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Joanna M. Setchell - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • A New Species of Sucking Louse from the Mandrill from Gabon with a Review of Host Associations and Geographical Distributions, and Identification Keys to Members of the Genus Pedicinus (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Pedicinidae)
    Journal of Parasitology, 2020
    Co-Authors: Lance A. Durden, Joanna M. Setchell, Sharon E Kessler, Larson Boundenga, Barthélémy Ngoubangoye, Thierry Audrey Tsoumbou, Cyr I. Moussadji-kinga, Michel Halbwax, Jennifer Nichols, Stephen E. Greiman
    Abstract:

    Members of the sucking louse genus Pedicinus are ectoparasites of cercopithecid primates in Africa, Asia, and Gibraltar. Pedicinus gabonensis n. sp. is described on the basis of adult male and female specimens collected from the mandrill (Mandrillus Sphinx) in Gabon. The new species is compared morphologically with other members of the genus Pedicinus, and a nuclear elongation factor 1 alpha gene sequence is provided. Host associations and geographical distributions of the 18 previously recognized species of the genus and of P. gabonensis n. sp. are reviewed. Updated identification keys are provided for males and females of all known valid species of Pedicinus.

  • The International Encyclopedia of Primatology - Drills and mandrills.
    The International Encyclopedia of Primatology, 2016
    Co-Authors: Joanna M. Setchell
    Abstract:

    Drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus) and mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) are the only two extant species in the genus Mandrillus. They are large, highly sexually dimorphic, and extremely colorful. They live in very large groups in the rainforests of west central Africa. Very little is known about the ecology and social organization of drills, although mandrills are somewhat better studied. Drills face a very high, and mandrills a high, risk of extinction in the wild.

  • sexual selection and the differences between the sexes in mandrills Mandrillus Sphinx
    American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2016
    Co-Authors: Joanna M. Setchell
    Abstract:

    Sexual selection has become a major focus in evolutionary and behavioral ecology. It is also a popular research topic in primatology. I use studies of mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx), a classic example of extravagant armaments and ornaments in animals, to exemplify how a long-term, multidisciplinary approach that integrates field observations with laboratory methods can contribute to on-going theoretical debates in the field of sexual selection. I begin with a brief summary of the main concepts of sexual selection theory and the differences between the sexes. I then introduce mandrills and the study population and review mandrill life history, the ontogeny of sex differences, and maternal effects. Next, I focus on male-male competition and female choice, followed by the less well-studied questions of female-female competition and male choice. This review shows how different reproductive priorities lead to very different life histories and divergent adaptations in males and females. It demonstrates how broadening traditional perspectives on sexual selection beyond the ostentatious results of intense sexual selection on males leads to an understanding of more subtle and cryptic forms of competition and choice in both sexes and opens many productive avenues in the study of primate reproductive strategies. These include the potential for studies of postcopulatory selection, female intrasexual competition, and male choice. These studies of mandrills provide comparison and, I hope, inspiration for studies of both other polygynandrous species and species with mating systems less traditionally associated with sexual selection.

  • factors affecting fecal glucocorticoid levels in semi free ranging female mandrills Mandrillus Sphinx
    American Journal of Primatology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Joanna M. Setchell, Jean E Wickings, Tessa E. Smith, Leslie A Knapp
    Abstract:

    Subordinate female cercopithecine primates often experience decreased reproductive success in comparison with high-ranking females, with a later age at sexual maturity and first reproduction and/or longer interbirth intervals. One explanation that has traditionally been advanced to explain this is high levels of chronic social stress in subordinates, resulting from agonistic and aggressive interactions and leading to higher basal levels of glucocorticoids. We assessed the relationships among fecal cortisol levels and reproductive condition, dominance rank, degree of social support, and fertility in female mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) living in a semi-free-ranging colony in Franceville, Gabon. Lower-ranking females in this colony have a reproductive disadvantage relative to higher-ranking females, and we were interested in determining whether this relationship between dominance rank and reproductive success is mediated through stress hormones. We analyzed 340 fecal samples from 19 females, collected over a 14-month period. We found that pregnant females experienced higher fecal cortisol levels than cycling or lactating females. This is similar to results for other primate species and is likely owing to increased metabolic demands and interactions between the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, estrogen, and placental production of corticotrophin releasing hormones during pregnancy. There was no influence of dominance rank on fecal cortisol levels, suggesting that subordinate females do not suffer chronic stress. This may be because female mandrills have a stable social hierarchy, with low levels of aggression and high social support. However, we found no relationship between matriline size, as a measure of social support, and fecal cortisol levels. Subordinates may be able to avoid aggression from dominants in the large enclosure or may react only transiently to specific aggressive events, rather than continuously expecting them. Finally, we found no relationship between fecal cortisol levels and fertility. There was no difference in fecal cortisol levels between conceptive and nonconceptive cycles, and no significant relationship between fecal cortisol level and either the length of postpartum amenorrhea or the number of cycles before conception. This suggests that the influence of dominance rank on female reproductive success in this population is not mediated through chronic stress in subordinate females, and that alternative explanations of the relationship between social rank and reproduction should be sought. Am. J. Primatol. 70:1023–1032, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  • Factors affecting fecal glucocorticoid levels in semi‐free‐ranging female mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx)
    American Journal of Primatology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Joanna M. Setchell, Elizabeth J. Wickings, Tessa E. Smith, Leslie A Knapp
    Abstract:

