Seasonal variation in the behavioural ecology of samango monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis schwarzi) in a southern latitude montane environment

Coleman, B.T.; Setchell, J.M.; Hill, R.A.

doi:10.1007/s10329-021-00939-1

Seasonal variation in the behavioural ecology of samango monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis schwarzi) in a southern latitude montane environment

Coleman, B.T.; Setchell, J.M.; Hill, R.A.

Authors

B.T. Coleman

Professor Jo Setchell joanna.setchell@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Professor Russell Hill r.a.hill@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

Samango monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis schwarzi) in the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa, experience a highly seasonal climate, with relatively cold, dry winters. They must show behavioural flexibility to survive these difficult conditions near the southern limit of the species’ distribution and maintain the minimum nutritional intake they require. Through environmental monitoring and behavioural observations of a habituated group of samango monkeys, we explored how they adapted to the highly seasonal climate they experienced in the mountains. Our results indicated that the monkeys varied their foraging behaviours to account for changes in climate and daylight availability. The samangos increased their food intake in colder months, specifically leaves, likely due to an increased need for calories during winter to maintain body temperature. Samango monkeys have anatomical and physiological adaptations for digesting leaves, and these are likely important in explaining their ability to adapt to the broad range of climatic conditions they experience.

Citation

Coleman, B., Setchell, J., & Hill, R. (2021). Seasonal variation in the behavioural ecology of samango monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis schwarzi) in a southern latitude montane environment. Primates, 62(6), 1005-1018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-021-00939-1

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Aug 2, 2021
Online Publication Date	Aug 17, 2021
Publication Date	2021-11
Deposit Date	Aug 2, 2021
Publicly Available Date	Aug 17, 2022
Journal	Primates
Print ISSN	0032-8332
Electronic ISSN	1610-7365
Publisher	Springer
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	62
Issue	6
Pages	1005-1018
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-021-00939-1

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Copyright Statement
This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of a journal article published in Primates. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-021-00939-1