scholarly journals Cognitive maps in the wild: revealing the use of metric information in black howler monkey route navigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 224 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel de Guinea ◽  
Alejandro Estrada ◽  
K. Anne-Isola Nekaris ◽  
Sarie Van Belle

ABSTRACT When navigating, wild animals rely on internal representations of the external world – called ‘cognitive maps’ – to take movement decisions. Generally, flexible navigation is hypothesized to be supported by sophisticated spatial skills (i.e. Euclidean cognitive maps); however, constrained movements along habitual routes are the most commonly reported navigation strategy. Even though incorporating metric information (i.e. distances and angles between locations) in route-based cognitive maps would likely enhance an animal's navigation efficiency, there has been no evidence of this strategy reported for non-human animals to date. Here, we examined the properties of the cognitive map used by a wild population of primates by testing a series of cognitive hypotheses against spatially explicit movement simulations. We collected 3104 h of ranging and behavioural data on five groups of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) at Palenque National Park, Mexico, from September 2016 through August 2017. We simulated correlated random walks mimicking the ranging behaviour of the study subjects and tested for differences between observed and simulated movement patterns. Our results indicated that black howler monkeys engaged in constrained movement patterns characterized by a high path recursion tendency, which limited their capacity to travel in straight lines and approach feeding trees from multiple directions. In addition, we found that the structure of observed route networks was more complex and efficient than simulated route networks, suggesting that black howler monkeys incorporate metric information into their cognitive map. Our findings not only expand the use of metric information during route navigation to non-human animals, but also highlight the importance of considering efficient route-based navigation as a cognitively demanding mechanism.

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Aristizábal-Borja ◽  
Gilberto Pozo-Montuy ◽  
Jairo Pérez-Torres ◽  
Juan Serio-Silva

<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 />


Primates ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarie Van Belle ◽  
Aimee E. Kulp ◽  
Robyn Thiessen-Bock ◽  
Marisol Garcia ◽  
Alejandro Estrada

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarie Van BELLE ◽  
Alejandro Estrada ◽  
Karen B. Strier

Abstract We investigated the social relationships among adult females in two multimale-multifemale groups of black howler monkeys Alouatta pigra during a 14-month study in Palenque National Park, Mexico. Based on over 900 focal hours and over 5400 scan samples recording neighboring group members, we found that females very rarely engaged in agonistic interactions and no dominance hierarchy could be discerned. Relationships among resident females were primarily affiliative, but females of one study group spent a higher proportion of time in close proximity and engaged in affiliative interactions with one another at higher rates than females in the other study group. The strength of female relationships increased with the birth of an infant. Although no females immigrated during the study period, the temporary association of three extragroup females with our study groups implies that the social system of black howler monkeys is more dynamic than previously suggested. These findings suggest that female black howler monkeys behave more similarly to female red howler monkeys A. seniculus than to female mantled howler monkeys A. palliata.


Primates ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Horwich ◽  
Kris Gebhard

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Martínez-Mota ◽  
C. Valdespino ◽  
M. A. Sánchez-Ramos ◽  
J. C. Serio-Silva

2011 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 909-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriko Nakamura ◽  
Katherine R. Amato ◽  
Paul Garber ◽  
Alejandro Estrada ◽  
Roderick I. Mackie ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Alexander Genoy-Puerto ◽  
Renata Carolina Fernandes Santos ◽  
Thaís Guimarães-Luiz ◽  
Angélica María Sánchez-Sarmiento ◽  
Rogério Loesch Zacariotti ◽  
...  

Óbitos por infecções causadas por protozoários intestinais são indesejáveis para programas de manejo de fauna, exigidos no âmbito do licenciamento ambiental e que demandam a captura e quarentena de primatas não humanos. Exames coproparasitológicos, necroscópicos, microbiológicos e moleculares foram utilizados para a confirmação do diagnóstico de uma severa enterite necrótica que levou a óbito três fêmeas e dois machos de Alouatta (A.) caraya capturados e mantidos em quarentena prévia à translocação. Exames coproparasitológicos revelaram a presença de cistos de Entamoeba (E.) histolytica/dispar (5/5), Entamoeba (E.) coli (5/5) e Giardia (G.) duodenalis (1/5). A avaliação necroscópica revelou áreas de necrose multifocal severa na mucosa e submucosa intestinal. A análise microscópica revelou a presença de estruturas morfologicamente compatíveis com trofozoítos do gênero Entamoeba spp. em todos os indivíduos examinados. Além disso, G. duodenalis (1/5) foi demonstrada pela técnica de Nested PCR. Sugere-se que quando for necessário o cativeiro temporário de primatas, deverão ser adotados protocolos de manejo adequados buscando a destinação imediata dos animais, de moto a mitigar os efeitos negativos do estresse e reduzir o risco da ocorrência de infecções.


Primates ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariadna Rangel-Negrín ◽  
Elizabeth Flores-Escobar ◽  
Roberto Chavira ◽  
Domingo Canales-Espinosa ◽  
Pedro Américo D. Dias

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