Predator Mobbing in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tarsius spectrum</Emphasis>

Whereas most animals make considerable effort to avoid their predators, numerous species tend to approach and to confront predators as a group: mobbing. Among the types of predators that elicit mobbing, snakes seem to be one of the more consistent recipients of it. I describe the mobbing behavior of spectral tarsiers toward live and model snakes. In particular, I explore individual differences—sex, age and reproductive status—in mobbing behavior at Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Sulawesi, Indonesia. In 1994–1995, I observed 11 groups for 18 mo, and in 1999, I observed 9 groups for 6 mo. Over all I recorded, 11 natural mobbing events and 9 artificially induced mobbing events. The mean number of individuals at a natural mobbing is 5.1 with an average duration of 33 min. The duration of a mobbing event is strongly correlated with the number of mobbers. Adults were more likely than other age classes to participate in mobbings. Males were more likely than females to participate in mobbings. Mobbing groups often contained > 1 adult male despite the fact that no spectral tarsier group contains > 1 adult male. Vis-à-vis Curios (1978) 9 hypotheses for the function of mobbing suggests that its primary function in spectral tarsiers may be perception advertisement or teaching snakes to move on.     

Behavioral changes in pottos (Perodicticus potto): Effects of naturalizing an exhibit

Observations of the potto (Perodicticus potto),a nocturnal prosimian primate,indicated a limited behavioral repertoire and prompted renovation of their exhibit at the Frankin Park Zoo (Boston, MA). We used the natural history of this species to direct the exhibit modifications, which used only nonsynthetic items. We added live plants, soil, bamboo, shelf fungi, grapevines, a hollow tree, and a log containing an insect dispenser to the exhibit at little expense. They provided new textures, odors, pathways, stimulation and cover for this secretive species. The changes produced a heightened aesthetic appeal to the nocturnal exhibit and improved its educational value by representing the animals’ habitat more accurately. The exhibit modifications also resulted in a significant increase in activity, an expansion of the pottos’ behavioral repertoire,the emergence of sexual behaviors, and an increased visibility to the public.     

Sensory ecology of scyphomedusae

The sensory ecology of scyphomedusae is a subject ripe for investigation. There are sensory structures for which there is no experimental evidence of function, there are behavioral performances for which there are no demonstrated sense organs, and there are behaviors for which there are no adaptive explanations. Scyphomedusae are diploblastic animals with a primitive level of neurological complexity, yet they exhibit a wide range of complex and sophisticated behaviors, such as sun compass navigation and daily horizontal migrations. This paper reviews the sensory ecology of orientation and migratory behavior in scyphomedusae, with an emphasis on data from Aurelia aurita. Adaptive explanations for complex behavior of individuals must be evaluated at the population level in order to assess their ecological importance.     

Preliminary observations of the Mentawai macaque on Siberut Island,Indonesia

During 2 years spent conducting ecological fieldwork on Siberut, the largest and most northerly of the four Mentawai Islands in Indonesia, incidental observations were made of the Mentawai macaque. The Mentawai macaque has been considered variously as a full species similar in some respects to the long-tailed macaque and as a subspecies of the pig-tailed macaque. Evidence is presented that a hitherto undescribed form of the Mentawai macaque occurs on Siberut, and aspects of its ecology and behavior are described.     

黄山短尾猴（Macaca thibetana）的主要食性分析

2011年11月至2012年10月,作者采用粪便显微分析法研究了黄山短尾猴的四季食性.结果表明：黄山短尾猴共取食植物26科50种;不同季节间黄山短尾猴食性具有明显变化,冬季取食13科25种植物,春季取食23科46种植物,夏季取食14科32种植物,秋季取食17科37种植物;壳斗科、樟科是黄山短尾猴全年的主要食物,占短尾猴总取食量的51.26%～59.75%,其他科属植物也占有重要地位;甜槠在四季均为黄山短尾猴的主要取食食物,豹皮樟在冬季取食量相对较高,秋季最低,红楠、杉木在冬春季节的取食比例差异最大;黄山短尾猴采取与其他灵长类相似的觅食策略;黄山短尾猴四季食物生态位宽度差异不明显,受人为影响较为明显.     

Primatology in China

China is one of the countries with the greatest diversity of nonhuman primate species: 22 species with 30 subspecies, in 6 genera and 3 families. Primatology in China started in 1862, but fruitful study began only in the 1950s. More than 2,000 academic papers have been published, covering systematics, evolution, ecology, etho-ecology, conservation, reproduction and neuroscience. We review primatology in China over the past century, concentrating mostly on systematics, etho-ecology, conservation and reproduction. We aim to share this information with international colleagues and to seek possibilities for collaboration in the future.     

Use of a club by a wild white-faced capuchin (Cebus capucinus) to attack a venomous snake (Bothrops asper)

In Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, an adult male Cebus capucinus was observed repeatedly hitting a venomous snake (Bothropsasper) with a branch. Initially a large dead branch overhanging the snake had been broken off in the course of aggressive displays to the snake by the adult and two subadult males. The snake's escape was apparently prevented by the weight of the fallen branch and possibly by the injuries caused by its fall. This is the first direct observation of a capuchin monkey in a natural habitat using a tool.     

Diet of Alouatta belzebul discolor in an Amazonian Rain Forest of Northern Mato Grosso State, Brazil

Prior field studies of Alouatta showed the highest frugivory in A. belzebul. During 10 mo between October 1999 and October 2000, we studied the feeding ecology of a group of 7–9 red-handed howlers (Alouatta belzebul discolor) in a primary forest on the banks of a tributary of the Teles Pires River, near Paranaíta, MT, Brazil (9°34S; 56°19W). The howlers used 3 types of habitat: upland (terra firme) forest, flood plain forest (igapó) and palm forest (açaizal). During 45 complete days of observation, the group fed on 67 plant species (N = 2039 feeding records) in 24 families. The 2 most used families were Leguminosae and Moraceae, with 17 species each. Fruits predominated (40–80%) in every month, except June, when young leaves accounted for 54% of the diet. Dialium guianense (Leguminosal, Caesalpinioideae) was the most consumed species. Flower (6%) and mature leaf (5%) consumptions were low. Tree bark, live and decayed wood, and woody twig monthly consumption varied from 0 to 26%, and occurred only in igapó, where they used mostly Macrolobium acaciaefolium (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae), Clitoria amazonum (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) and Licania cf. canescens (Chrysobalanaceae). Our study on Alouatta belzebul discolor complements the high frugivory in A. b. belzebul and documents uncommon dietary items for the species. Although there is intraspecific variation in howler diets and new studies have shown higher frugivory for more folivorous species, Alouatta belzebul seems to be the most frugivorous howler species, in spite of its wide geographical distribution and, in this case, sympatry with Ateles chamek, a frugivore.