Urbanisation as an important driver of nocturnal primate sociality

dc.contributor.authorScheun, Juan
dc.contributor.authorGreeff, D.
dc.contributor.authorNowack, J.
dc.date.accessioned2019-09-10T14:10:48Z
dc.date.issued2019-07
dc.description.abstractUrbanisation is an important factor driving species and biodiversity decline. Although habitat alterations can be detrimental for species, studies have shown that many diurnal primates are able to adapt to novel environments. Little is known about the ability of nocturnal primates to survive within an urban environment. To increase our understanding on this topic, we present ad libitum observations on group movement and sociality from urban and rural populations of the African lesser bushbaby (Galago moholi) in South Africa from 2014–2018. Our data show considerable changes in the social dynamics within urban bushbaby populations. In contrast to rural individuals, which spent the majority of their activity period solitarily or in pairs, urban individuals displayed a larger degree of sociality throughout their active period, forming groups of up to ten individuals. Furthermore, urban individuals spent less time moving around, while increasing social (communication/pair-grooming), foraging and feeding behaviour. Urban individuals fed on a range of different anthropogenic and natural food sources (insects/tree gum/nectar) compared to their rural counterparts. In summary, urban bushbabies showed a large degree of behavioural plasticity, with changes in social dynamics and structure frequently observed. Such alterations in sociality, along with the ability to utilise different feeding resources, may explain the ability of the species to survive within a highly altered environment.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentMammal Research Instituteen_ZA
dc.description.departmentZoology and Entomologyen_ZA
dc.description.embargo2020-07-01
dc.description.librarianhj2019en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://link.springer.com/journal/10329en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationScheun, J., Greeff, D. & Nowack, J. Urbanisation as an important driver of nocturnal primate sociality. Primates (2019) 60: 375-381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-019-00725-0.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0032-8332 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1610-7365 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1007/s10329-019-00725-0
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/71329
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherSpringeren_ZA
dc.rights© Japan Monkey Centre and Springer Japan KK, part of Springer Nature 2019. The original publication is available at : http://link.springer.comjournal/10329.en_ZA
dc.subjectUrbanisationen_ZA
dc.subjectNocturnal primatesen_ZA
dc.subjectSocialityen_ZA
dc.subjectAnthropogenic effecten_ZA
dc.subjectDietary flexibilityen_ZA
dc.subjectAfrican lesser bushbaby (Galago moholi)en_ZA
dc.subjectBehavioral responsesen_ZA
dc.subjectStress physiologyen_ZA
dc.subjectSpectral tarsier (Tarsius spectrum)en_ZA
dc.subjectVervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)en_ZA
dc.titleUrbanisation as an important driver of nocturnal primate socialityen_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

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