Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Shifts in Social Structure of Black Howler (Alouatta pigra) Groups Associated with Natural and Experimental Variation in Population Density

  • Published:
International Journal of Primatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined variation in the group structure of black howlers (Alouatta pigra) using the adult composition of 48 social groups. We compared the structure of groups at 5 sites with different population densities and variation in group structure over time with rising population density. In addition, we examined changes in the group structure of monkeys that were translocated from an area of high population density to an area with a much lower population density. We found at low population densities, groups comprised either heterosexual pairs or a single male with two females. At high population densities groups tended to be multimale and often contained >2 adult females. We suggest the relative costs and benefits of dispersal by maturing adults varies with population density, and in Alouatta pigra results in a shift from single to multimale groups of larger size with increasing population density.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Alberts, S. C. and Altmann, J. (1995). Balancing costs and opportunities: dispersal in male baboons. Am. Nat. 145: 279-306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, J. D. and Baldwin, J. I. (1976). The vocalizations of howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) in southwestern Panama. Folia Primatol. 26: 81-108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolin, I. (1981). Male parental behavior in black howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata pigra) in Belize and Guatemala. Primates 22: 349-360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockett, R. C., Horwich, R. H., and Jones, C. B. (2000). Female dispersal in the Belizean black howling monkey (Alouatta pigra). Neotropical Primates 8: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butynski, T. M. (1990). Comparative ecology of blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis) in highand low-density subpopulations. Ecol. Monog. 60: 1-26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, R. W., Whiten, A., and Henzi, S. P. (1987). One-male groups and inter-group interactions of mountain baboons. Int. J. Primatol 8: 615-633.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, C. R. (1964). Naturalistic Behavior of Non-Human Primates. Pennsylvania State University Press, Pennsylvania.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, D. J. (1969). On the daily behavior and spacing of howling monkey groups. Folia Primatol. 10: 48-102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, M. R., Zucker, E. L., and Scott, N. J. (1986). Population trends of the mantled howler groups of La Pacifica, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Am. J. Primatol. 11: 79-88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clutton-Brock, T. H. (1974). Primate social organisation and ecology. Nature 250: 539-542.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coelho, A. M. Jr., Bramblett, C. A., Quick, L. B., and Bramblett, S. 1976. Resource availability and population density in primates: a socio-bioenergetic analysis of the energy budgets of Guatemalan howler and spider monkeys. Primates 17: 63-80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collias, N., and Southwick, C. (1952). A field study of population density and social organization in howling monkeys. Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. 96: 143-156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crockett, C. M. (1984). Emigration by female red howler monkeys and the case for female competition. In M. F. Small, ed. Female Primates: Studies By Women Primatologists, Alan R. Liss New York. pp. 159-173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crockett, C. M. (1985). Population studies of red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus). Nat. Geo. Res. 1: 264-73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crockett, C. M. (1996). The relation between red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) troop size and population growth in two habitats. In Norconck, M. A., Rosenberger, A. L. and Garber, P. A. (eds.), Adaptive Radiations of Neotropical Primates, Plenum, New York, pp. 489-510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crockett, C. M., and Eisenberg, J. F. (1987). Howlers: variations in group size and demography. In Smuts, B. B., Cheney, D. L., Seyfarth, R. M., Wrangham, R. W. and Struhsaker, T. T. (eds.), Primate Societies, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 54-69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crockett, C. M., and Pope, T. R. (1993). The consequences of sex differences in dispersal for survival and behavior of juvenile red howler monkeys. In Pereira, M. E. and Fairbanks, L. (eds.), Juvenile Primates: Tactics of Social Behavior, Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 104-118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crockett, C. M., and Janson, C. H. (1993). The costs of sociality in red howler monkeys: Infanticide or food competition? Am. J. Primatol 30: 306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crockett, C. M., and Janson, C. H. (2000). Infanticide in red howlers: female group size, male membership and a possible link to folivory. In Van Schaik, C. P. and Janson, C. H. (eds.), Infanticide by Males and its Implications, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 75-98 in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crook, J. H., and Gartlan, J. S. (1966). Evolution of primate societies. Nature 210: 1200-3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunbar, R. I. M. (1984). Reproductive Decisions: An Economic Analysis of Gelada Baboon Social Strategies. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durham, N. M. (1971). Effects of altitude differences on group organization of wild black spider monkeys (Ateles paniscus). Proceedings of the Third International Congress of Primatology, Zurich, 3: 32-40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, J. F., Muckenhirn, N. A., and Rudran, R. (1972). The relation between ecology and social structure in primates. Science 176: 863-874.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glander, K. E. (1975). Habitat and resource utilization: an ecological view of social organization in mantled howling monkeys. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Chicago.