    Subordinate female cercopithecine primates often experience decreased reproductive success in comparison with high-ranking females, with a later age at sexual maturity and first reproduction and/or longer interbirth intervals. One explanation that has traditionally been advanced to explain this is high levels of chronic social stress in subordinates, resulting from agonistic and aggressive interactions and leading to higher basal levels of glucocorticoids. We assessed the relationships among fecal cortisol levels and reproductive condition, dominance rank, degree of social support, and fertility in female mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) living in a semi-free-ranging colony in Franceville, Gabon. Lower-ranking females in this colony have a reproductive disadvantage relative to higher-ranking females, and we were interested in determining whether this relationship between dominance rank and reproductive success is mediated through stress hormones. We analyzed 340 fecal samples from 19 females, collected over a 14-month period. We found that pregnant females experienced higher fecal cortisol levels than cycling or lactating females. This is similar to results for other primate species and is likely owing to increased metabolic demands and interactions between the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, estrogen, and placental production of corticotrophin releasing hormones during pregnancy. There was no influence of dominance rank on fecal cortisol levels, suggesting that subordinate females do not suffer chronic stress. This may be because female mandrills have a stable social hierarchy, with low levels of aggression and high social support. However, we found no relationship between matriline size, as a measure of social support, and fecal cortisol levels. Subordinates may be able to avoid aggression from dominants in the large enclosure or may react only transiently to specific aggressive events, rather than continuously expecting them. Finally, we found no relationship between fecal cortisol levels and fertility. There was no difference in fecal cortisol levels between conceptive and nonconceptive cycles, and no significant relationship between fecal cortisol level and either the length of postpartum amenorrhea or the number of cycles before conception. This suggests that the influence of dominance rank on female reproductive success in this population is not mediated through chronic stress in subordinate females, and that alternative explanations of the relationship between social rank and reproduction should be sought. Am. J. Primatol. 70:1023–1032, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Marie J E Charpentier - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • buccal dental microwear and dietary ecology in a free ranging population of mandrills Mandrillus Sphinx from southern gabon
    PLOS ONE, 2017
    Co-Authors: Alice M Percher, Gontran Nsi Akoue, Alejandro Perezperez, Jordi Galbany, Alejandro Romero, Marie J E Charpentier
    Abstract:

    Analyses of dental micro- and macro-wear offer valuable information about dietary adaptations. The buccal surface of the teeth does not undergo attrition, indicating that dental microwear may directly inform about food properties. Only a few studies have, however, investigated the environmental and individual factors involved in the formation of such microwear in wild animals. Here, we examine variation of buccal microwear patterns of mandibular molars in a large free-ranging population of mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx). We first explore the influence of seasonality and individual's sex, age and tooth macrowear-expressed as the percent of dentine exposure (PDE)-on six microwear variables. Second, we analyze the interplay between individual's diet and PDE. In a last analysis, we revisit our results on mandrills in the light of other primate's microwear studies. We show that the average buccal scratch length and the frequency of vertical buccal scratches are both higher during the long dry season compared to the long rainy season, while we observe the inverse relationship for disto-mesial scratches. In addition, females present more disto-mesial scratches than males and older individuals present higher scratch density, a greater proportion of horizontal scratches but a lower proportion of vertical scratches than young animals. PDE yields similar results than individual's age confirming earlier results in this population on the relationship between age and tooth macrowear. Because seasonality and individual characteristics are both known to impact mandrills' diet in the study population, our results suggest that buccal microwear patterns may inform about individual feeding strategies. Furthermore, PDE increases with the consumption of potentially abrasive monocotyledonous plants, independently of the individuals' age, although it is not affected by food mechanical properties. Finally, buccal scratch densities by orientation appear as relevant proxies for discriminating between different primate taxa.

  • environmental and individual determinants of parasite richness across seasons in a free ranging population of mandrills Mandrillus Sphinx
    American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2016
    Co-Authors: Clemence Poirotte, Eric Willaume, Fred Makaba, Peter M. Kappeler, Didier Basset, Marie J E Charpentier
    Abstract:

