Primate Update E-Newsletter, Vol. 3, Issue 1, Part 3

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Special Topic:
Spider Monkeys, Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution of the Genus Ateles


Chapter 6: Spider Monkeys as Seed Dispersers

Carlos eating a Passion Fruit (skin and all!)

Plants are reliant on external forces to help disperse their seeds since they cannot move themselves. Large seeds and most tropical tree species use the vertebrate gut as a source of dispersal. In order to attract these vertebrates the seeds are encased in a fleshy, nutritious fruit that is eaten by the animal and defecated elsewhere. This method of seed dispersal is known as endozoochory. Fruit-eating primates, such as the Spider monkey play an important role in seed dispersal.

Due to the fact that the Spider monkey specializes in a diet of ripe fruit, they are often viewed as being among the most important seed-dispersing animals in the New World.


-Campbell, Christina J. Spider Monkeys: The Biology, Behavior, and Ecology of the Genus Ateles (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology). UK. Cambridge University Press. 2008.



Special Topic: Mary Catherine
Positive Reinforcement Training Update

Everyone likes to be rewarded. No matter who you are, human or nonhuman, it is likely you are inclined to do the things that are followed by something good. By encouraging good behaviors through reward, and ignoring bad behaviors, you increase the chances of the desired behavior occurring again in the future. With this basic ethos, we at PPS are working with our nonhuman friends to encourage behaviors that can improve the quality of their lives.

We continue to work with the marmosets and tamarins to step on a scale placed in their enclosure so we can keep an eye on changes in weight. Generally speaking, the marmosets are bold in their investigations of the scale, so encouraging them to stand on it for a set amount of time starts with giving them bits of raisins or cheerios whenever they approach the scale. The next step is rewarding them when they place a foot or two on the scale. From there we build up to a high valued reward when they stand completely on the scale. The tamarins, on the other hand, are rather timid around new objects in their enclosure, so we’ve adjusted our training to accommodate their comfort level. We start with simply rewarding them any time they come within a few feet of the scale. With more exposure and some patience, the tamarins will associate the scale with treats rather than something scary.

Last month, Fiona, a white-tufted marmoset, was a little suspicious of standing on the scale. However now she gets very excited when she sees me coming with the scale and hops on it without hesitation. We’ve been reliably getting her weight every week now!

Miranda Basking in the Sun

This month Miranda, an elderly female capuchin, has been eager to participate in training sessions just like her daughter, Miracle. However we were surprised to find quick-witted Miranda was learning at a slower pace than we expected despite her enthusiasm and long attention span. After some thought it dawned on me that perhaps Miranda was hard of hearing. After all, it seemed the problem was rooted in the “bridge.” Recall from earlier Talk Stories, a “bridge” is a term for the association made, in this case, between a “click” (from a handheld clicker) and a small treat. It acts as a signal to the animal that says, “Yes! That’s right! Now come over and get your treat!” So perhaps Miranda wasn’t advancing because she didn’t know for what exactly she was getting rewarded. After testing out this theory, we’ve come to the conclusion that indeed Miranda is hard of hearing but the solution is simple. We will use a visual bridge, like a red dot sticker on my index finger, to pair with the reward. When she performs a desired behavior, the red dot will be presented immediately followed by a small treat. Soon she will learn the red dot appears when she’s done some action that deserves a treat, and this will help her understand which actions get her the most raisins!

“An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.”
-Martin Buber


We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s E-Newsletter. Thank you for your support of our life saving work. Because of compassionate people, the Sanctuary can continue to provide a place of peace and happiness for 74 primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and smugglers. Here they can heal, form families, and live free from exploitation.

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