targeting the behaviour spatially (medium-aged stands) and temporally (July–October). • Black capuchins strip pines mainly in medium-aged stands between July and October. • Seasonal variations of inner bark profitability drive primate bark-stripping. • Energy from native fruits alone poorly predicts bark-stripping intensity. • Temporally and spatially targeted diversionary feeding may reduce bark-stripping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Forest Ecology & Management is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123609 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 1 StartPage: N.PAG Subjects: – SubjectFull: Forest management Type: general – SubjectFull: Wildlife depredation Type: general – SubjectFull: Tree farms Type: general – SubjectFull: Capuchin monkeys Type: general – SubjectFull: Metabolizable energy values Type: general – SubjectFull: Foraging behavior (Humans) Type: general – SubjectFull: Plant injuries Type: general – SubjectFull: Argentina Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Why do primates bark-strip pines in plantations? Seasonal profitability as a key driver. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zárate, V. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Torge, I. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Foletto, L.F. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Tujague, M.P. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Agostini, I. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Di Bitetti, M.S. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 03781127 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 607 Titles: – TitleFull: Forest Ecology & Management Type: main |
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