    Objectives Parasites are ubiquitous and evolve fast. Therefore, they represent major selective forces acting on their hosts by influencing many aspects of their biology. Humans are no exception, as they share many parasites with animals and some of the most important outbreaks come from primates. While it appears important to understand the factors involved in parasite dynamics, we still lack a clear understanding of the determinants underlying parasitism. In this 2-year study, we identified several factors that influence parasite patterns in a wild population of free-ranging mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx). Methods We explored the potential impact of seasonal factors—rainfall and temperature—and host characteristics, including sex, age, rank, and reproductive status, on parasite richness. We analyzed 12 parasite taxa found in 870 fecal samples collected from 63 individuals. Because nematodes and protozoa have different life-cycles, we analyzed these two types of parasites separately. Results Contrary to other studies where humid conditions seem favorable to parasite development, we report here that rainfall and high temperatures were associated with lower nematode richness and were not associated with lower protozoa richness. In contrast, female reproductive status seemed to reflect the seasonal patterns found for protozoa richness, as early gestating females harbored more protozoa than other females. Sex and dominance rank had no impact on overall parasite richness. However, age was associated with a specific decrease in nematode richness. Conclusion Our study emphasizes the need to consider the ecological context, such as climatic conditions and habitat type, as well as the biology of both parasite and host when analyzing determinants of parasite richness. Am J Phys Anthropol 159:442–456, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  • Environmental and individual determinants of parasite richness across seasons in a free‐ranging population of Mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx)
    American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2015
    Co-Authors: Clemence Poirotte, Eric Willaume, Fred Makaba, Peter M. Kappeler, Didier Basset, Marie J E Charpentier
    Abstract:

    Objectives Parasites are ubiquitous and evolve fast. Therefore, they represent major selective forces acting on their hosts by influencing many aspects of their biology. Humans are no exception, as they share many parasites with animals and some of the most important outbreaks come from primates. While it appears important to understand the factors involved in parasite dynamics, we still lack a clear understanding of the determinants underlying parasitism. In this 2-year study, we identified several factors that influence parasite patterns in a wild population of free-ranging mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx). Methods We explored the potential impact of seasonal factors—rainfall and temperature—and host characteristics, including sex, age, rank, and reproductive status, on parasite richness. We analyzed 12 parasite taxa found in 870 fecal samples collected from 63 individuals. Because nematodes and protozoa have different life-cycles, we analyzed these two types of parasites separately. Results Contrary to other studies where humid conditions seem favorable to parasite development, we report here that rainfall and high temperatures were associated with lower nematode richness and were not associated with lower protozoa richness. In contrast, female reproductive status seemed to reflect the seasonal patterns found for protozoa richness, as early gestating females harbored more protozoa than other females. Sex and dominance rank had no impact on overall parasite richness. However, age was associated with a specific decrease in nematode richness. Conclusion Our study emphasizes the need to consider the ecological context, such as climatic conditions and habitat type, as well as the biology of both parasite and host when analyzing determinants of parasite richness. Am J Phys Anthropol 159:442–456, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  • social organization and space use of a wild mandrill Mandrillus Sphinx group
    American Journal of Primatology, 2015
    Co-Authors: Eric Willaume, Sylvere Mboumba, Laure Benoit, Timo Brockmeyer, Peter M. Kappeler, Marie J E Charpentier
    Abstract:

    Mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) are enigmatic Old World primates whose social organization and ecology remain poorly known. Previous studies indicated, for example, that groups are composed of only adult females and their young or that several units composed of one adult male and several females make up larger permanent social units. Here, we present the first data on group composition and male ranging patterns from the only habituated wild mandrill group and examine how home range size and daily path length varied with environmental and demographic factors over a 15-month period. Our study site is located in southern Gabon where we followed the group on a daily basis, collecting data on presence, ranging, behavior, and parasite load of its individual members. Throughout the study, the group was made up of about 120 individuals, including several non-natal and natal adult and sub-adult males. One-male units were never observed. The mandrills traveled an estimated 0.44–6.50 km/day in a home range area of 866.7 ha. Exploratory analyses revealed that precipitation, the number of adult males present, and the richness of protozoan parasites were all positively correlated with daily path length. These results clarify the social system of mandrills and provide first insights into the factors that shape their ranging patterns. Am. J. Primatol. 77:1036–1048, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  • Social organization and space use of a wild mandrill (Mandrillus Sphinx) group
    American Journal of Primatology, 2015
    Co-Authors: Timo Brockmeyer, Eric Willaume, Sylvere Mboumba, Laure Benoit, Peter M. Kappeler, Marie J E Charpentier
    Abstract:

    Mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) are enigmatic Old World primates whose social organization and ecology remain poorly known. Previous studies indicated, for example, that groups are composed of only adult females and their young or that several units composed of one adult male and several females make up larger permanent social units. Here, we present the first data on group composition and male ranging patterns from the only habituated wild mandrill group and examine how home range size and daily path length varied with environmental and demographic factors over a 15-month period. Our study site is located in southern Gabon where we followed the group on a daily basis, collecting data on presence, ranging, behavior, and parasite load of its individual members. Throughout the study, the group was made up of about 120 individuals, including several non-natal and natal adult and sub-adult males. One-male units were never observed. The mandrills traveled an estimated 0.44-6.50 km/day in a home range area of 866.7 ha. Exploratory analyses revealed that precipitation, the number of adult males present, and the richness of protozoan parasites were all positively correlated with daily path length. These results clarify the social system of mandrills and provide first insights into the factors that shape their ranging patterns.