  • Glander, K. E. (1992). Dispersal patterns in Costa Rican mantled howling monkeys. Int. J. Primatol. 13: 415-436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Kirchner, J. P. (1998). Group size and population density of the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) in Muchukux forest, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Folia Primatol. 69: 260-265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horwich, R. H. (1983). Breeding behaviors in the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) of Belize. Primates 24: 222-230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horwich, R., and Gebhard, K. (1983). Roaring rhythms in black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) of Belize. Primates 24: 290-296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horwich, R. H., and Lyon, J. (1990). A Belizean Rainforest. Gays Mills, WI, Orang-Utan Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horwich, R. H., Koontz, F., Saqui, E., Saqui, H., and Glander K. (1993). A reintroduction program for the conservation of the black howler monkey in Belize. Endangered Species Update 10: 1-6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isbell, L. A. (1991). Contest and scramble competition: patterns of female aggression and ranging behavior among primates. Behav. Ecol. 2: 143-155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isbell, L. A., Cheney, D. L., and Seyfarth, R. M. (1990). Costs and benefits of home range shifts among vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 27: 351-358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isbell, L. A., and Van Vuren, D. (1996). Differential costs of locational and social dispersal and their consequences for female group-living primates. Behaviour 133: 1-36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janson, C. H., and Goldsmith, M. L. (1995). Predicting group size in primates. Behav. Ecol. 6: 326-336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, C. B. (1980). The functions of status in the mantled howler monkey, Alouatta palliata Gray: Intraspecific competition for group membership in a folivorous neotropical primate. Primates 21: 389-405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, C. B. (1982). A field manipulation of spatial relations among male mantled howler monkeys. Primates 23: 130-134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, C. B. (1985). Reproductive patterns in mantled howler monkeys: estrus, mate choice and copulation. Primates 26: 130-142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Komdeur, J. (1990). Influence of territory quality and habitat saturation on dispersal options in the Seychelles warbler: an experimental test of the habitat saturation hypothesis for cooperative breeding. In Bell, B. D., Cossee, R. O., Flux, J. E. C., Heather, B. D., Hitchmough, R. A., Robertson C. J. R. and Willimas, M. J. (eds.), Acta XX Congressus Internationalis Ornithologici, Vol III., Christchurch, New Zealand, pp. 1325-1332.

  • Komdeur, J., Huffstadt, A., Prast,W., Castles, G., Miletos, R., and Wattel, J. (1995). Transfer experiments of Seychelles warblers to new islands: changes in dispersal and helping behavior. Anim. Behav. 49: 695-708.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koontz, F. W., Horwich, R., Saqui, E., Saqui, H., Glander, K., Koontz, C., and Westrom, W. (1994). Reintroduction of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) into the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. In AZA Annual Conference Proceedings. Bethesda, Maryland. pp. 104-111.

  • Koontz, F. W., and Ostro, L. E. T. Translocation of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) in Belize: a mutidisciplinary team approach for effective wildlife conservation. AZA Field Conservation Manual. In press.

  • Lott, D. F. (1991). Intraspecific Variation in the Social Systems of Wild Vertebrates. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, L. K. (1999). Ecological effect of the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) on fragmented forests in the Community Baboon Sanctuary, Belize. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Washington.

  • Mason, W. A. (1976). Primate social behavior: pattern and process. In Masterton, R. B. (ed.), Evolution of Brain and Behavior in Vertebrates, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, New Jersey, pp. 425-455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostro, L. E. T. (1998). The spatial ecology of translocated black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) in Belize. Ph.D. Dissertation, Fordham University.

