PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

UEA research gives first in-depth analysis of primate eating habits

2013-12-06
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Lisa Horton
l.horton@uea.ac.uk
44-016-035-92764
University of East Anglia
UEA research gives first in-depth analysis of primate eating habits

From insect-munching tamarins to leaf-loving howler monkeys, researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have compiled the most thorough review of primate eating habits to date.

Findings published today in the journal Oikos show how some monkeys consume their 'five a day' within a single hour and consume as many as 50 portions of fruit in a single day.

The research focuses on the amount and diversity of fruit consumed by primates in neotropical forests of South and Central America. The team compiled data from 290 primate dietary studies spanning 42 years of research across 17 countries.

They reveal how primate body mass and the amount of fruit consumed are linked – with small monkeys such as marmosets and tamarins eating more insects and less fruit.

The amount of fruit eaten gradually increases with greater body size and peaks at medium-sized primates such as saki monkeys. But fruit intake then declines in favour of leaves in larger-bodied primates such as howler and woolly spider monkeys.

Lead researcher Dr Joseph Hawes from UEA's School of Environmental Sciences said: "We examined dietary data to quantify how much different primate species feed on fruit, leaves and insects – particularly in relation to their body size. We found that different species vary widely in the amount and diversity of fruits that they eat, as well as the overall contribution of fruit to their diets.

"We found that the diet of medium-sized primates is most likely to be dominated by fruits. Meanwhile smaller primates, which have high metabolic requirements, eat more insects as they provide a high-quality source of nutrients and calories. Larger monkeys eat a lot more foliage because their guts can tolerate high levels of cellulose and toxins – which are unpalatable or indigestible to smaller primates.

"Many primates easily consume their 'five a day', often within a single hour of active foraging. For example, a single group of several Amazonian primate species can consume as many as 45-50 species of fruit in a single day!

"One of the most surprising things that we found was that primates with wide geographic ranges do not necessarily consume a wider diversity of fruits as expected, perhaps because these species tend to be generalist feeders. Another surprise was that primates with higher prevalence of fruit in their diets were historically among the most poorly studied, meaning we still have a lot to learn about their importance as consumers and seed dispersers."

Co-author Prof Carlos Peres, also from UEA, added: "Having a good understanding of non-human primate diets in the wild is very important for the conservation planning of threatened and area-demanding species, with forest habitat loss and severe forest degradation a major concern throughout the New World tropics. This is also critical to evaluate the roles of primates within forest food webs, particularly as seed dispersers for tropical forest plants."



INFORMATION:

'Ecological correlates of trophic status and frugivory in neotropical primates' by Joseph E. Hawes and Carlos A. Peres is published in Oikos on Friday, December 6, 2013. The research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Stockings perform better than bandages to treat leg ulcers

2013-12-06
Stockings perform better than bandages to treat leg ulcers A new study has found that leg ulcers take the same time to heal when people wear compression stockings rather than traditional bandages A new study has found that leg ulcers take the ...

US stroke deaths declining due to improved prevention, treatment

2013-12-06
US stroke deaths declining due to improved prevention, treatment American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific statement Stroke deaths in the United States have declined dramatically in recent decades due to improved treatment and prevention, ...

Vaccine study reveals link between immunity and cells' starvation response

2013-12-06
Vaccine study reveals link between immunity and cells' starvation response What makes yellow fever vaccine especially effective One of the most effective vaccines in history has been the yellow fever vaccine, which was developed in the 1930s and has been administered ...

Rise in R&D funding could set stage for malaria eradication by providing new tools

2013-12-06
PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 5-Dec-2013 [ | E-mail ] var addthis_pub="eurekalert"; var addthis_options = "favorites, delicious, digg, facebook, twitter, google, newsvine, reddit, slashdot, stumbleupon, buzz, more" Share Contact: Preeti Singh psingh@burnesscommunications.com 301-280-5722 PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative Rise in R&D funding could set stage for malaria eradication by providing new tools Report hails recent progress in reducing malaria illnesses and deaths, but warns new tools needed to fight emerging drug and insecticide resistance Washington, ...