Elizabeth J. Wickings - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Factors affecting fecal glucocorticoid levels in semi‐free‐ranging female mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx)
    American Journal of Primatology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Joanna M. Setchell, Elizabeth J. Wickings, Tessa E. Smith, Leslie A Knapp
    Abstract:

    Subordinate female cercopithecine primates often experience decreased reproductive success in comparison with high-ranking females, with a later age at sexual maturity and first reproduction and/or longer interbirth intervals. One explanation that has traditionally been advanced to explain this is high levels of chronic social stress in subordinates, resulting from agonistic and aggressive interactions and leading to higher basal levels of glucocorticoids. We assessed the relationships among fecal cortisol levels and reproductive condition, dominance rank, degree of social support, and fertility in female mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) living in a semi-free-ranging colony in Franceville, Gabon. Lower-ranking females in this colony have a reproductive disadvantage relative to higher-ranking females, and we were interested in determining whether this relationship between dominance rank and reproductive success is mediated through stress hormones. We analyzed 340 fecal samples from 19 females, collected over a 14-month period. We found that pregnant females experienced higher fecal cortisol levels than cycling or lactating females. This is similar to results for other primate species and is likely owing to increased metabolic demands and interactions between the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, estrogen, and placental production of corticotrophin releasing hormones during pregnancy. There was no influence of dominance rank on fecal cortisol levels, suggesting that subordinate females do not suffer chronic stress. This may be because female mandrills have a stable social hierarchy, with low levels of aggression and high social support. However, we found no relationship between matriline size, as a measure of social support, and fecal cortisol levels. Subordinates may be able to avoid aggression from dominants in the large enclosure or may react only transiently to specific aggressive events, rather than continuously expecting them. Finally, we found no relationship between fecal cortisol levels and fertility. There was no difference in fecal cortisol levels between conceptive and nonconceptive cycles, and no significant relationship between fecal cortisol level and either the length of postpartum amenorrhea or the number of cycles before conception. This suggests that the influence of dominance rank on female reproductive success in this population is not mediated through chronic stress in subordinate females, and that alternative explanations of the relationship between social rank and reproduction should be sought. Am. J. Primatol. 70:1023–1032, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  • Factors affecting fecal glucocorticoid levels in semi-free-ranging female mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx).
    American Journal of Primatology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Joanna M. Setchell, Elizabeth J. Wickings, Tessa E. Smith, Leslie A Knapp
    Abstract:

    Subordinate female cercopithecine primates often experience decreased reproductive success in comparison with high-ranking females, with a later age at sexual maturity and first reproduction and/or longer interbirth intervals. One explanation that has traditionally been advanced to explain this is high levels of chronic social stress in subordinates, resulting from agonistic and aggressive interactions and leading to higher basal levels of glucocorticoids. We assessed the relationships among fecal cortisol levels and reproductive condition, dominance rank, degree of social support, and fertility in female mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) living in a semi-free-ranging colony in Franceville, Gabon. Lower-ranking females in this colony have a reproductive disadvantage relative to higher-ranking females, and we were interested in determining whether this relationship between dominance rank and reproductive success is mediated through stress hormones. We analyzed 340 fecal samples from 19 females, collected over a 14-month period. We found that pregnant females experienced higher fecal cortisol levels than cycling or lactating females. This is similar to results for other primate species and is likely owing to increased metabolic demands and interactions between the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, estrogen, and placental production of corticotrophin releasing hormones during pregnancy. There was no influence of dominance rank on fecal cortisol levels, suggesting that subordinate females do not suffer chronic stress. This may be because female mandrills have a stable social hierarchy, with low levels of aggression and high social support. However, we found no relationship between matriline size, as a measure of social support, and fecal cortisol levels. Subordinates may be able to avoid aggression from dominants in the large enclosure or may react only transiently to specific aggressive events, rather than continuously expecting them. Finally, we found no relationship between fecal cortisol levels and fertility. There was no difference in fecal cortisol levels between conceptive and nonconceptive cycles, and no significant relationship between fecal cortisol level and either the length of postpartum amenorrhea or the number of cycles before conception. This suggests that the influence of dominance rank on female reproductive success in this population is not mediated through chronic stress in subordinate females, and that alternative explanations of the relationship between social rank and reproduction should be sought.

  • High levels of diversity characterize mandrill (Mandrillus Sphinx) Mhc-DRB sequences
    Immunogenetics, 2006
    Co-Authors: Kristin M. Abbott, Elizabeth J. Wickings, Leslie A Knapp
    Abstract:

    The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is highly polymorphic in most primate species studied thus far. The rhesus macaque ( Macaca mulatta ) has been studied extensively and the Mhc-DRB region demonstrates variability similar to humans. The extent of MHC diversity is relatively unknown for other Old World monkeys (OWM), especially among genera other than Macaca . A molecular survey of the Mhc-DRB region in mandrills ( Mandrillus Sphinx ) revealed extensive variability, suggesting that other OWMs may also possess high levels of Mhc-DRB polymorphism. In the present study, 33 Mhc-DRB loci were identified from only 13 animals. Eleven were wild-born and presumed to be unrelated and two were captive-born twins. Two to seven different sequences were identified for each individual, suggesting that some mandrills may have as many as four Mhc-DRB loci on a single haplotype. From these sequences, representatives of at least six Mhc-DRB loci or lineages were identified. As observed in other primates, some new lineages may have arisen through the process of gene conversion. These findings indicate that mandrills have Mhc-DRB diversity not unlike rhesus macaques and humans.

