Locomotor behavior and skeletal morphology of two sympatric pitheciine monkeys,Pithecia pithecia and Chiropotes satanas

Field observations of two sympatric pitheciine species reveal that the positional repertoire of the white-faced saki, Pithecia pithecia, is dominated by leaping behaviors, whereas the bearded saki, Chiropotes satanas, is predominantly quadrupedal. Examination and comparison of the postcranial skeletal morphologies and limb proportions of these species display numerous features associated with their respective locomotor behaviors. These observations accord with associations found in other primate and mammalian groups and with predictions based on theoretical and experimental biomechanics. Preliminary observations of the skeletal morphology of Cacajao calvus demonstrate a marked similarity to that of Chiropotes. The fossil platyrrhine Cebupithecia sarmientoi displays greater similarity to Pithecia, suggesting that its positional repertoire also included significant leaping and clinging behaviors.     

Age estimation in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) based on mandibular dimensions

A new technique has been developed for estimating age in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) that is based on mandibular measurements and has several advantages over presently available techniques. First, the new technique is relatively quick and inexpensive because a single measurement or radiograph suffices to produce an age estimate. Second, mandibular growth represents a more continuous phenomenon than either epiphyseal union or dental eruption; therefore, age estimates may be made throughout the period of growth without significant gaps in the process. Finally, the new technique may be used on incomplete or even fragmentary skeletal material because it requires that only a portion of the mandible be preserved. The new technique produces age estimates with a prediction error of ±5.08 months in males and ±7.29 months in females. These errors are only slightly higher than those found previously for dental eruption or epiphyseal union data.     

Chromosomal distinction between the red-faced and black-faced black spider monkeys (Ateles paniscus paniscus and A. p. chamek)

The two subspecies of the black spider monkey, Ateles paniscus paniscus and A. p. chamek, can be distinguished by their chromosome number, 2n = 32 in the former and 2n = 34 in the latter. This difference most probably is the result of a tandem fusion between chromosomes 4 and 13 of the original Ateles karyotype (2n = 34) to form a unique metacentric chromosome in A. p. paniscus. Further differences between the subspecies concern the presence of additional interstial or terminal C-bands in chromosomes 3, 5, and 12 of A. p. paniscus. A third difference is that chromosome 12 is metacentric in A. p. paniscus but is submetacentric in A. p. chamek. A. p. chamek shows dimorphisms caused by pericentric inversions in pairs 1, 5, 6, and 7 as well as in the Y chromosome. Since the dimorphisms in pairs 5 and 7 are only found in homozygous condition, they may indicate the existence of geographic variation within this subspecies. Differences in external characteristics possibly reflect these chromosomal difference. The necessity to lend A. p. paniscus full specific status should be considered, since karyologically this is the most distinct one of all forms of Ateles. In captive breeding A. p. paniscus should evidently be treated as a separate population, as hybridization with A. p. chamek may result in offspring with reduced fertility. The intra-subspecific karyological variation in A. p. chamek and its possible consequences for taxonomy and captive breeding require further investigation.     

Optimal window of caloric restriction onset limits its beneficial impact on T‐cell senescence in primates

We have recently shown in non‐human primates that caloric restriction (CR) initiated during adulthood can delay T‐cell aging and preserve naïve CD8 and CD4 T cells into advanced age. An important question is whether CR can be initiated at any time in life, and whether age at the time of onset would modulate the beneficial effects of CR. In the current study, we evaluated the impact of CR started before puberty or during advanced age on T‐cell senescence and compared it to the effects of CR started in early adulthood. Our data demonstrate that the beneficial effects of adult‐onset CR on T‐cell aging were lost by both early and late CR onset. In fact, some of our results suggest that inappropriate initiation of CR may be harmful to the maintenance of T‐cell function. This suggests that there may be an optimal window during adulthood where CR can delay immune senescence and improve correlates of immunity in primates.     

Coalition Formation by Male Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in South Africa

Unrelated male primates frequently cohabit in bisexual groups and, despite being reproductive competitors, have been shown to cooperate in ways that are associated with reproductive success. Such coalitions between males are common in some taxa, where they can serve two primary functions – status management and improved mating opportunities – that subserve long‐ and short‐term objectives. Here, we use observational data to provide information on male coalitions in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), a guenon with a multimale group structure. We recorded a total of 62 coalitions from two troops across a 10‐mo period at Samara Game Reserve, South Africa. We found that males who were more frequently associated spatially and who had groomed one another were more likely to form coalitions and did so against higher‐ranking opponents. This was not linked to any evidence that coalitionary aggression provided either short‐ or long‐term reproductive benefits for the aggressors and coalitions were not restricted to the mating season. There was little evidence that particular individuals were targeted, reciprocation between partners was not observed, and recent immigrant males were not targeted disproportionately. Our data suggest that within‐group coalition formation between vervet males may represent something close to an ancestral state whereby males form ad hoc coalitions opportunistically, joining an ongoing dyadic contest to target an opponent without facing the possible risks of dyadic contest, such as a greater chance of injury.     

