The Role of Minerals in Food Selection in a Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta Pigra) Population in Belize Following a Major Hurricane

2012 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 1054-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALISON M. BEHIE ◽  
MARY S. M. PAVELKA
Keyword(s):  
Food Selection ◽  
Alouatta Pigra ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Black Howler Monkey ◽  
Major Hurricane ◽  
Black Howler

Population of the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) in a fragmented landscape in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico

2002 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Estrada ◽  
Adrián Mendoza ◽  
Lucía Castellanos ◽  
Reyna Pacheco ◽  
Sarie Van Belle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alouatta Pigra ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
Black Howler Monkey ◽  
Black Howler

Food selection in the black howler monkey following habitat disturbance: implications for the importance of mature leaves

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison M. Behie ◽  
Mary S. M. Pavelka
Keyword(s):  
Food Selection ◽  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
Fallback Foods ◽  
Phenological Data ◽  
Mature Leaves ◽  
Food Species ◽  
Black Howler Monkey ◽  
Black Howler

Abstract:Primates commonly consume leaves that are high in protein but low in digestion-inhibiting fibre. Due to the fact that mature leaves do not meet these criteria, they are typically avoided and many leaf-eating primates select for leaves high in protein and low in fibre leading to the theory that food selection is based on protein maximization. However, feeding records for a population of black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) in Monkey River, Belize, collected over a 5-y period, together with synchronous phenological data, indicate that this population does not meet the expectation and actually prefer mature leaves. This study aims to describe the nutritional composition of the food supply and investigate the possibility that, rather than to maximize protein ingestion, mature leaves are eaten to balance nutrient intake. Macronutrient analyses (moisture, lipids, protein, NDF, ADF and simple sugars) were conducted on a sample of 96 plant samples from 18 food species of this population of black howler. Results reported here show that mature leaves eaten by howlers in this forest contain sufficient protein to meet minimum metabolic requirements (range: 11.6–24%; mean: 16.4% ± 3.8%) and have significantly higher concentrations of simple sugars than young leaves (means of 7.2% ± 2.7% vs. 4.4% ± 2.3% respectively). Thus, it appears that mature leaf ingestion is likely serving to balance energy and protein intake. This result may be due to the disruptive effects of a hurricane in 2001 that resulted in a loss of 80% of the howler population, changed forest composition and may have affected plant chemistry. Despite this, the data reported here suggest that the accepted view that mature leaves are simply fallback foods for primates, eaten only in times of preferred food scarcity, may have to be revised.

scholarly journals Anotaciones de la ecología alimentaria de monos aulladores negros en un fragmento con condiciones de hacinamiento (Balancán, Tabasco, México)

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Aristizábal-Borja ◽  
Gilberto Pozo-Montuy ◽  
Jairo Pérez-Torres ◽  
Juan Serio-Silva
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Alouatta Pigra ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Feeding Time ◽  
Howler Monkeys ◽  
Fragmented Habitat ◽  
Black Howler Monkey ◽  
Black Howler ◽  
Black Howler Monkeys

<p><strong></strong>We described the feeding behavior of Central-American black howler monkey (<em>Alouatta pigra</em>) in a fragment of less than one hectare of humid evergreen forest surrounded by grassland for livestock use, isolated trees and mango orchards, in the region of Balancán (Tabasco, México). <strong>Objective:</strong> To record the diet and activity of black howler monkeys in crowded conditions during the wettest month in Balancán (Tabasco, México). <strong>Methods:</strong> The behavioral observations (81 h) were made using the focal animal methodology with an <em>A. pigra</em> troop made up of three individuals (1 adult male, 1 adult female and 1 infant). <strong>Results:</strong> Feeding time represented 15.97%, rest 78% and locomotion 4.57% of total time. In the study area we recorded 14 plant species, with 10 being consumed by howler monkeys. 55% of feeding time was devoted to the consumption of fruits, 27% to leaves, 17% to stems, and 1% to sprouts. <em>Spondias mombin</em> was the tree species most consumed, with 61% of the time invested on it. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Like other studies, we confirmed the frugivore-folivore feeding tendency of the genus <em>Alouatta</em>. We provide information on the black howler monkey flexibility to live and maintain themselves in extreme perturbation conditions, where their habitat is 0.1 ha with few tree species to use, forcing individuals to move around the ground.</p> <p><strong>Key words: </strong><em>Alouatta pigra</em>, diet, pattern of activity, frugivory, fragmented habitat</p><br />

scholarly journals Population status and identification of potential habitats for the conservation of the Endangered black howler monkey Alouatta pigra in northern Chiapas, Mexico

Oryx ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yadira M. Bonilla-Sánchez ◽  
Juan Carlos Serio-Silva ◽  
Gilberto Pozo-Montuy ◽  
Nora Bynum
Keyword(s):  
Adult Female ◽  
Fragment Size ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Alouatta Pigra ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Howler Monkey ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Remnant Vegetation ◽  
Black Howler Monkey ◽  
Black Howler

AbstractIn the Mexican state of Chiapas the rainforest has been cleared, to make way for crops and extensive cattle ranching, at an annual rate of 12.4% since 2002. The conservation status of the Endangered black howler monkey Alouatta pigra in these fragmented landscapes in north-eastern Chiapas has not previously been examined. We therefore surveyed A. pigra populations in the municipality of Playas de Catazajá during 2004–2006 to obtain population and habitat data for this species in 115 fragments of remnant vegetation. A geographical information system was used to determine the variables (fragment size, and distances to the nearest fragment, human settlement and water body) that could be used to generate an index of habitat potential for A. pigra. We estimated a population of 659 individuals and a mean troop size of 5.0 ± SE 2.3. The adult male : female ratio was 1 : 1.4, the adult female : juvenile ratio 1 : 0.6 and adult female : immature ratio 1 : 0.8. The index of habitat potential indicates that 12% of the fragments have a high conservation potential for A. pigra. This index is a valuable tool for evaluating the conservation status of this species and its habitat, and can be expanded to include additional variables, thus allowing for a more comprehensive assessment.

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