  • Life history in male mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx): Physical development, dominance rank, and group association
    American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2006
    Co-Authors: Joanna M. Setchell, Elizabeth J. Wickings, Leslie A Knapp
    Abstract:

    We assess life history from birth to death in male mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) living in a semifree-ranging colony in Gabon, using data collected for 82 males that attained at least the age of puberty, including 33 that reached adulthood and 25 that died, yielding data for their entire lifespan. We describe patterns of mortality and injuries, dominance rank, group association, growth and stature, and secondary sexual character expression across the male lifespan. We examine relationships among these variables and investigate potential influences on male life history, including differences in the social environment (maternal rank and group demography) and early development, with the aim of identifying characteristics of successful males. Sons of higher-ranking females were more likely to survive to adulthood than sons of low-ranking females. Adolescent males varied consistently in the rate at which they developed, and this variation was related to a male's own dominance rank. Males with fewer peers and sons of higher-ranking and heavier mothers also matured faster. However, maternal variables were not significantly related to dominance rank during adolescence, the age at which males attained adult dominance rank, or whether a male became alpha male. Among adult males, behavior and morphological development were related to a male's own dominance rank, and sons of high-ranking females were larger than sons of low-ranking females. Alpha males were always the most social, and the most brightly colored males, but were not necessarily the largest males present. Finally, alpha male tenure was related to group demography, with larger numbers of rival adult males and maturing adolescent males reducing the time a male spent as alpha male. Tenure did not appear to be related to characteristics of the alpha male himself.

  • genetic diversity and reproductive success in mandrills Mandrillus Sphinx
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2005
    Co-Authors: Marie J E Charpentier, Elizabeth J. Wickings, Patricia Peignot, Joanna M. Setchell, Leslie A Knapp, Franck Prugnolle, Martine Hossaertmckey
    Abstract:

    Recent studies of wild animal populations have shown that estimators of neutral genetic diversity, such as mean heterozygosity, are often correlated with various fitness traits, such as survival, disease susceptibility, or reproductive success. We used two estimators of genetic diversity to explore the relationship between heterozygosity and reproductive success in male and female mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) living in a semifree ranging setting in Gabon. Because social rank is known to influence reproductive success in both sexes, we also examined the correlation between genetic diversity and social rank in females, and acquisition of alpha status in males, as well as length of alpha male tenure. We found that heterozygous individuals showed greater reproductive success, with both females and males producing more offspring. However, heterozygosity influenced reproductive success only in dominant males, not in subordinates. Neither the acquisition of alpha status in males, nor social rank in females, was significantly correlated with heterozygosity, although more heterozygous alpha males showed longer tenure than homozygous ones. We also tested whether the benefits of greater genetic diversity were due mainly to a genome-wide effect of inbreeding depression or to heterosis at one or a few loci. Multilocus effects best explained the correlation between heterozygosity and reproductive success and tenure, indicating the occurrence of inbreeding depression in this mandrill colony.

Jean E Wickings - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • factors affecting fecal glucocorticoid levels in semi free ranging female mandrills Mandrillus Sphinx
    American Journal of Primatology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Joanna M. Setchell, Jean E Wickings, Tessa E. Smith, Leslie A Knapp
    Abstract:

    Subordinate female cercopithecine primates often experience decreased reproductive success in comparison with high-ranking females, with a later age at sexual maturity and first reproduction and/or longer interbirth intervals. One explanation that has traditionally been advanced to explain this is high levels of chronic social stress in subordinates, resulting from agonistic and aggressive interactions and leading to higher basal levels of glucocorticoids. We assessed the relationships among fecal cortisol levels and reproductive condition, dominance rank, degree of social support, and fertility in female mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) living in a semi-free-ranging colony in Franceville, Gabon. Lower-ranking females in this colony have a reproductive disadvantage relative to higher-ranking females, and we were interested in determining whether this relationship between dominance rank and reproductive success is mediated through stress hormones. We analyzed 340 fecal samples from 19 females, collected over a 14-month period. We found that pregnant females experienced higher fecal cortisol levels than cycling or lactating females. This is similar to results for other primate species and is likely owing to increased metabolic demands and interactions between the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, estrogen, and placental production of corticotrophin releasing hormones during pregnancy. There was no influence of dominance rank on fecal cortisol levels, suggesting that subordinate females do not suffer chronic stress. This may be because female mandrills have a stable social hierarchy, with low levels of aggression and high social support. However, we found no relationship between matriline size, as a measure of social support, and fecal cortisol levels. Subordinates may be able to avoid aggression from dominants in the large enclosure or may react only transiently to specific aggressive events, rather than continuously expecting them. Finally, we found no relationship between fecal cortisol levels and fertility. There was no difference in fecal cortisol levels between conceptive and nonconceptive cycles, and no significant relationship between fecal cortisol level and either the length of postpartum amenorrhea or the number of cycles before conception. This suggests that the influence of dominance rank on female reproductive success in this population is not mediated through chronic stress in subordinate females, and that alternative explanations of the relationship between social rank and reproduction should be sought. Am. J. Primatol. 70:1023–1032, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  • canine tooth size and fitness in male mandrills Mandrillus Sphinx
    Journal of Human Evolution, 2008
    Co-Authors: Steven R. Leigh, Marie J E Charpentier, Joanna M. Setchell, Leslie A Knapp, Jean E Wickings
    Abstract:

