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NOTES
Natural History
Mammalogy Notes 2020, 6(2), mn0113; https://doi.org/10.47603/mano.v10n2.433 1/7
Mammalogy Notes ISSN 2382-3704
https://doi.org/10.47603/mano.v10n2.433
Ground Nesting Behavior of Aotus griseimembra: Rare
Terrestrial Evidence in A Strictly Arboreal Species
Julián Arango-Lozano1* Karime Angarita-Corzo2, Jose Julio-Guzmán3, Camilo
Ernesto Angarita-Yanes4, Sebastián O. Montilla5
1 Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 #26-10, 170001, Manizales, Colombia.
2 Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Universidad de Antioquia, Carrera 75 # 65-87, 050034,
Medellín, Colombia.
3 Grupo de investigación en biodiversidad del caribe colombiano, Universidad del Atlántico, UA, 081001, Carrera 30 # 8-49,
Puerto Colombia, Colombia
4 Biólogo, Investigador independiente
5 Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales y Primatología; Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
* Correspondencia: arangolozanoj1@gmail.com
Resumen
Reportamos una observación novedosa del comportamiento de anidación en el suelo en
una pareja de Aotus griseimembra, dentro de un parche sucesional de bosque interandino
en Colombia. Este comportamiento, previamente no registrado para primates
estrictamente arbóreos del género Aotus, desafía la comprensión convencional. Los monos
exhibieron acciones típicas de la especie, pero buscaron refugio en el suelo, posiblemente
influenciados por alteraciones del hábitat. Sus visitas al sitio de descanso en el suelo
fueron monitoreadas y confirmaron la vulnerabilidad a depredadores y competidores en
el parche de bosque. Estos hallazgos destacan la necesidad de nuevas investigaciones
sobre las estrategias de respuesta de los primates neotropicales a los factores estresantes
ambientales y la perturbación del hábitat
Palabras clave: Fragmentación del bosque, Monos nocturnos del Caribe, Primates neotropicales.
Abstract
We report a novel observation of ground nesting behavior in a couple of Aotus
griseimembra within a successional inter-Andean Forest patch of Colombia. This behavior,
previously unrecorded for strictly arboreal primates of the Genus Aotus, challenges
conventional understanding. The monkeys exhibited typical species actions but sought
refuge on the ground, possibly influenced by habitat alterations. Their visits to the ground
sleeping site were monitored and confirmed the vulnerability to predators, competitors in
the forest patch. These findings call the attention for further research into the response
strategies of neotropical primates to environmental stressors and habitat disturbance.
Keywords: Caribbean Owl monkey, Forest fragmentation, Neotropical primates.
Mammalogy Notes 2020, 6(2), mn0113; https://doi.org/10.47603/mano.v10n2.433 2/7
Neotropical primates are one of the most threatened mammal groups due to their ecology
restricted to forest habitats (Alfaro et al., 2015; Benchimol & Peres 2014; Túnez et al., 2021).
These populations in central and South America are declining as their ideal habitats are
reduced by the expansion of agricultural frontiers, deforestation, pollution, and climate
change (de Almeida et al., 2017; Estrada et al., 2017; Carvalho et al., 2019). In response to
these environmental stressors, Neotropical primates may exhibit behavioural changes in
response to these new challenges (Jung et al., 2015; Morelos-Juárez et al. 2015; Corrêa et al.,
2018). These changes include alterations in foraging strategies, social structures, and
ranging patterns to cope with habitat fragmentation and resource scarcity (Schwitzer et al.,
2011; Estrada et al., 2012; de Almeida et al., 2017; Ramsay et al., 2023). Additionally, shifts in
reproductive behaviors and increased tolerance to human presence show an adaptive
response to habitat disturbance (Tokuda et al. 2018; Mancini et al. 2023). While vulnerability
increases over time due to habitat loss, some resilient species as Sapajus nigritus and
Alouatta guariba clamitans underscore their capacity to persist in human-altered
landscapes (Corrêa et al., 2018; Tokuda et al. 2018).
Terrestrial behavior, recognized as those activities performed by primates on the ground
rather than in trees, has been poorly studied in the Neotropics because most monkey
species are highly associated with the forest canopy (Campbell et al., 2005; Eppley et al.,
2016; Souza-Alvez et al., 2019; Monteza-Moreno et al., 2020; Eppley et al., 2022). However,
some patterns have been detailed, such as: (i) use of stones and sticks on the ground to
open shelled fruits and extract insects in Cebus spp. (Waga et al., 2006), use of waterholes
during dry season (Freese 1978). (ii) Foraging behavior at terrestrial salt licks and
waterholes in Ateles spp. and Alouatta spp. (Campbell 2005; Ferrari 2008; Link et al., 2010,
2011). (iii) Ground vocalizations near highly degraded forests by Aotus spp. (Shanee &
Shanee 2011). And finally, and more generally, (iv) road crossings by various groups of
neotropical primates, that may result in roadkills (Praill et al., 2023). However, no nesting
or sleeping sites on the ground have been recorded before for strictly arboreal primates
of the genus Aotus. Here we report an abnormal sleeping site behavior on the ground by
Aotus griseimembra in the inter-Andean basin of Colombia.
