Publication: Ranging and Site Fidelity in Northern Pigtailed Macaques (Macaca leonina) Over Different Temporal Scales
Issued Date
2015
Resource Type
Language
eng
ISSN
2752565
Rights
Mahidol University.
Bibliographic Citation
American Journal of Primatology. Vol. 77, No. 8 (2015), 841-853.
Suggested Citation
Jose-Dominguez, Juan Manuel, Juan Manuel Jose-Dominguez, Tommaso Savini, Savini, Tommaso, Asensio, Norberto, Norberto Asensio Ranging and Site Fidelity in Northern Pigtailed Macaques (Macaca leonina) Over Different Temporal Scales. American Journal of Primatology. Vol. 77, No. 8 (2015), 841-853.. doi:10.1002/ajp.22409 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/48736
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Title
Ranging and Site Fidelity in Northern Pigtailed Macaques (Macaca leonina) Over Different Temporal Scales
Abstract
Space-use patterns are crucial to understanding the ecology, evolution, and conservation of primates,
but detailed ranging data are scarce for many species, especially those in Southeast Asia. Researchers
studying site fidelity to either home ranges or core areas have focused mainly on territorial species,
whereas less information is available for non-territorial species. We analyzed the ranging patterns and
site fidelity of one wild troop of northern pigtailed macaques over 16 months at different temporal scales.
We used characteristic hull polygons in combination with spatial statistics to estimate home ranges and
core areas. The total home range and core areas were 449 ha and 190 ha, respectively. Average daily
path length was 2,246 m. The macaques showed a high defendability index according to the expected
ranging of a non-territorial species in which movement does not theoretically permit the defense of a
large territory. Overall, the study troop ranged more extensively than conspecific groups and closely
related species studied elsewhere. These differences may reflect variable troop size, degree of
terrestriality and habitat characteristics, but could also reflect methodological differences. The location,
size and shape of home ranges and core areas, and extent of daily path lengths changed on a monthly
basis resulting in low site fidelity between months. The macaques also showed clear shifts in the location
of daily home ranges with low site fidelity scores between consecutive days. Daily home range and daily
path length were related to seasonality, with greater values during the fruit-abundant period. Low site
fidelity associated with lack of territoriality is consistent with macaques structuring their movement
based on available food sources. However, ranging patterns and site fidelity can also be explained by
macaques feeding on the move, a foraging strategy that hinders frequent and long visits to the same
location.