Tag: Larry Ulibarri

Intragroup Dominance Hierarchies of Domestic Female Llamas in a Long-Term Herd

Presenter: Skye Grubb − Anthropology

Faculty Mentor(s): Larry Ulibarri, Frances White

Session: (In-Person) Poster Presentation

This study examines the presence of a dominance hierarchy among females of an established domestic llama herd. To examine this, a group of thirteen female llamas and one male cria were fed high-quality food in clumped distributions. Their agonistic interactions were observed and recorded using a continuous recording method separated into one minute intervals, as well as a combination of focal animal sampling and scan sampling. A variety of factors including age, long-term health, established time within the herd, proximity, size, frequency of aggression, and reproductive success were examined regarding contribution to the linear dominance hierarchy. Centrality and physical positions within the herd social structure were also considered during analysis of rank. Upon the construction of the original dominance hierarchy, tests of linearity were performed to establish the potential of reversals and changes in the hierarchy over the period of roughly six months. A fairly linear dominance hierarchy has been constructed, showing three distinct groupings of females in terms of general proximity. The majority of reversals occurred in the higher positions of the hierarchy, with individuals lower in the hierarchy interacting aggressively only minimally.

Cranial Morphometric Analysis on Pygathrix nemaeus and Pygrathrix cinerea

Presenter(s): Carly Pate − Anthropology

Faculty Mentor(s): Larry Ulibarri, Frances White, Stephen Frost

Poster 137

Research Area: Anthropology

This study analyzes cranial morphometric distinction between Pygathrix species. Endangered Pygathrix nemaeus and Critically Endangered Pygathrix cinerea are endemic to Southeast Asia. They are threatened with extinction due to hunting and habitat fragmentation. While generally understudied, osteological analysis on these species are also uncommon due to lack of specimen collections or accessibility. Although their ranges partially overlap, it is possible to distinguish species based on genotypic and phenotypic pelage differences. However, distinctions of skeletal morphology have not been quantified. Pygathrix phylogeny has been debated, with a recent cranial morphometric analysis showing no distinction between species detected through linear measures. Using 3D photogrammetric methods and linear measures, cranial data was collected on an osteological collection of confiscated and captive red-shanked doucs, P. nemaeus, (n=43) and grey-shanked doucs, P. cinerea, (n=23), from the Endangered Primate Rescue Center, Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam. Five linear cranial measures indicate no sexual dimorphism between P. cinerea males and females, (n=24, n=19) or between P. nemaeus males and females, (n=17, n=6). One linear measure, anterior foramen magnum to the superior most point on sagittal suture, allowed distinction between species among males, (F 4.37, P<0.05) and among females, (F 10.06, P <0.05). These results indicate a cranial morphometric variation among species. Further 3D shape analysis will continue to explore this distinguishability. Intra- and interspecies variation analyzed morphometrically by 3D photogrammetry can aid in understanding the impacts of species- specific factors such as social structure and feeding ecology on cranial morphological variation.

Assessing The Role Of Crossing Structures In Primate Conservation

Presenter(s): India Brock − Biological Anthropology, Environmental Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Frances White, Larry Ulibarri

Oral Session 4S

Research Area: Primate Conservation

Funding: CAS Continuing Student Scholarship

Anthropogenic modification of natural landscapes is an increasing problem for wildlife, including primates. Infrastructure, including roads, have direct and indirect impacts on wildlife and landscapes. Specifically, mortality from collisions with vehicles and dissection of habitats may reduce population sizes, reduce genetic diversity, and increase genetic differentiation. Road ecology is concerned with understanding and mitigating the effects of roads on wildlife. While this research has focused on a number of taxa, research on primates is particularly scarce. Here, we review the literature for studies on crossing structures as a conservation strategy in wild primate populations. We identified 10 publications on this subject that focused on lemurs (N=1), New World monkeys (N=5), Old World monkeys (N=3), and apes (N=1). We also include data on two unpublished studies. Four bridge designs were used in these studies that varied in their dimensions, construction material, and usage across taxonomic categories. We highlight differences in monitoring and usage across each of these studies. This review highlights a paucity of literature on this oft recommended conservation strategy and an inability to collectively build on previous work from lack of publication. We contend that long-term monitoring of crossing structures be integral to studies on crossing structure. A conceptual framework is proposed for the standardization of crossing structure studies include components for designing purpose-built crossing structures, and avenues for appropriately evaluating bridge effectiveness. We urge the scientific and primatologic communities that primate crossing structure use and effectiveness must be scientifically based.