TY - JOUR
T1 - Seasonal and sex differences in the fission–fusion dynamics of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis) in Belize
AU - Hartwell, Kayla S.
AU - Notman, Hugh
AU - Pavelka, Mary S.M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgements Thanks to Dr. Gil and Lillian Boese from the Foundation for Wildlife Conservation and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee for permission to work in the Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, and to Birds Without Borders/Aves Sin Fronteras for their cooperation and help with fieldwork. Many thanks to Cindy and Larry Law for their dedication to the protection of Runaway Creek Nature Reserve and for their support in research. Thanks to the following people who contributed to data: Stevan Reneau, Brittany Dean, Kayley Evans, Jane Champion, Gilroy Welch, Colin Dubreuil, and Meredith Brown. Our research was supported by the University of Calgary, Athabasca University, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Funding Information:
Thanks to Dr. Gil and Lillian Boese from the Foundation for Wildlife Conservation and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee for permission to work in the Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, and to Birds Without Borders/Aves Sin Fronteras for their cooperation and help with fieldwork. Many thanks to Cindy and Larry Law for their dedication to the protection of Runaway Creek Nature Reserve and for their support in research. Thanks to the following people who contributed to data: Stevan Reneau, Brittany Dean, Kayley Evans, Jane Champion, Gilroy Welch, Colin Dubreuil, and Meredith Brown. Our research was supported by the University of Calgary, Athabasca University, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Japan Monkey Centre and Springer Japan KK, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2018/11/1
Y1 - 2018/11/1
N2 - Spider monkeys (Ateles sp.) are characterized by high fission–fusion dynamics, meaning their social grouping pattern is fluid and consists of subgroups that vary in size, composition, and spatial cohesion over time. In this study, we quantify the fission–fusion dynamics of a group of spider monkeys at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve in Belize by measuring subgroup size, spatial cohesion, and stability using data spanning 5 years. We then test whether variation in these three subgroup measures differ according to season, subgroup sex composition, and the reproductive status of female subgroup members. Our results show that subgroups were larger in size and less stable in membership during the wet season compared to the dry season. All-female subgroups were less spatially cohesive but more stable in membership than all-male subgroups. Finally, we report that subgroups with one or more non-lactating females (i.e., without nursing young) were smaller on average than subgroups containing lactating females with nursing young. These data contribute to a growing body of research documenting the ecological and social dimensions along which grouping patterns might vary.
AB - Spider monkeys (Ateles sp.) are characterized by high fission–fusion dynamics, meaning their social grouping pattern is fluid and consists of subgroups that vary in size, composition, and spatial cohesion over time. In this study, we quantify the fission–fusion dynamics of a group of spider monkeys at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve in Belize by measuring subgroup size, spatial cohesion, and stability using data spanning 5 years. We then test whether variation in these three subgroup measures differ according to season, subgroup sex composition, and the reproductive status of female subgroup members. Our results show that subgroups were larger in size and less stable in membership during the wet season compared to the dry season. All-female subgroups were less spatially cohesive but more stable in membership than all-male subgroups. Finally, we report that subgroups with one or more non-lactating females (i.e., without nursing young) were smaller on average than subgroups containing lactating females with nursing young. These data contribute to a growing body of research documenting the ecological and social dimensions along which grouping patterns might vary.
KW - Ateles
KW - Belize
KW - Fission–fusion dynamics
KW - Seasonality
KW - Sex differences
KW - Subgroups
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053417024&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10329-018-0685-4
DO - 10.1007/s10329-018-0685-4
M3 - Journal Article
C2 - 30209669
AN - SCOPUS:85053417024
SN - 0032-8332
VL - 59
SP - 531
EP - 539
JO - Primates
JF - Primates
IS - 6
ER -