In the face of change: the effects of ecological shifts on primates in the impacted environment of Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Thesis

Contemporary primate populations face a range of abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic pressures that act at individual, group, and species levels. While these pressures can drive adaptation and evolution, they can also result in significant population declines and, ultimately, extinction. This thesis uses camera trap data to investigate the ecology of primates in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, focusing on how ecological changes across varying scales – ranging from an extreme weather event to seasonal climatic shifts, and the reintroduction of a novel potential predator – have shaped the spatial distributions, diel activity patterns, and habitat use of gray-footed chacma baboons (Papio ursinus griseipes) and vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus). By examining how these primates – both of which are known to exhibit high behavioural flexibility – respond to ecological change, this thesis contributes to broader anthropological questions about adaptation, resilience, and the evolutionary pressures that have shaped primate – and ultimately human – behaviour and ecology. Chapter One reviews literature on the impacts of ecological pressures on primates, introduces the study species and site, and provides an overview of the use of camera traps in primatology research. Chapter Two examines shifts in primate spatial distribution and relative abundance following Cyclone Idai, a category four tropical cyclone that struck Mozambique in March 2019. The results suggest that baboon spatial distributions were impacted in the first month after the cyclone, with more detections in areas where flooding was less severe, but renormalised once floodwaters began to recede. Furthermore, primate relative abundance did not appear to substantially decrease following the cyclone, suggesting troops were able to adopt behavioural adjustments to evade rising floodwaters. Chapter Three explores seasonal variation in the diel activity patterns of baboons and vervet monkeys. Significant differences are observed, including a marked reduction in midday activity during the late dry season – a time period characterised by high temperatures and scarce water resources. For vervet monkeys, this period also coincides with increased dawn activity, suggesting an adaptive shift to cooler times of day to mitigate thermoregulatory stress. Chapter Four uses occupancy modelling to investigate the drivers of primate habitat use before and after the reintroduction of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). The results suggest that the presence of a novel carnivore can be associated with reduced primate habitat use, even in cases where the carnivore may present little to no real predation risk. Finally, Chapter Five summarises the findings of the thesis, and discusses limitations, overall implications and contributions, and future directions.

Authors: Beardmore-Herd, M

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-zb5ekbe6k
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: seasonal climatic shifts; camera trap; extreme weather; behavioural flexibility; vervet monkey; predator reintroduction; baboon; ecological pressure
• Subjects: Behavioural ecology; Human evolution; Anthropology; Primatology