    Abstract Sexual selection theory explains the evolution of exaggerated male morphologies and weaponry, but the fitness consequences of developmental and age-related changes in these features remain poorly understood. This long-term study of mandrill monkeys (Mandrillus Sphinx) demonstrates how age-related changes in canine tooth weaponry and adult canine size correlate closely with male lifetime reproductive success. Combining long-term demographic and morphometric data reveals that male fitness covaries simply and directly with canine ontogeny, adult maximum size, and wear. However, fitness is largely independent of other somatometrics. Male mandrills sire offspring almost exclusively when their canines exceed approximately 30 mm, or two-thirds of average adult value (45 mm). Moreover, sires have larger canines than nonsires. The tooth diminishes through wear as animals age, corresponding with, and perhaps influencing, reproductive senescence. These factors combine to constrain male reproductive opportunities to a brief timespan, defined by the period of maximum canine length. Sexually-selected weaponry, especially when it is nonrenewable like the primate canine tooth, is intimately tied to the male life course. Our analyses of this extremely dimorphic species indicate that sexual selection is closely intertwined with growth, development, and aging, pointing to new directions for sexual selection theory. Moreover, the primate canine tooth has potential as a simple mammalian system for testing genetically-based models of aging. Finally, the tooth may record details of life histories in fossil primates, especially when sexual selection has played a role in the evolution of dimorphism.

  • learning from the first release project of captive bred mandrills Mandrillus Sphinx in gabon
    Oryx, 2008
    Co-Authors: Patricia Peignot, Olivier Bourry, Marie J E Charpentier, Nicolas Bout, Ulrich Massima, Olivier Dosimont, Roxanne Terramorsi, Jean E Wickings
    Abstract:

    Patricia Peignot*, Marie J.E. Charpentier*, Nicolas Bout, Olivier Bourry, Ulrich Massima, Olivier Dosimont,Roxanne Terramorsi and E. Jean WickingsAbstract We report the results of the first release pro-ject of 36 captive-bred mandrills into the Le ´kedi Park,Gabon. A mortality rate of 33% was recorded in the firstyear post-release, with dependent infants the mostaffected age class, as a result of environmental stressand malnutrition. A programme of provisioning en-sured that individuals remained in a good physicalcondition. During the second year the death rate de-creased to 4%, and 6-month survival rate of infantswas 100%. Over time the mandrills extended theirspatial use of the park, although their explorationremained limited. Our results demonstrate that pro-visioning and the lack of knowledge of ecologicalcharacteristicsofthenew,complexseasonalhabitatwerethe likely causes of this situation. After 2 years, re-production and survival appear stable. While habitatpreservation and in situ species protection are the bestconservation options, release projects may constitutea viable short-term solution for particular species. Inthis context, this first release of captive-bred mandrillscould play a role in the future conservation of thisVulnerable species.Keywords Gabon, Le´ke´di Park, Mandrillus Sphinx,post-release monitoring, provisioning, rehabilitation,spatial use.IntroductionThe role of translocation and reintroduction pro-grammes in the conservation of endangered specieshas been widely discussed, with particular focus onethical implications, ecological, disease and geneticimpacts on local natural populations, and the long-term monitoring and survival of introduced popula-tions (Wolf et al., 1998; Fischer & Lindenmayer, 2000;Linklater, 2003; Tuberville et al., 2005). The future ofseveral species has been heavily dependent on thereintroduction of captive-bred individuals (Snyder S Stanley-Price, 1989; Moore & Smith, 1991;Csermely & Corona, 1994).Primates are one of the most threatened orders ofmammals (IUCN, 1996) and many species, threatened intheir natural habitat, have been the focus of transloca-tion and reintroduction projects to augment their chan-ces of survival (Horwich et al., 1993; Struhsaker & Siex,1998; Kleiman & Rylands, 2002). To date the long-termsuccess of such programmes has been difficult to assess(Yeager, 1997; Kessel & Brent, 2001; Beck et al., 2002). Thecase of primates is problematic because each speciespresents different and complex socioecological chal-lenges based on social organization and feeding andhabitat preferences (Goodall, 1968; Yeager, 1997).Primates bred in captivity in habitat countries couldhave advantages over ex situ programmes for thereintroduction of threatened species (Snyder et al.,1996) because such programmes present more economicalternatives. The Centre International de RecherchesMe´dicales de Franceville (CIRMF) in Gabon establisheda semi-captive ranging breeding colony of MandrillusSphinx for non-invasive biomedical research in the early1980s. The initial group of 15 founders (bushmeat orphansaged 1-8 years) had reached .100 individuals by 2002,resulting in overcrowding and habitat degradation. Theinstigation of contraceptive measures will limit futurebreeding but cannot alleviate current conditions. Hence,alternative measures to reduce numbers were sought.