Phlebotominae in peri‐domestic and forest environments inhabited by Alouatta caraya in northeastern Argentina

Multiple species of Phlebotominae are vectors of Leishmania (Protozoa: Trypanosomatidae), which causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). To describe the Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) related to the environments of black and gold howler monkeys Alouatta caraya (Humbodlt, 1812) (Primates: Atelidae), potential vectors were sampled in different landscapes and vertical strata of sleeping trees. Phlebotomine captured between December 2011 and March 2012 (2365 individuals) belonged to eight species, of which Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto, 1926) (61.4%) and Migonemyia migonei (França, 1920) (18.73%) were the most abundant, and Ny. withmani was recorded for the first time in the Chaco province. In the ‘peri‐domestic’ landscape, the phlebotomine were mainly captured in henhouses (78.7%), whereas the tree canopy in ‘rural’ and ‘wild’ landscapes yielded 31.2% and 29.1% of the phlebotomine, respectively. A significant association between the type of landscape and the species of phlebotomine was observed by multivariate analysis. Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) and Mg. migonei were associated with ‘peri‐domestic’ landscape, and Ny. neivai was associated with the ‘wild’ landscape. The results of this prospective study suggest that the interaction between phlebotomine and A. caraya could be a key factor with respect to understanding the epidemiology of leishmaniasis.     

基于MaxEnt模型的人类干扰对滇金丝猴潜在分布的影响

滇金丝猴 (Rhinopithecus bieti) 是我国特有的濒危灵长类动物,预测其栖息地变化,评估人类活动影响,进而识别保护空缺,对该物种的保护具有重要意义。本文使用出行大数据估计人类出行密度,并将这一指标引入栖息地模型的构建;运用MaxEnt模型和空间分析技术分别构建自然环境和人类干扰两种情景下滇金丝猴的适宜栖息地模型,并分析自然环境与人类干扰两类共计11个变量对栖息地的影响。结果显示：(1) MaxEnt模型的预测精度较高,基于出行大数据的人类出行密度这一指标能很好表征人类干扰对栖息地的影响。(2) 模型预测得到滇金丝猴高适宜栖息地面积3 487.28 km²,认为影响滇金丝猴潜在分布的主要环境变量是海拔、年降水量、人类出行密度和距道路距离。(3) 人类干扰对滇金丝猴栖息地有明显的负影响 (使适宜栖息地面积相较于自然环境下减少9.32%),其中人类出行活动对滇金丝猴的栖息地干扰最为明显;同时还发现研究区78.8%的区域均受到一个或多个人类变量的较强干扰。(4) 在现有15个滇金丝猴群的活动斑块中,3个同时具有较高栖息地适宜性和较多人类干扰的斑块,可作为重点保护区域;同时发现栖息地质量在距道路和居民点约2 500 m处均出现明显拐点,可作为开展保护工作的缓冲区参考距离。降低这些区域的人类干扰强度,对滇金丝猴的生存具有更重要的现实保护意义。     

SHIV1157ipd3N4细胞适应株的制备及其生物特性

目的体外制备SHIV1157ipd3N4病毒中国恒河猴细胞适应株,在细胞水平和中国恒河猴体内评价其生物学特性。方法用SHIV1157ipd3N4病毒阴道感染中国恒河猴,在血浆病毒载量高峰期采血分离外周血单核淋巴细胞（PBMCs）,与正常中国恒河猴PBMCs共培养。定期测定培养液中的P24抗原水平。当病毒复制达高峰期时收集培养上清,分装并冻存。测定病毒RNA载量、P24抗原浓度和TCID50。静脉感染中国恒河猴,研究该批次SHIV1157ipd3N4在体内的病毒学、免疫学指标变化及变异情况,分析其基本的生物学特性。结果本研究共制备了243 mL SHIV1157ipd3N4病毒原液,gp120序列分析表明病毒未发生变异,CCR5的嗜性也未发生改变。病毒载量为1.586×108 copies/mL,P24抗原水平为1.16×103 pg/mL,TZM-bl细胞测定病毒的TCID50为3.16×103/mL。1 mL SHIV1157ipd3N4静脉成功感染中国恒河猴G1004V,高峰期病毒载量达到1.0×106 copies/mL以上。结论此次制备的SHIV1157ipd3N4细胞适应株生物学特性稳定,适合作为毒种库构建SHIV1157ipd3N4/中国恒河猴模型。