Fruits of enlightenment : fruit localisation strategies in wild mangabey monkeys
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| Title: | Fruits of enlightenment : fruit localisation strategies in wild mangabey monkeys |
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| Authors: | Janmaat, Karline R. L. |
| Summary: | Using both observational and experimental approaches, I investigated a number of the fruit localisation strategies in two frugivorous rain forest primates: the grey-cheeked mangabey (Lophocebus albigena johnstonii) in the Kibale National Park, Uganda and the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys atys) in the TaT National Park, Ivory Coast. The results of these studies suggest that in order to find fruit mangabeys used a flexible search mechanism, in which search (by use of sensory cues or memory) for particular fruits was activated by the encounter of a certain threshold density of fruit bearing trees of that same species. For species in which fruit does not emerge synchronously among conspecific trees, like some figs, other localisation strategies were investigated. No evidence was found that the mangabeys regularly used auditory cues of sympatric frugivores to discover fig fruits. Observations of visiting patterns and approach speed towards a pre-selected number of fruit trees indicated that the monkeys relied on spatial temporal memories of fruiting states to locate fruits. In fact, mangabeys were less efficient in finding edible fruits from particular fig species in less familiar areas of which they had fewer spatial memories than in more familiar areas. Further analyses suggested that the monkeys were able to anticipate quality changes (the number of edible fruits) of fruit bearing trees between subsequent visits. The probability of a revisit of a fig tree, that was known to previously carry fruit, was best explained by past temperature values and solar radiation values of the morning before the revisit. This suggests that monkeys were able to integrate memories of previous fruiting states with time and weather variables in order to optimise their arrival time at fruit trees. I discuss the implications of these findings for theories of primate cognitive evolution. |
| URL: | https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.827851 |
| Database: | OpenDissertations |
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