Primate Ecology

Longterm Monitoring

Our research on nonhuman primates at the Los Amigos Biological Station began in 2009 with an emphasis on the reproductive biology of Callitrichids (the tamarins and marmosets). They are small and fast, and one must earn their trust to observe natural behavior up close. Via a careful annual mark-recapture program we study broad aspects of tamarin biology from known social groups and individuals. Additionally, we study population level phenomena from 9 other sympatric (co-occuring) species of primate through mix of mark-recapture and noninvasive sampling techniques.

Tamarins By The Numbers

years of study

tamarins

tamarin groups

1 %

Recapture Rate

What are Tamarins?

Tamarins are primates (family, Callitrichidae) known for their miniature stature and complex, female-dominant social systems.

They have hirsute faces and are very hard to distinguish from each other. No sexual dichromatism is present in the species’ pelage.

They produce twin offspring over 90% of the time. These dizygotic or fraternal twins are more closely related on average due to genetic chimerism

Meet the Tamarins at Los Amigos

Emperor tamarins (Saguinus imperator), known for their fantastic mustaches, are also fierce creatures, despite their size.

Saddleback tamarins (Leontocebus weddelli) are milder in temperament. They are the most widely ranging tamarin species in the Amazon.

Goeldi’s monkey (Callimico goeldii) is a rare and cryptic primate occasionally observed at our site. They are larger, quieter, and fond of fungus.

The Other Primates

years of study

Species

marked individuals

current projects

Microbiome Analysis

Using fecal samples collected non-invasively, we are performing short and long fragment 16S bacterial metabarcoding for a comparison of the gut microbiome across the entire primate community, including conspecifics from animal rescue centers in the same area.

Diet Characterization

With non-invasively collected fecal samples we are performing metabarcoding experiments of specific gene markers to characterize leaf, fruit, insect, and vertebrate food items across all co-occurring primates.

Movement Ecology

Using several tracking technologies for small-to-medium size primates we are remotely collecting movements of tamarins, titi monkeys, and capuchins. Movement of other species is extracted from primate follows with handheld GPS units.

Publications

We published a protocol on safe mark-recapture techniques for callitrichids. Additional detailed protocols are available upon request.

Our review of sightings of Callimico goeldii in Peru examined data from 340 sites over 40 years to and predict species distribution.

We developed a model to predict the breeding status of individuals based on morphological, reproductive characteristics.

We collated published and unpublished data from 86 studies across 65 localities to assess titi monkey (Callicebinae) terrestriality.

Moreira, L. A., Watsa, M., Erkenswick, G., Higham, J. P., & Melin, A. D. Evaluating genital skin color as a putative sexual signal in wild saddleback (Leontocebus weddelli) and emperor (Saguinus imperator) tamarins. American Journal of Primatology, 2022. DOI: /10.1002/ajp.23456

Erkenswick, G.A., Watsa, M., Gozalo, A.S., Dmytryk, N. and Parker, P.G., 2017. Temporal and demographic blood parasite dynamics in two free-ranging neotropical primates. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 6(2), pp.59-68.

Erkenswick, G.A., Watsa, M., Pacheco, M.A., Escalante, A.A. and Parker, P.G., 2017. Chronic Plasmodium brasilianum infections in wild Peruvian tamarins. PLoS One, 12(9).

Asangba, A.E., Mugisha, L., Rukundo, J., Lewis, R.J., Halajian, A., Cortés-Ortiz, L., . . . Stumpf, R.M. (2022). Large comparative analyses of primate body site microbiomes indicate that the oral microbiome is unique among all body sites and conserved among nonhuman primates. Microbiology Spectrum, 2022, DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01643-21

Erkenswick, Gideon & Watsa, Mrinalini & Gozalo, Alfonso & Dudaie, Shay & Bailey, Lindsey & Muranda, Kudakwashe & Kuziez, Alaa & Parker, Patricia. (2019). A multiyear survey of helminths from wild saddleback (Leontocebus weddelli) and emperor (Saguinus imperator) tamarins. American Journal of Primatology. 81. 10.1002/ajp.23063.

Poirier AC, Waterhouse JS, Watsa M, Erkenswick GA, Moreira LAA, Tang J, Dunn JC, Melin AD, Smith AC. (2021). On the trail of primate scent signals: A field analysis of callitrichid scent-gland secretions by portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Am J Primatology. DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23236.

Poirier AC, Dunn JC, Watsa M, Erkenswick GA, Melin AD, Waterhouse JS, Smith AC (2023). Olfactory communication in tamarins: A comparative analysis of scents from wild and captive populations. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research.https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v11i1.652