Premium
Red howler monkey birth data I: Seasonal variation
Author(s) -
Crockett Carolyn M.,
Rudran Rasanayagam
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.1350130402
Subject(s) - dry season , season of birth , seasonality , phenology , weaning , biology , population , wet season , ecology , habitat , demography , zoology , sociology
A large set of birth data from a population of red howler monkeys ( Alouatta seniculus ) in two habitats found a consistent birth “dip,” with births occurring less frequently in early wet season (May–July) than during the remaining months. In one of two habitats, births were negatively correlated with rainfall, and viable conceptions were positively correlated with rainfall. The observed degree of within‐troop birth synchrony appeared to reflect populational synchrony with environmental factors. Correlations between births and the phenology of plant foods were not striking, but there was weak support for the hypothesis that births are timed to maximize the availability of weaning foods. Reduced births in early wet season also minimize the number of Infants who would experience the transition to independent locomotion and feeding during the peak of the dry season when probable low moisture content of foods and high daytime temperatures might be disadvantageous. However, there was no relationship between season of birth and infant mortality.