Biology subjects

Chaves-Cordero, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Chaves-Cordero, C..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Genetic and behavioural repertoires support olfactory communication in wild capuchin monkeys

Olfaction is a key sense for many mammals, but its role in the social lives of anthropoid primates (monkeys, apes, humans) is poorly understood. Studies of chemosensory receptor genes and olfactory behaviours can provide insight into the evolution and function of olfaction across social contexts. Vomeronasal receptor (VR) genes are especially relevant to social behaviour as they are specialized for the detection of pheromones and other cues involved in social signaling, reproductive behaviour, and individual recognition in mammals. Here, we examined the population genetics and gene repertoires of VR genes in wild white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator) from Costa Rica and Panama using DNA sourced through both host tissues and through noninvasive fluorescence-activated cell sorting of fecal samples (fecalFACS). We compared VR diversity relative to putatively neutral reference loci (NRs) to investigate evidence of selection and potential effects of demography. To complement the genetic analysis, we also conducted a detailed observational study of capuchin olfactory behaviours. Combined, we find evidence of intact VRs subject to evolutionary constraint in capuchins, providing novel evidence that members of this gene family are maintained by evolutionary constraint in wild monkeys. We further document a rich and varied ethogram of olfactory behaviours that have clear potential for communication. Overall, our study provides compelling evidence for a role of olfaction in the complex social lives of capuchin monkeys, motivating future research on the contributions of olfaction to social communication and evolution in primates and other mammals.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2023

Plant diversity in diet of Costa Rican Primates in contrasting habitats: a meta-analysis

In human-modified tropical landscapes, the survival of arboreal vertebrates, particularly primates, depends on their plant dietary diversity. Here, we assessed diversity of plants included in the diet of Costa Rican non-human primates, CR-NHP (i.e. Alouatta palliata palliata, Ateles geoffroyi, Cebus imitator, and Saimiri oerstedii) inhabiting different habitat types across the country. Specifically, we assessed by analyzing 37 published and unpublished datasets: (i) richness and dietary -plant diversity, (ii) the {beta}-diversity of dietary plant species and the relative importance of plant species turnover and nestedness contributing to these patterns, and (iii) the main ecological drivers of the observed patterns in dietary plant . Diet data were available for 34 Alouatta, 16 Cebus, 8 Ateles, and 5 Saimiri groups. Overall dietary plant species richness was higher in Alouatta (476 spp.), followed by Ateles (329 spp.), Cebus (236 spp.), and Saimiri (183 spp.). However, rarefaction curves showed that -diversity of plant species was higher in Ateles than in the other three primate species. The {gamma}-diversity of plants was 868 species (95% C.I.=829-907 species). The three most frequently reported food species for all CR-NHP were Spondias mombin, Bursera simaruba, and Samanea saman. In general, plant species turnover, rather than nestedness, explained the dissimilarity in plant diet diversity ({beta}sim> 0.60) of CR_NHP. Finally, primate species, habitat type (life zone and disturbance level) and, to a lesser degree, sampling effort were the best predictors of the dietary plant assemblages. Our findings suggest that CR-NHP diets were diverse, even in severely-disturbed habitats.

animal behavior and cognition↗