Leanne T. Nash

Synopsis of Galago species characteristics

At the time of the symposium, “Variability Within the Galagos,” at the 1986 IPS Congress, most participants were still using Hill’s (1953) classification and nomenclature of galago species. All participants expressed some degree of dissatisfaction with Hill’s species groups. Many described how it was proving increasingly problematic and inadequate as a means to organize newly collected laboratory, museum, and field data. By the end of the symposium, a consensus about species diversity had emerged which synthesized the current state of knowledge about galagos. The consensus of the participants was that the 11 species, identified by Olson (1979, 1986), most closely approximates the available data about galago species diversity. The 11 species are described.

Ecological attributes recorded in stable isotope ratios of arboreal prosimian hair

Abstract Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were measured in hair samples from two species of Galago from Gedi Ruins National Monument in eastern Kenya and from Lepilemur leucopus from Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve in southern Madagascar. Forest structure was generally similar in the two areas but average rainfall was lower in Madagascar. Species average 13C values varied with feeding height in the forest canopy and with average rainfall level as expected from reported variation in plant 13C values. G. garnettii, which feeds higher in the forest canopy, had less negative 13C values than G. zanzibaricus, which spends more time below 5 m. L. leucopus, from a drought-afflicted forest, had less negative hair 13C values than the two galago species. The values within the Lepilemur sample showed a positive linear relation with percent dependence on a CAM tree species and with xeric conditions within the species reserve. Nitrogen stable isotope ratios varied with trophic level of feeding and with time spent feeding on leguminous plants. The insectivorous galagos had significantly more positive 15N values than the folivorous L. leucopus. Within the Lepilemur sample, 15N values varied inversely with the percent of feeding time spent on leguminous plants. The range of 15N and 13C values in each of the prosimian species is larger than reported for animals fed monotonous diets and for New World monkey species. The monkey species feed as groups of individuals whereas the prosimians have solitary feeding habits. The ranges in the prosimian species apparently reflect the greater variation in diet among individual prosimians compared to individual monkeys. The isotope data reported here are equivalent, on average, to those reported for other arboreal species from similar forest habitats and with similar dietary habits. This supports the use of such data for paleoecological reconstruction of forest and woodland systems and diet reconstruction of extinct primate populations and species.

Variables influencing the origins of diverse abnormal behaviors in a large sample of captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

The developmental origin of abnormal behaviors is generally associated with early rearing environments that lack sufficient physical and sensory stimulation. However, other factors should also be considered. A large sample of captive chimpanzees (128 males and 140 females) was surveyed for the presence or absence of 18 abnormal behaviors. Origin variables included the subjects source (zoo, pet, performer, or laboratory), rearing (mother‐ or hand‐reared), and sex. Animals were assessed while held at the Primate Foundation of Arizona, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, or White Sands Research Center. There was a confound among origin variables; more hand‐reared animals than expected were from laboratories. Logistic regression tested the relationship of rearing and source, with sex as a secondary predictor variable, to each of the abnormal behaviors. There was no clear association between any abnormal behavior and source. However, for coprophagy, relative to animals from the laboratory, zoo animals tended to show a higher prevalence, while performers tended to show a lower prevalence (when rearing and sex were controlled). Rocking and self‐sucking were significantly more likely in hand‐reared animals. Coprophagy and depilation of self were significantly more likely in mother‐reared animals. When rearing and source were statistically controlled, the only significant sex difference was a higher prevalence of coprophagy in females and a higher prevalence of rocking in males. In a second, smaller sample of 25 males and 33 females from Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, no significant sex association was found for coprophagy, urophagy, rocking, or self‐depilation. In this second sample, coprophagy was also significantly more likely in mother‐reared than hand‐reared subjects. The association of some abnormal behaviors with mother‐rearing suggests that some form of social learning may be involved in the origin of some of these behavior patterns. This indicates that some abnormal behaviors may not be always be indicative of reduced psychological well‐being in captive chimpanzees. Am. J. Primatol. 48:15–29, 1999.

Species differences in substrate use and diet between sympatric galagos in two kenyan coastal forests

Two sympatric species of galago,Galago zanzibaricus andG. garnettii, differed significantly in diet (judged mainly by fecal analysis) and substrate use at each of two coastal forest sites in Kenya. The larger-bodiedG. garnettii tended to use branches of a bigger diameter and to be found higher in the canopy than the smallerG. zanzibaricus. The latter species spent most of its time in the thick undergrowth. The larger species ate more fruit than the smaller. There were differences between the species in the type of invertebrate prey remains found in the feces. It is suggested that the differences in habitat use were influenced by the different body sizes of the two galagos, which so enabled these closely related species to coexist.

The development of the mother-infant relationship in wild baboons (Papio anubis)

In this investigation of mother-infant behaviour in the field, quantitative data were collected that are comparable to those available from studies of captive baboons (Papio anubis) and rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Using a variety of measures, the course of the mother-infant relationship for seven infants over ages 3 to 23 months is described. Many of the measures of the mother-infant contact decreased most sharply between 10 and 12 months of age. Maternal rejection had an important role in decreasing the infants suckling and riding. These behaviour patterns were replaced by the infant grooming its mother or staying nearby. Individual differences between mother-infant pairs were marked. It is postulated that such differences in infant experience would lead to the marked differences in ‘personalities’ observable in adult baboons.

