Habitat Destruction Leads To Longer Foraging Times And More Stress For Monkeys In Mexico
Habitat Destruction Leads To Longer Foraging Times And More Stress For Monkeys In Mexico
January 23, 2013
Because of human disturbance to its habitat, the endangered Mexican howler monkey is consuming more leaves and less fruit, forcing them to invest much more time foraging for nutrition. Hormone analysis reveals that this is leading to increased stress levels in the monkeys.
The findings of this study, led by the University of Cambridge, were published in a recent issue of International Journal of Primatology. The research was carried out in the field, in the tropical rainforests of the Mexican state of Veracruz. The rainforests of Veracruz are being deforested and fragmented by human activity, such as clearing the forest for cattle. The increase in howler monkey “travel time” – the time needed to find the required nourishment – leads to higher levels of stress hormones called glucocorticoids.
Glucocorticoids are not only indicators of stress, but are also known to relate to diminished reproductive success and lower survival rates. The scientists believe that the study could serve as a behavioral change and resulting health implications model for primates in general living in habitats disturbed by human activities like deforestation.
“Howlers are arboreal primates, that is to say they spend their wholes lives in the trees”, said Dr Jacob Dunn from Cambridge’s Department of Biological Anthropology.
More:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112768862/monkeys-in-mexico-are-stressed-out-012312/