MALE REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES IN ALOUATTA SPP AT THEIR SOUTHERNMOST DISTRIBUTION

KOWALEWSKI MM; RAÑO, M.; OKLANDER L.I.; JERUSALINSKY, L.

Nairobi

Congreso; 27th International Primatological Society Congress; 2018

International Primatological Society

Howler monkeys inhabit a diversity of habitats, including forests, savannas, and anthropically-disturbed areas, thus demonstrating an ability to face intense fluctuations in environmental conditions. Additionally, this genus is characterized by extensive variation in social organization both within- and between-species. For example, differences in dispersal patterns have been reported in the same species (Alouatta caraya) depending on the degree of fragmentation of the local habitat. In this preliminary overview we try to identify if differences in male reproductive strategies are related to demographic, behavioral patterns and type of habitat based on NASA?s NDVI and NPP satellite data.We review data on howler species in southern Brazil and Argentina, analyzing the following variables: population density, number of adult males/females to define multimale-multifemale versus unimale social organization, if groups overlapped home ranges (>50%), presence of dominant hierarchies, frequency of infanticide and female extra group copulation reports. We review 8 studies that provides these variables in detail, 4 from Argentine and 4 from Brazil. Our qualitative analyses suggest that the reproductive strategies of male howlers seem to respond to some demographic variables. If the habitat allows high overlap of groups increasing the opportunity of female extragroup copulation, males are more tolerant to other resident males resulting in multimale groups, and infanticide events remains rare and infrequent. This study can contribute to construct predictive model on Alouatta and primate reproduction, and is thus relevant to survivorship, extinction resilience and, hence, effective conservation planning.