Impact of geophysical variables and interactions with human visitors on the activity rhythms of brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps rufiventris) living under human care in Colombia

ABSTRACT

The main objective of this study was to evaluate how the rest-activity rhythm of a group of 17 A. fusciceps rufiventris is influenced by such geophysical factors and the presence of human visitors since this group is in seminatural conditions. We recorded motor activity on five adult females and five males for an average of 115.2 days with Actiwatch AW4 and Actiwatch Minis accelerometers. Spider monkeys displayed a typical diurnal motor activity rhythm with only minor activity during nighttime. Sunset affected activity time directly, while sunrise had the opposite effect. Average daily activity pattern has four prominent peaks of activity and were influenced by geophysical variables such as sunset, sunrise and photoperiod as well as by temperature. Human visitor activities also affected this spider monkey group’s activity pattern. In conclusion, the results of this study provide evidence on the behavior regulation of this species and could be used to optimize animal welfare in semi-natural conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Circadian rhythm
• geophysical variables
• rest–activity rhythm
• seminatural conditions

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the scientific and technical personnel at Wakatá Biopark for their support in the handling and interacting with the monkeys and Raul Cardoso for the figures. To Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales, IDEAM of Colombia. Web: http://ideam.gov.co. The authors acknowledge the contribution of Lynna Kiere, for the style revision of manuscript. To our Senior Advisor Professor Dr. Hans G. Erkert for the comments to manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

JMD, JMC: Conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis and writing original draft. ACM, CMJC, TGJF, BAML, MBM, literature review, article writing RAC, ABL., Capture of Ateles, application of actimeters, health care, monitoring, writing review and edition. De AI, LA. Writing review and editing. LP, Statistical analyses.

Additional information

Funding

The study was made possible by a grant from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Technología (CONACYT), Mexico, to JMD (No. 0220300) and the financing and technical and logistic support of the Laboratorio Interdisciplinar de Ciencias y Procesos Humanos (LINCIPH) of the Universidad Externado de Colombia.