  • parasite prevalence abundance and diversity in a semi free ranging colony of Mandrillus Sphinx
    International Journal of Primatology, 2007
    Co-Authors: Joanna M. Setchell, Jean E Wickings, Issaben Bedjabaga, Benoit Goossens, Patricia Reed, Leslie A Knapp
    Abstract:

    We examined parasite prevalence, abundance of protozoan cysts and helminth eggs in the feces, and number of parasitic taxa in a population of mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) in semi-free-ranging conditions in their habitat range, with respect to the annual cycle, sex, age, dominance rank, and female reproductive status. We identified 3 taxa of amebic protozoa (Entamoeba coli, E. histolytica/dispar complex, and Endolimax nana), 1 ciliate protozoa (Balantidium coli), and various nematodes. Prevalence ranged from 1 observation in 874 samples for Trichuris and Mammomonogamus (nematodes) to 100% for Entamoeba coli and Endolimax nana. Daily observation, consistency of fecal samples, and periodic veterinary examination indicated that the mandrills were all healthy, suggesting that the presence of intestinal parasites in the provisioned population is well tolerated. Parasite prevalence, abundance in the feces, and number of taxa varied significantly across the annual cycle. Nematode egg prevalence and abundance were lowest during the dry season. We found no sexual difference and no influence of female dominance rank on parasitic infections. Nematode prevalence increased significantly with age in females, but not in males. There was no influence of age on prevalence of other taxa, abundance in the feces, or number of taxa. Abundance of nematode eggs in the feces was higher in pregnant than in lactating or cycling females. However, births are seasonal in the mandrill colony, and pregnant females were present during the months when nematode egg abundance was also higher in males, suggesting that this may be an influence of climatic seasonality in addition to, or instead of, female status.

  • kin discrimination in juvenile mandrills Mandrillus Sphinx
    Animal Behaviour, 2007
    Co-Authors: Marie J E Charpentier, Patricia Peignot, Martine Hossaertmckey, Jean E Wickings
    Abstract:

    Kin selection theory predicts that the evolution of social behaviours will be promoted if these behaviours increase the inclusive fitness of the individuals that perform them, for example by positively affecting relatives. The ability to identify relatives may thus be crucial in maximizing overall fitness. In primate species, whether individuals discriminate paternal relatives and the mechanisms that might permit such discrimination are still the subject of debate. Some researchers have suggested that primates are not able to discriminate relatives in the absence of familiarity. However, recent studies have shown that paternal kin discrimination could emerge from both age proximity and phenotype matching. We investigated the effects of paternal and maternal kinship on the affiliation index of juvenile mandrills, in a semifree-ranging setting. Juveniles biased their behaviour according to kinship. First, when interacting with adult females, both paternal and maternal half-siblings showed more affiliation than unrelated dyads. Affiliation between juveniles and males was also higher among both father–offspring and maternal half-sibling dyads than among unrelated dyads. While these results suggest that juvenile mandrills are able to discriminate paternal relatives, other results do not. Maternal half-siblings had a higher affiliation index than paternal half-siblings and distant kin, the latter showing no significant differences. Finally, when the mechanisms involved in discrimination of paternal kin were analysed, we found no evidence to confirm either the phenotype-matching or the age proximity hypotheses.

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  • Home-range Use by a Large Horde of Wild Mandrillus Sphinx
    International Journal of Primatology, 2010
    Co-Authors: Elizabeth C. White, Jean-thoussaint Dikangadissi, Edmond Dimoto, Nathacha Ona Abiaga, Ruth Starkey, Tharcisse Ukizintambara, Lee J. T. White, William B. Karesh, Michael D. Kock, Katharine Abernethy
    Abstract:

    The predicted relationship between home-range size and group mass in primates developed by Clutton-Brock and Harvey (1977) has proved extremely robust in describing the use of space by most primate species. However, mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) are now known to have an extreme group mass in the wild, far larger than that of the species used originally to generate that relationship, and so it was unknown whether this relationship would be robust for this species. We investigated the home-range size and use of a wild horde of ca. 700 mandrills in Lope National Park, Gabon, using radiotelemetry. The total area the horde used over a 6-yr period [100% minimum convex polygon (MCP)] was 182 km2, including 89 km2 of suitable forest habitat. Mandrills used gallery forests and isolated forest fragments with high botanical diversity far more intensively that the continuous forest and completely avoided savanna and marsh. Peeled polygons and fixed kernel contours revealed multiple centres of use, with the horde spending more than half its time in