Vertical Clingers and Sleepers1: Seasonal Influences on the Activities and Substrate Use of Lepilemur leucopus at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar

Lepilemur leucopus was the subject of an 11-month field study at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar. Radio-tracking provided point samples of activities and foods eaten for the 5 subjects (4 males, 1 female) across the hot, wet season and the cool, dry season. Across all seasons and animals, about 50% of the time was spent resting and/or self-grooming and about 30% of the time feeding. The majority of foods eaten were leaves and species diversity of the diet was low. During the cooler season, all 5 subjects rested significantly more and travelled significantly less than in the warmer season. Across seasons, feeding time did not change significantly. This species appears to cope with a poor quality diet through inactivity which increases during times of thermoregulatory stress. Substrates used were primarily more vertical and of small (<5 cm) diameter. Substrates did not change markedly across seasons.Lepilemur leucopus was the subject of an 11-month field study at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar. Radio-tracking provided point samples of activities and foods eaten for the 5 subjects (4 males, 1 female) across the hot, wet season and the cool, dry season. Across all seasons and animals, about 50% of the time was spent resting and/or self-grooming and about 30% of the time feeding. The majority of foods eaten were leaves and species diversity of the diet was low. During the cooler season, all 5 subjects rested significantly more and travelled significantly less than in the warmer season. Across seasons, feeding time did not change significantly. This species appears to cope with a poor quality diet through inactivity which increases during times of thermoregulatory stress. Substrates used were primarily more vertical and of small (

Parturition in a Feral Baboon (Papio anubis)

During a study of feral baboons at the Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, the premature birth of a dead, breechborn infant was observed and photographed. The placenta was immediately eaten and the dead infant carried by the mother for two days. The birth itself attracted little attention from other troop members, but the dead infant was investigated by several baboons, especially three females who had recently become dominant to the mother in a fight.

The Evolution of Exudativory in Primates

Table of Contents for The Evolution of Exudativory in Primates List of contributors Dedication Acknowledgements Forward: Robert D. Martin 1. Introduction Leanne T. Nash and Anne M. Burrows 2. Nutritional and digestive challenges to being a gum-feeding primate Michael L. Power 3. Exudativory in primates: interspecific patterns Andrew C. Smith 4. The ecology of exudate production and exudate feeding in Saguinus and Callimico Paul A. Garber and Leila M. Porter 5. Influences on gum feeding in primates Andrew C. Smith 6. Gummivory in cheirogaleids: primitive retention or adaptation to hypervariable environments? Fabien G.S. Genin, Judith C. Masters, and Jorg U. Ganzhorn 7. Seasonality in gum and honeydew feeding in gray mouse lemurs Marine Joly-Radko and Elke Zimmermann 8. Comparative ecology of exudate feeding by Asian slow lorises (Nycticebus) K.A.I. Nekaris, C.R. Starr, R.L. Collins, and A. Navarro-Montes 9. Exudativory and primate skull form Matthew J. Ravosa, Russell T. Hogg, and Christopher J. Vinyard 10. A comparative analysis of the articular cartilage in the temporomandibular joint of gouging and non-gouging New World monkeys Amy L. Mork, Walter E. Horton, Jr., and Christopher J. Vinyard 11. Galago dental adaptations to exudativory: Its not the toothcomb that counts Anne M. Burrows and Leanne T. Nash 12. A guide to galago diversity: Getting a grip on how best to chew gum Isobel R. Stephenson, Simon K. Bearder, Guiseppe Donati, and Johann Karlsson 13. Tongue morphology in infant and adult bushbabies (Otolemur spp.) Beth A. Docherty, Laura J. Alport, Kunwar P. Bhatnagar, Anne M. Burrows, and Timothy D. Smith 14. Adaptive profile versus adaptive specialization: Fossils and gummivory in primate evolution Alfred L. Rosenberger Index

Paternal kin recognition in the high frequency / ultrasonic range in a solitary foraging mammal

BackgroundKin selection is a driving force in the evolution of mammalian social complexity. Recognition of paternal kin using vocalizations occurs in taxa with cohesive, complex social groups. This is the first investigation of paternal kin recognition via vocalizations in a small-brained, solitary foraging mammal, the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), a frequent model for ancestral primates. We analyzed the high frequency/ultrasonic male advertisement (courtship) call and alarm call.ResultsMulti-parametric analyses of the calls’ acoustic parameters and discriminant function analyses showed that advertisement calls, but not alarm calls, contain patrilineal signatures. Playback experiments controlling for familiarity showed that females paid more attention to advertisement calls from unrelated males than from their fathers. Reactions to alarm calls from unrelated males and fathers did not differ.Conclusions1) Findings provide the first evidence of paternal kin recognition via vocalizations in a small-brained, solitarily foraging mammal. 2) High predation, small body size, and dispersed social systems may select for acoustic paternal kin recognition in the high frequency/ultrasonic ranges, thus limiting risks of inbreeding and eavesdropping by predators or conspecific competitors. 3) Paternal kin recognition via vocalizations in mammals is not dependent upon a large brain and high social complexity, but may already have been an integral part of the dispersed social networks from which more complex, kin-based sociality emerged.

Contrasting reproductive parameters ingalago senegalensis braccatus andG. s. moholi

Reproductive parameters were compared between two subspecies of the lesser bushbaby, Galago senegalensis braccatusand G. s. moholi.Adult body weights for both male and female G. s. braccatuswere significantly higher than adult body weights of G. s. moholi,as were infant birth weights. The mean gestation length of G. s. braccatuswas significantly longer than that of G. s. moholi. G. s. moholihad a higher incidence of twinning than G. s. braccatus.Puberty in females occurred significantly later in G. s. braccatusthan in G. s. moholi.These differences are of such magnitude that hybridization of G. s. braccatuswith G. s. moholiwould be unlikely. These differences, if augmented by additional evidence, may warrant distinction of the two subspecies at the species level.