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Isotopic niche partitioning in two sympatric howler monkey species
Author(s) -
FloresEscobar Elizabeth,
Sanpera Carolina,
Jover Lluís,
CortésOrtiz Liliana,
RangelNegrín Ariadna,
CanalesEspinosa Domingo,
Dias Pedro Américo D.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.24028
Subject(s) - sympatry , sympatric speciation , allopatric speciation , niche , ecology , niche differentiation , biology , isotope analysis , interspecific competition , ecological niche , zoology , habitat , population , demography , sociology
Objectives Ecological similarity between species can lead to interspecific trophic competition. However, when ecologically similar species coexist, they may differ in foraging strategies and habitat use, which can lead to niche partitioning. As the body tissues of consumers contain a stable isotope signature that reflects the isotopic composition of their diet, stable isotope analysis is a useful tool to study feeding behavior. We measured the isotopic niche width, which is a proxy for trophic niche width, of mantled ( Alouatta palliata ) and black ( A. pigra ) howler monkeys. Specifically, studied populations in allopatry and sympatry to assess whether these species showed niche partitioning. Materials and Methods Between 2008 and 2012, we collected hair samples from 200 subjects (113 black and 87 mantled howler monkeys) and used continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry to estimate δ 13 C and δ 15 N. We described the isotopic niche width of each species in allopatry and sympatry with the Bayesian estimation of the standard ellipse areas. Results In allopatry, isotopic niche width and isotopic variation were similar in both species. In sympatry, black howler monkeys had a significantly broader isotopic niche, which was mainly determined by high δ 15 N values, and included the majority of mantled howler monkeys' isotopic niche. The isotopic niche of mantled howler monkeys did not differ between sympatry and allopatry. Conclusions The coexistence of these ecologically similar species may be linked to trophic niche adjustments by one species, although the particular features of such adjustments (e.g., dietary, spatial, or sensory partitioning) remain to be addressed.