  • home range use by a large horde of wild Mandrillus Sphinx
    International Journal of Primatology, 2010
    Co-Authors: Elizabeth C. White, Jean-thoussaint Dikangadissi, Edmond Dimoto, Nathacha Ona Abiaga, Ruth Starkey, Tharcisse Ukizintambara, Lee J. T. White, William B. Karesh, Michael D. Kock, Katharine Abernethy
    Abstract:

    The predicted relationship between home-range size and group mass in primates developed by Clutton-Brock and Harvey (1977) has proved extremely robust in describing the use of space by most primate species. However, mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) are now known to have an extreme group mass in the wild, far larger than that of the species used originally to generate that relationship, and so it was unknown whether this relationship would be robust for this species. We investigated the home-range size and use of a wild horde of ca. 700 mandrills in Lope National Park, Gabon, using radiotelemetry. The total area the horde used over a 6-yr period [100% minimum convex polygon (MCP)] was 182 km2, including 89 km2 of suitable forest habitat. Mandrills used gallery forests and isolated forest fragments with high botanical diversity far more intensively that the continuous forest and completely avoided savanna and marsh. Peeled polygons and fixed kernel contours revealed multiple centres of use, with the horde spending more than half its time in <10% of the total documented range, typical of a frugivore using a patchy environment. Home-range size and internal structure varied considerably between years, but total home range fitted the predicted relationship between group mass and home range size, despite being an outlier to the dataset. We discuss the conservation implications of the species’ space requirements, in light of current pressures on land use in their range.

  • two distinct stlv 1 subtypes infecting Mandrillus Sphinx follow the geographic distribution of their hosts
    AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, 2004
    Co-Authors: Maria Makuwa, Elizabeth J. Wickings, Bettina Salle, Olivier Bourry, Augustin Mouingaondeme, Richard Onanga, Sandrine Souquière, Stephen L. Clifford, Paul Telfer, Katharine Abernethy
    Abstract:

    The mandrill (Mandrillus Sphinx) has been shown to be infected with an STLV-1 closely related to HTLV-1. Two distinct STLV-1 subtypes (D and F) infect wild mandrills with high overall prevalence (27.0%) but are different with respect to their phylogenetic relationship and parallel to the mandrills' geographic range. The clustering of these new STLV-1mnd sequences with HTLV-1 subtype D and F suggests first, past simian-tohuman transmissions in Central Africa and second, that species barriers are easier to cross over than geographic barriers.

  • molecular evidence for deep phylogenetic divergence in Mandrillus Sphinx
    Molecular Ecology, 2003
    Co-Authors: Paul Telfer, Sandrine Souquière, Stephen L. Clifford, Preston A. Marx, Pierre Roques, Kirstin N. Sterner, Todd R Disotell, Katharine Abernethy, Michael William Bruford, Elizabeth J. Wickings
    Abstract:

    Mandrills (Mandrillus Sphinx) are forest primates indigenous to western central Africa. Phylogenetic analysis of 267 base pairs (bp) of the cytochrome b gene from 53 mandrills of known and 17 of unknown provenance revealed two phylogeographical groups, with haplotypes differentiated by 2.6% comprising seven synonymous transitions. The distribution of the haplotypes suggests that the Ogooue River, Gabon, which bisects their range, separates mandrill populations in Cameroon and northern Gabon from those in southern Gabon. The haplotype distribution is also concordant with that of two known mandrill simian immunodeficiency viruses, suggesting that these two mandrill phylogroups have followed different evolutionary trajectories since separation.

  • hordes of mandrills Mandrillus Sphinx extreme group size and seasonal male presence
    Journal of Zoology, 2002
    Co-Authors: Katharine Abernethy, Lee J. T. White, Elizabeth J. Wickings
    Abstract:

    Mandrill Mandrillus Sphinx hordes in the LopeReserve, Gabon, the approximate centre of the mandrill species range, were studied over 3 years from 1996 to 1999. Part of the study site included gallery forests within savanna areas, allowing observation of entire hordes, hitherto impossible in dense forest habitat. Horde size and composition (sex and age classes) were documented using exact records on video film whenever a horde or subgroup crossed an open space. Mean horde size was 620, and hordes of up to 845 individuals were documented, probably the largest stable group size found in any wild, unprovisioned primate population. Hordes were cohesive throughout the study period and did not seem to be aggregations of smaller units. Mandrill societies seem to be quite different from the baboon societies, to which they have been compared to date. Mature, breeding-age males were not resident members of hordes, but entered at the onset of seasonal cycles in the females (as deduced by the presence of sexual tumescence) and emigrated once female sexual cycles ceased. The number of breeding males present in the horde at any one time is best explained by the number of sexually attractive females. It is postulated that the extreme coloration of males and strong sexual dimorphism in mandrills may have evolved through an enhanced need for competitive signals in a situation where no long-term social bonds between breeding partners exist.