During field trips from April 2 to May 2, 2024, we identified an adult pair of Aotus
griseimembra in the Santa Lucia rural area, vereda La Rochela, Simacota, Santander, within
the inter-Andean basin of the Mid-Magdalena River Basin, Colombia (latitude: 6°44'7.43" N,
longitude: 73°52'14.34" W). These observations occurred in a successional forest patch
surrounded by mixed grasslands and two nearby roadways at an elevation of 100 m.
The first observation occurred on April 4, 2024, at 09:59 h, when we detected the male at
the forest boundaries on the ground, possibly altered by human presence. On April 8, 2024,
at 12:47 h and 16:10 h, we observed the pair heading towards a sleeping site based on a
tree of the species Xilopia aromatica (Annonaceae). The animals were resting and covering
themselves with a mixed structure of sticks, leaves, and leaf litter on the ground, a type of
structure already documented in trees but different from the usual holes or cavities in
trees (Aquino & Encarnación 1986; Case 2013; Helenbrook et al., 2019). Throughout our
observations, we identified the male climbing in and out of the trees and returning to the
sleeping sites (possibly by the researcher’s presence); however, the female remained in
the refuge, a possible territorial display like other neotropical primates (Rutberg 1983;
Mammalogy Notes 2020, 6(2), mn0113; https://doi.org/10.47603/mano.v10n2.433 3/7
Janson, 1986; Spence-Aizenberg et al. 2023; Figure 1; video in Supplementary material,
Arango-Lozano 2024).
FIGURE 1. Detection site of: (a, b, c) the A. griseimembra ground sleeping site at the base of a Xilopia
aromatica tree, and the night monkey couple in the sleeping site. Arrows indicate the sleeping site.
(d and e) records via camera trap of the presence of Leopardus pardalis and Cebus versicolor,
respectively. Video is available in Mendeley data repositorium (Arango-Lozano 2024,
https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/j6tcm29gnw/1).
We conducted a total of nine separate excursions, excluding the initial encounter on April
4th when we set up camera traps to monitor the activity of the individuals at the sleeping
site. These excursions took place on April 5th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, and
May 2nd, between 17:00 and 24:00 hours. It is noteworthy that between April 9th and April
21st, there were no sightings of the pair, either at the sleeping site or on the camera trap
footage. However, on April 22nd at 19:30 hours, the pair was observed in the gallery forest
association, moving through the canopy of trees, but not near the ground sleeping site.
This observation was repeated on April 23rd at 19:15 hours.
Aotus griseimembra is a night monkey species highly associated to forest cover,
categorized as Vulnerable (VU) due to illegal trade, transformation, and degradation of
habitat (Defler, 2003; Mantilla-Meluk & Ortega 2011; Henao-Díaz et al.,2020; Montilla et al.,
2021). This night monkey inhabits from conserved to highly degraded forest patches in the
Caribbean and inter Andean valleys of Colombia and the western slopes of Northern
Venezuela always restricted below 1000 m in elevation (Shanee et al., 2023). Several authors
have called the attention about the A. griseimembra tolerance to inhabiting degraded
patches in Colombia, using the surrounding available resources for feeding and sleeping
site in the canopy trees (Garcés-Restrepo et al., 2016; Montilla et al., 2021, Shanee et al.,
2023). For A. griseimembra, however, this is the first evidence using of roosts other than
tree holes. It is also the first observation of ground-level sleeping sites for night monkeys.
Mammalogy Notes 2020, 6(2), mn0113; https://doi.org/10.47603/mano.v10n2.433 4/7
We are not sure what led this night monkey couple to use a terrestrial sleeping site.
However, with camera traps records and recognized traces we identified the presence of a
pair of Leopardus pardalis and a troop of Cebus versicolor (Figure 1d and 3e). The former
is a potential predator (Miranda et al., 2005; Bianchi & Mendes 2007; de Oliveira et al., 2009),
and the latter is a potential resource competitor (Link et al., 2010; Marsh et al., 2016). This
could indicate that resources such as fruit or leaves for primates are not scarce in the
mixed matrix of grasslands and remnant successional forest. Additionally, the persistence
of this nest may be due to the behavior of the Aotus genus, which is known to maintain
multiple sleeping sites within their home range (Bustamante-Manrique et al., 2021; Montilla
et al., 2021). It is possible that the ground sleeping site served as a previously established
refuge for the night monkey pair, which they continued to visit after the structure collapsed
from the tree due to unknown circumstances.
The proximity to the ground heightens the vulnerability of these primates to predators
such as wild cats, both during the day and night. Additionally, it increases the likelihood of
encounters with domestic cats and dogs, thereby exposing them to zoonotic diseases like
Toxoplasma gondii, as observed in other primates, including those of the Aotus genus
(Gyimesi et al., 2006). Despite this unexpected behavior, the couple exhibited typical
characteristics of their species, displaying heightened responsiveness to stimuli, and
seeking refuge in canopy cover when humans were present (Shanee et al., 2023). However,
due to the rarity of this occurrence, we are motivated to maintain non-invasive surveillance
of the couple using camera traps to gather more comprehensive data. Currently, we are
seeking permission from the owners of private properties surrounding the forest patch
where the encounter took place to monitor the couple's movements and ascertain whether
they are attempting to access other nearby forest remnants.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank Proyecto Troncal Magdalena 1 for the support of field logistics.
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Editor: Camilo A. Calderón-Acevedo
Received: 2024-05-16
Reviewed: 2024-05-20
Accepted: 2024-08-10
Published: 2024-10-22