Stripped mobile phone camera turned into a mini-microscope for low-cost diagnostics

2013-12-06
Stripped mobile phone camera turned into a mini-microscope for low-cost diagnostics Microscopy, being relatively easy to perform at low cost, is the universal diagnostic method for detection of most globally important parasitic infections. Methods developed ...

More logging, deforestation may better serve climate in some areas

2013-12-06
More logging, deforestation may better serve climate in some areas For first time, Dartmouth study puts a dollar value on snow's reflection of solar energy Replacing forests with snow-covered meadows may provide greater climatic and economic benefits than if trees ...

NASA watching a post-Atlantic hurricane season low

2013-12-06
NASA watching a post-Atlantic hurricane season low System 90L has developed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean today and NASA's Aqua satellite took an infrared look at the low pressure area to see if it had development potential. System 90L was located near 31.8 north ...

CARING Criteria shows 1 year death risk at time of hospital admission

2013-12-06
CARING Criteria shows 1 year death risk at time of hospital admission Tool allows doctors to match treatments to values and health goals A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine validates a prognostic tool ...

NASA eyes another developing depression in northern Indian Ocean

2013-12-06
NASA eyes another developing depression in northern Indian Ocean The Northern Indian Ocean typhoon season usually lasts until the end of December, but it's not going out without a fight this year. Infrared satellite data from NASA's Aqua satellite showed bands ...

Hummingbird metabolism unique in burning glucose and fructose equally

2013-12-06
Hummingbird metabolism unique in burning glucose and fructose equally Hummingbird metabolism is a marvel of evolutionary engineering. These tiny birds can power all of their energetic hovering flight by burning the sugar contained in the floral nectar of their ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Underserved youth less likely to visit emergency department for concussion in Ontario, study finds

‘Molecular shield’ placed in the nose may soon treat common hay fever trigger

Beetles under climate stress lay larger male eggs: Wolbachia infection drives adaptive reproduction strategy in response to rising temperature and CO₂

Groundbreaking quantum study puts wave-particle duality to work

Weekly injection could be life changing for Parkinson’s patients

Toxic metals linked to impaired growth in infants in Guatemala

Being consistently physically active in adulthood linked to 30–40% lower risk of death

Nerve pain drug gabapentin linked to increased dementia, cognitive impairment risks

Children’s social care involvement common to nearly third of UK mums who died during perinatal period

‘Support, not judgement’: Study explores links between children’s social care involvement and maternal deaths

Ethnic minority and poorer children more likely to die in intensive care

Major progress in fertility preservation after treatment for cancer of the lymphatic system

Fewer complications after additional ultrasound in pregnant women who feel less fetal movement

Environmental impact of common pesticides seriously underestimated

The Milky Way could be teeming with more satellite galaxies than previously thought

New study reveals surprising reproductive secrets of a cricket-hunting parasitoid fly

Media Tip Sheet: Symposia at ESA2025

NSF CAREER Award will power UVA engineer’s research to improve drug purification

Tiny parasitoid flies show how early-life competition shapes adult success

New coating for glass promises energy-saving windows

Green spaces boost children’s cognitive skills and strengthen family well-being

Ancient trees dying faster than expected in Eastern Oregon

Study findings help hone precision of proven CVD risk tool

Most patients with advanced melanoma who received pre-surgical immunotherapy remain alive and disease free four years later

Introducing BioEmu: A generative AI Model that enables high-speed and accurate prediction of protein structural ensembles

Replacing mutated microglia with healthy microglia halts progression of genetic neurological disease in mice and humans

New research shows how tropical plants manage rival insect tenants by giving them separate ‘flats’

Condo-style living helps keep the peace inside these ant plants

Climate change action could dramatically limit rising UK heatwave deaths

Annual heat-related deaths projected to increase significantly due to climate and population change

[Press-News.org] UEA research gives first in-depth analysis of primate eating habits