  • Ostro, L. E. T., Silver, S. C., Koontz, F. W., Young, T. P., and Horwich, R. H. (1999). Ranging Behavior of Translocated and Established Groups of Black Howler Monkeys (Alouatta pigra) in Belize, Central America. Biol. Cons. 87: 181-190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pope, T. R. (1989). The Influence of Mating System and Dispersal Patterns on the Genetic Structure of Red Howler Monkey Populations. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Florida.

  • Pope, T. R. (1998). Effects of demographic change on group kin structure and gene dynamics of populations of red howling monkeys. J. Mamm. 79: 692-712.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pusey, A. E., and Packer, C. (1987). Dispersal and Philopatry. In Smuts, B. B., Cheney, D. L., Seyfarth, R. M., Wrangham, R. W., and Struhsaker, T. T. (eds.), Primate Societies, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 250-266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruhiyat, Y. (1983). Socio-ecological study of Presbytis aygula in west Java. Primates 24: 344-359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rumiz, D. L. (1990). Alouatta caraya: population density and demography in northern Argentina. Am. J. Primatol. 21: 279-294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlichte, H. (1978). A preliminary report on the habitat utilization of a group of howler monkeys (Alouatta villosa pigra) in the national park of Tikal, Guatemala. In Montgomery, G. G. (ed.), The Ecology of Arboreal Folivores, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC, pp. 551-561

    Google Scholar 

  • Sekulic, R. (1982a). Behavior and ranging patterns of a solitary female red howler (Alouatta seniculus). Folia Primatol. 38: 217-232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sekulic, R. (1982b). The function of howling in red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus). Behaviour 81: 38-55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sekulic, R. (1983). Male relationships and infant deaths in red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus). Z. Tierpsychol. 61: 185-202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver, S.C. (1997). The feeding ecology of translocated howler monkeys Alouatta pigra in Belize. Ph.D. Dissertation Fordham University.

  • Silver, S. C., Ostro, L. E. T., Yeager, C. P., and Horwich, R. (1998). The feeding ecology of the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) in northern Belize. Am. J. Primatol. 44: 263-279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver, S. C., Ostro, L. E. T., Yeager, C. P., and Dierenfeld, E. S. (2000). Phytochemical and mineral components of foods consumed by black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) at two sites in Belize. Zoo Biol. 19: 95-109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorington, R. W., Ruiz, J. C., and Eisenberg, J. F. (1984). A study of a black howling monkey (Alouatta caraya) population in northern Argentina. Am. J. Primatol. 6: 357-366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Schaik, C. P. and Van Hooff, J. A. R. A. M. (1983). On the ultimate causes of primate social systems. Behaviour 85: 91-117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vehrencamp, S. L. (1983). A model for the evolution of despotic versus egalitarian societies. Anim. Behav. 31: 667-682.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel, C. (1971). Behavioral differences of Presbytis entellus in two different habitats. Proceedings of the Third International Congress of Primatology Zurich, 3: 41-47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe, K. (1981). Variations in group composition and population density of the two sympatric Mentawaian leaf-monkeys. Primates 22: 145-160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, J. M. (1987). Vocally mediated reciprocity between neighboring groups of mantled howling monkeys Alouatta palliata. Anim. Behav. 35: 1615-1627.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, sNY, 10460, USA

    Linde E. T. Ostro & Scott C. Silver

  2. Louis Calder Center Biological Station and Department of Biology, Fordham University, PO Box K., Armonk, NY, 10504, USA

    Linde E. T. Ostro & Scott C. Silver

  3. Wildlife Trust, 61 Route 9W, cPalisades sNY, 10964-8000, USA

    Fred W. Koontz

  4. Community Conservation, Inc., 50542 One Quiet Lane, Gays Mills, WI, 54631, USA

    Robert H. Horwich & Robin Brockett

Authors
  1. Linde E. T. Ostro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Scott C. Silver
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fred W. Koontz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Robert H. Horwich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Robin Brockett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linde E. T. Ostro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ostro, L.E.T., Silver, S.C., Koontz, F.W. et al. Shifts in Social Structure of Black Howler (Alouatta pigra) Groups Associated with Natural and Experimental Variation in Population Density. International Journal of Primatology 22, 733–748 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012013315920

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012013315920

Search

Navigation