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Life-history parameters of a wild group of West African patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas patas)

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Abstract

Based on long-term, although intermittent, observations (2 years 4 months of 14 years), we present data on birth seasonality, age at first birth, interbirth intervals, mortality rates, age at first emigration, and population change of a wild population of West African patas monkeys (Etythrocebus patas patas) in northern Cameroon. Birth season was from the end of December until the middle of February, corresponding to the mid-dry season. In spite of large body size, the patas females had the earliest age at first birth (36.5 monthsold) and the shortest interbirth intervals (12 months) compared to the closely related wild forest guenons. Age at first emigration of the males was considered to occur between 2.5 and 4.5 years. The group size of the focal group drastically decreased between 1984 and 1987, and steadily increased until 1994, then decreased again in 1997. The neighboring group also showed a similar trend in group size. The population decreases were likely to be caused by drought over 3 years. Annual crude adult mortality rate was 4% during population increase periods (PIP) between 1987 and 1994. It rose to 22% during all the periods (AP), including drought over 3 years. Despite their smaller body size, the rate of the wild forest guenons (Cercopithecus mitis) (4%) was the same and much lower than those of the patas during PIP and AP, respectively. The annual average juvenile mortality rate was 13% during PIP and it also rose to 37% during AP. That of wild forest guenons (C. ascanius) (10–12%) was a little lower and much lower than those of the patas during PIP and AP, respectively. These findings were consistent with Charnov's theoretical model of mammalian life-history evolution in that patas with high adult and juvenile mortality showed early and frequent reproduction in spite of large body size. Charnov also considered high adult mortality as a selective force and high juvenile mortality as a density-dependent consequence of high fecundity. Our results support the former but not the latter research findings.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to MINREST, IRA, and MINEF, Republic of Cameroon, for permission to conduct research in Kala Maloue National Park. The project has been continuously encouraged by Professors Emeritus M. Kawai and Y. Sugiyama as directors of the Kyoto University Primate Research Team in Cameroon. Our field work was greatly facilitated by assistance from Dr. V. Hayes. Rainfall data collected by the Meteorological Station, Kousseri in Cameroon and Ndjamena Airport in Chad, was provided by Professor Emeritus H. Kadomura. Helpful suggestions and discussions were the contribution of Drs. L.A. Isbell, T.P. Young, S. Miura, and two anonymous reviewers. Funding has been provided by grants of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, Japan (62041055, 01041058, 04041066 to Y. Sugiyama; 63041140 to M. Kawai; 08041145 to H.O.) and by Kyoikusha, Tokyo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Kobe City College of Nursing, 3-4 Gakuen-nishimachi, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-2103, Japan

    Naofumi Nakagawa

  2. Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi 484–8506, Japan

    Hideyuki Ohsawa & Yasuyuki Muroyama

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  1. Naofumi Nakagawa
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  2. Hideyuki Ohsawa
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  3. Yasuyuki Muroyama
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Correspondence to Naofumi Nakagawa.

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Nakagawa, N., Ohsawa, H. & Muroyama, Y. Life-history parameters of a wild group of West African patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas patas). Primates 44, 281–290 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-003-0042-z

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